Dear Past Me,

Do not settle. You are worthy to be who you are, as you are each day. You do not have to look like everyone else. Well-meaning people will bombard you with opinions, thoughts, beliefs like, “Don’t major in English. That’s what people study when they don’t know what they will do in life.” Or tell you when you’re twelve, “You shouldn’t wear that bathing suit.” Do not let the words soak in. Turn your shell around front to cover your heart.

Do not bend and twist to make other people happy. Find your voice. Don’t hang on to the things that fight against your voice. The soulmates, friends, family, lovers will gravitate to you because you are who you are. Not because they want something from you. Your body. Your service. Your mind. If you find they only want something in return, face them. Tell them your feelings. You will okay if it doesn’t work out. A stronger love will find you. Move on. There is more than one soulmate in your life journey. Some of them are only staring in your life for a few scenes, some forever. If you bend so much your back breaks, then it is wrong. Don’t hide in your shell. Face the person.

When times are dark, a grim inner voice will haunt you. “You were not supposed to be born. Your existence was a mistake.” Taunting you into a corner. Just because the first man in your life chose not to acknowledge you has nothing to do with you. That is on him. You did nothing wrong. Your parents should not have been together, but something brought them together. That was you. Two incredible men will grace your world. You will raise them, and they will love you like no one else.

Keep moving straight ahead. When you encounter the curves in the road, slow down. Don’t be afraid to try a new road, maybe one that hasn’t been paved yet. You never know what you may find down the untraveled road in your future.

——————

Dear Reader,

This is a great exercise when writer’s block hinders or as journaling inspiration. Try writing to different ages of the past you, when you were 10, 16, 25. See where the road takes you.

After that, write one more letter, “Dear Future Me.” What will you write?

Photo by David Marcu via Unsplash