Dear Newborn me,
Don't worry, you'll make it. This world is big and scary, but give it a couple minutes and you'll feel right at home. God has big plans for you baby. Who knows how many lives you'll touch; but here's one thing that I know for sure: you'll change the world. Love,
Me/You/Us
P.S. Now would be a great time to start breathingP.S.S. Maybe someday you will be able to tame that hair... but that day hasn't come yet.
Dear Toddler me,
You sure love collecting shells with your Memere and collecting golf balls with your Pa. Start collecting memories with them too! Cherish every moment, because you never know when your time with them will run out. Listen to them both, they know what's best for you. Someday you'll find yourself sitting in your dorm room reciting the life-changing quotes, the ones that had gone over your head at the time, but now go right to your heart. Soak in every possible moment, from sitting on the roof eating skittles to pulling weeds in your garden, enjoy it. NEVER miss a chance to spend time with them. Hear their stories, some day you'll miss the stories about your Pa during the war. Let Memere show you how to bake (you need all the help you can get). When your time with them is cut short, you won't have regrets: Your last words to both of them will be, "I love you." Maybe you don't understand what all of that means, so... just go call your Pa (even if it's 5 AM) he'll love to hear from you. Love,
Me/You/Us
P.S. When your Pa says stop running before you slip...
well we learned the hard way that you should have just
listened to him.
Dear Elementary me,
School's really not going your way. I'm sorry about that, it might not help much, but can I tell you a secret? Someday you'll be sorta good at it, and things will come more naturally. For now though, you need to figure out what works best for you. As hard as it is, maybe you shouldn't sit near your friends. Also, I know you had a bad experience with being forced to journal, but maybe she was on to something. Journaling will take you through some pretty tough times in life, so why not give it another try? Also stress balls will save you from fidgeting so much. Taylor, I know you hate who you are sometimes, but promise me one thing? Stay true to who you are. Eventually you'll mellow out, and one day in a college class, you'll understand yourself and your struggles a little better. Keep trying in school, stop rushing to be first, and strive to actually learn. Don't give up on yourself, because one day you will be blessed with some amazing teachers who won't give up on you either. Love,
Me/You/Us
P.S. I know what you're wondering... and NO
you won't ever learn how to smile in pictures
without squinting
Dear 3rd/4th grade me,
No matter how much crying, kicking and screaming you do, he isn't leaving. He really loves your mom, and he really loves you too. It's hard to believe it now, but this will end up being one of the best ever things to happen to you. You're going to have a family. That's what you've always wanted. He's going to be your dad. So stop running away crying whenever you see him, because one day you'll be running to him crying. I promise, you'll be really thankful for this man. Also he's going to miss you the most when you go to school... so be prepared for the many, many calls and texts! Love,
Me/You/Us
P.S. Don't worry that you didn't catch anything this time you went fishing, one day you'll out-fish your Papa and Pepere Bill.
Dear Middle School me,
know what's on the inside: you're scared, hurt, and lonely. I know you don't think you have any friends now, but someday you'll stop worrying about the quantity of friends, and you'll start focusing on the quality of friends, and trust me: you're going to have some quality friends. Life is getting pretty complicated, and suddenly things aren't quite what they seemed. You just discovered boys don't have cooties, and even though everyone else has a "boyfriend," don't find your value in a guy. Someday you (along with your friends) will look back and laugh on some of the interesting choices you made. Good news though: your weird "relationships" will be the extent of your teenage rebelling, much to the joy of your parents! Stop worrying about what others think, and start caring about what your Maker thinks. Please, just stop worrying. Love,
Me/You/US
P.S. I know you're on your way to "Young Authors."
Believe it or not one day you'll be rooming with a
girl who was in the same book as you.
Dear Junior Year me,
You are exhausted. Burnt out beyond belief. You need to learn how to take better care of yourself. No one gets the best part of you when you are so exhausted and short-tempered. I'm proud of you for being motivated to stay ahead in AP and your college class, but at what cost? Just do me a favor now, please, just breathe. Learn to take care of yourself: Take a jog, read a book, pray, spend time with God. You're not healthy. Well, now for the good news: The effects of your exhaustion will last for years, but don't worry, one day you really will no longer struggle with anxiety. More short-term: You're going to have an absolute blast at prom, you'll feel amazing, great: like you've never felt before. Coral is really your color so superb choice. Believe it or not you'll dance the night away... or well do that thing you call dancing, and no, you won't ever learn how to have rhythm (all though a lot of people will try to help you!) Love,
Me/You/Us
P.S. Remember that random school you cut out of a
magazine in September? Cedarville or whatever? Yeah,
you're going there, and you're going to absolutely love it.
Dear last semester senior me,
Stop being so anxious to leave the school. One day you'll miss the way the light floods through the door and blinds you when you head to English. You'll miss the way the halls ALWAYS smelled. You'll miss your mom being a few steps, rather than a thousand miles, away. You'll miss the kids who are "so annoying" (college fixes that all out). You're excited to get out and see the world, but this will always be home in your heart. You'll miss the views, the food (ah, poutine) and the people. Take time to love it now! Stop counting down the hours until you are "free" because graduating from high school isn't what will make you free: being you will. Don't pretend to be someone you're not. The people that see the "weird you" and still stick around are the only ones you really want to have in your life anyway. So you're a bit strange, it's okay, I'll let you in on a world-wide secret: everyone else is to. Get ready for college, make some friends, have a great last summer at home. Don't lie awake at night fretting about your future, but spend every waking minute being present in the moment. Live YOUR life, the one that God created you to live. Love,
Me/You/Us
P.S. One dark night on your way to the hospital, instead
of writing your graduation speech, you'll be planning your
Pepere's eulogy. Quit now... I'll spoil the ending: He makes
it, and I don't think there is anyone more excited to see you
get that diploma than him.
As much as I'd love to say these things to myself (and many... many more) I've also come to realize that some mistakes had to be made (again and again) in order for me to come who I am today. So do I have some regrets? Sure, and people often remind me of them. Do I wish I would have spared myself from some pain? Who wouldn't?! But at the end of the day, my past made me who I am today. So I guess if I were given the opportunity, here's what I'd day: Sir, your time machine is really neat but I'm going to decline your offer. It's tempting but I guess I'd really prefer not to travel back in time just to save myself some mistakes and pain, because in the end, I think I turned out okay.
