(This is a concept suggestion of topics on Open Salon and I thought it was a brilliant idea to explore.)

Dear Me,

Oh, to be 17 again. Exciting plans, the sun is always shining, you’re in love, you got the best friends in the world, and you’re going places!

We have to talk. Have a seat.

Reality is going to hit you hard in about a year and a half. You’re going to find that security blanket you’ve had since you were 4 years old is going to be snatch away from you for life. You will find no answers to the questions of why. Try to breathe, slow down, and think of the good times. You will need those memories all through your life.  She would have wanted you to remember her that way.

College is going to be a major struggle for you. Do not let this bring you down or think you can’t make it out there. You are going to explore it all. You will be rich with knowledge through experience. You will achieve more things in your first 25 years in life than people will in their lifetime and then some. Life is not all about money and fame. And that asshole? There’s no room for losers, you’ll move on.

A dark night in December will change your life. Everything you once knew is no longer valid. I know it’s cold. I know you’re hurting. That pain will never go away but it’s not the end. People will need you, lean on you, depend on you, and respect you.  You are the rock, and you’ll remain the rock all till April. You will do everything you can do and you will get through it. This I promise.

This is when you’re life is going to kick up a notch. Fasten your seatbelt! 

You’re going to go on adventures you never even dreamed of. You are going to meet people at every turn and find some of them to be your new best friends you just met on happenstance. You will enter a wide world of employment in every field imaginable. With this come stories unmatched from anything you ever heard before. You will love your new southern life!

As you go, you are going to learn a lot about yourself. You will gain more confidence in yourself. You will believe in yourself more. You will even start being honest with yourself. You will be the happiest you ever been! Better than you are now!

Life is adventure. With risks come great rewards. Not everything is rosy, and I wouldn’t wish the bad events on anyone, but these things happen. It’ll be okay. You’re going to be okay.

If there’s any advice to heed, it is this: Learn to love. Learn to live. Learn to listen. When you’re approaching 35, you are going to be telling people “I’ve had some rough times, but I’ll do it all over again the same way. It has made me who I am today. And I love me.”

Live it up baby! Life is a celebration. In the end, it’s all about YOU.

Love Always,

Me