Most people write letters to their future selves to keep track of goals they want to accomplish, or to laugh about how pathetic their tiny worries were in that moment, or just to feel as though they have a friend in themselves by writing a letter that will arrive at a later date. Time capsule letters are all the rage and as an appreciator of sending a bit of your past into your future, I started thinking about the possibility of sending a little wisdom from the future to the past. If my 13 year old self were to get much needed advice from older, wiser, more white-haired Jo, it would look a little somethin’ like this:
Let your curly hair get as big as possible; a little frizz never hurt anyone, unless it’s raining and you get caught in other people’s umbrellas
Let your light shine just as bright and big as your uncontrollable hair
Don’t let people try to dim that light for any reason
Your dark circles will never go away, let it go
Your AIM name, BabyBugJazz will not live past 2008, neither will AIM for that matter, enjoy getting creative with those away messages while you can
Do not, I repeat, do not shave your legs every single day unless you want to look like Chewbacca by 18
Run to clear your mind, run to appreciate your physical body, run often
Learn the definition of tenacity and start applying it to everything you do
You’re still going to hate flying in airplanes ten years from now, deal with it
Understand digital media, YouTube will be paying your rent in a few years
Don’t overwax your eyebrows, they’re fine how they are
Also, stripless wax is the business
You won’t use your college degree, you’ll be burried in debt, and the world will still go round
What college will be good for is making connections, so start learning how to schmooze
Skip class (moderately) because it won’t matter in the end, you’ll learn almost everything you know outside of the classroom
Moments don’t last forever, but you can’t change it, so enjoy all the good moments and create your own forever within each one
Pull your shoulders back, and stop stomping your damn feet, you’ll end up having back and neck problems before the age of 25
Those boys you have a crush on that ignore you, they’ll want you in a few years and you’ll be turnin’ the other cheek
Even though you don’t think your skin color is an issue, other people will. Be proud of who you are and let it show despite their illness
If you’re worried about cellulite and stretch marks now, in a few years you’ll laugh at how dumb you sounded
Enjoy not having debt until the bitter end
If you lose some money know that it’s not the end of the world, you can always make more
If someone copies your work, have no fear, you’ll come up with even greater ideas. And trust me, it will happen
Don’t you dare stop creating, writing, speaking, learning, and exercising your brain, even when you feel helpless and crappy
When you’re stressed, have more fun
Drink water and wear sunscreen damnit
Painting your nails every single day isn’t helping anyone
Start loving getting lost, those are the unique times you’ll be present
Don’t stop learning how to play instruments, music is one of the few things that connect you to something greater
Things will never be easy, you’ll always have to work harder and smarter than your peers, and that’s ok, it creates more of a triumph throughout the journey
Make time to grow a relationship with yourself
Don’t stop writing in your journals, think of all the novels you’ll have written by the time you’re 80
Cutting out toxic people from your life will make the world of a difference
Don’t join cliques, I know you don’t want to, but just in case you ever consider it, don’t
Be curious, ask questions about everything
Zodiac signs are not the only defining factor in someone’s personality, don’t assuming things about people; make educated estimates
Always thank those who have given you food, and shelter. Thanks mommy!
Say I love you to your family members as often as you can, and mean it
If you focus on the past, and the future, you can’t possibly appreciate the present
Know that happiness is the only thing worth fighting for
If you were to send yourself a “letter to your 13 year old self” what advice would you give your little you? Comment below!
Write a comment