A blog I enjoy called Rocks in My Dryer featured a letter to herself this past week. I loved it and while I can't compare to hers, as part of Just Write Tuesday I wanted to try one for myself. I would highly recommend the exercise. It was very fun.


Dear me (1986)

Hi. It's me. I wanted to drop you a line to let you know that boy who just broke your heart isn't worth one more tear. Life has someone so much better in store for you. So pull you head up off your pillow, wipe your tears and put a smile back on you face. You have so much more to offer, you just don't know it yet.

Another little thing I should tell you--your sister, I know she gets on your nerves, but someday she's going to live many hours away from you and your heart will ache with a need to see her. Oh you'll call her often, but those days when she wants to just "hang" out with you more than any of her friends, those days will soon fade and you will realize too late how much you miss them. Try to enjoy them.

Let's talk about mom. I know that lately you and her haven't seen eye to eye, but someday you will realize that she is struggling with problems you know nothing about and that she is doing the best that she can. Cut her some slack. One day it will dawn on you that you have become very much like her and that ain''t all that bad.

Don't get me wrong you won't see eye to eye on everything, but isn't that what makes life grand. How boring it would be if no one had a different opinion.

Dad will be faced with some hard decisions and will want reassurance from you. Try to give it to him. He just wants you to know that your opinion matters. Don't dismiss it.

Many things will change and that dream job of yours may never materialize in the way that you want. Oh you will see your name in print, but it remains to be seen if it will ever grace the spine of a book.

Remember that there are more important things than moving out of your parents home. One day you may go out of your way to drive by that very house just to see who lives there and if it remains red.

Your family will spread out all over the place and will welcome more new members than you can currently imagine, including a few step siblings. But at the core, there will always be the same players and while it is hard to imagine now you will appreciate all they have done for you more than you can imagine.

As for what's important, you and I won't agree on that right now. I can tell you this. Your values will change. What is important to you now will be but a memory today. Now go hug your sister and kiss your parents. Get out of your room more, open the door and let more people in. You won't regret it.

All my love,

Me (2008)

P.S. Wash that stupid black eye liner off. You look like someone punched you.