Advice long overdue, but not too late

#Reverb10 is a blogging initiative that provides prompts each day of the 31 days of December with the intent of reflecting on the past year, specifically 2010, and looking forward to what’s to come in the year ahead.

 

The Prompt(s)

Future Self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?)

Dear Jenn,

If you are reading this letter, that means you are in your junior year in high school, just one year after you had to pack up whatever special things you could cram into your dad's green Toyota Camry and leave the only home you ever knew.  The room you called your own, and the house filled with memories, good and bad, are left behind as you move 1600 miles away from your best friend--the one you passed notes with in the halls, and ate lunch with every day.  Stay strong through this long transition, it's a hard one and no one can be there for you, but remember that you have a resilient heart and a strong will.  You inherited those from your grandma.  As many a nights as you drench your pillows with your tears, it won't change your new journey and all the challenges and hurdles that will be placed in front of you.

As diligent as you are about keeping your friends close, regardless of those 1600 miles, with your phone calls and letters every week, the friendship will fade.  As persistent and hopeful as you are in your heart, existence of tangibility will be the deciding factor.  You two will grow apart as you go off to college and move forward with your dreams.  Don't forget the years you spent together as you grow apart; and reminisce in the times you did your history homework together after school every day, and talked on the phone after dinner most nights about what to wear to school the next day and the book choices in English.

When you go off to college in a couple of years, you'll meet some of the most amazing people.  You'll make some everlasting friendships, and others that find their end sooner than you would hope for.  You will learn about yourself spiritually, energetically, mentally, and emotionally.  You aren't very open to people who wish to push their religious beliefs on you, but keep your ears open and be true to yourself.  Make your decisions wisely and don't be so hard on yourself.  We all make mistakes...it's apart of being human.  Don't search so much for other people's forgiveness, but be fulfilled with your own. 

You will fall in love and with each time you go home to visit him during breaks from college, you will realize that you two are headed in very different directions.  Learn from the experience--that you are capable of loving someone with your entire heart, and that at that moment you feel he is deserving of every ounce.  Eventually you will say goodbye with grace... and you will learn to let yourself love again.

As you become more involved with your various commitments, remember to stop and breathe.  You will accomplish a lot and you don't want to get yourself burned out from over-exerting your energy.  Don't let yourself get lost.  Don't forget who you are.  You are sweet and honest.  But you are filled with so much doubt and fear.  Don't be afraid because with every hurdle you overcome, there is something amazing waiting for you on the other side.

You will journey outside of the country, to England... as scary as it sounds... you will be not just miles away from home, but across an ocean.  This experience will change you, shake you to the core because you will find out what it means to be alone, and learn so much about yourself.  You will become acquainted with people across all faiths and cultures, and travel through historic locations... and become filled with inspiration and charm.

You will go through job changes as the economy falls and rises.  You will meet so many people, explore friendships and relationships, and find intimacy and love from people you may not have met, had your path not been paved with these bumps and turns. You will experience hardship and loss; remember to keep your head up and and that you're a strong cookie.

Don't close your heart off.  Take risks, and take comfort in the unknown instead of fearing it.  Embrace the quiet, and inspiration as it comes.  Don't try to force things to happen--they will happen with time.  Be patient and above all be proud of yourself.  You will accomplish so much.  I, for one, am very proud of you.

Love Always,
Jenn