For about the 50th time I have been reading through a book written by great people who express their feelings in writing to their younger selves. It always makes me teary. It also makes me highly reflective. So here it is...
Dear younger me,
If I tell you the one thing you'll admire most about yourself is your persistence, would that shock you? You will consistently and persistently exceed your highest expectations. You will work tirelessly as a student, as a mother, as a friend, and as a person to continually be the best version of yourself. You will always remember that when all else fails you, including people you hold most dear, you can rely on yourself. You will face setbacks and disappointments but those will serve as stepping stones towards a life you created that is better and more chaotic than you could ever imagine. You will achieve scholastic successes far beyond what you expected but always wanted. And you will have done a great bit of it on your own. You will have support in tremendous ways but YOU will have put the time in. YOU will have stayed up all the nights and weekends making sure to get things done. Be proud of yourself. It wasn't easy.
You will think you have found love early. It will be a tremendous experience that will teach you more than you ever wanted to know about resiliency and grit. It will also lead you to the person for whom your heart is safe with. It will lead you to more kids than you ever thought you wanted. It will lead you exactly down the path that your stubborn self needed to be lead. Break you down to build you up. Be thankful, grateful in all things.
You will find a career that gives your soul life. Coworkers that become your best friends and closest confidants. You will literally change people's lives in the most profound but mundane ways. You will finally find your way back to education and it will be the most rewarding experience of your life. Always remember that feeling. That feeling will get you through just about any student evaluation.
Lastly, you will get to experience new places and adventures with you best friend. He will show you how to be vulnerable and happy. He will help you continue to learn to make peace with what is behind while letting it help you to become a better person. You will find comfort in the pace of the everyday and you will know deep in your soul that this time, it's the one that lasts. For better and for worse.
So younger me, keep going. Stop and be tired and sad but keep moving forward. There are better days and wonderful things in your future. Love deeply even when it feels like it might kill you. Learn earlier that when people show you who they are, believe them. It will save you some time. Keep going cause it will be worth the journey.
All of my love and peace,
Me <3
