A letter to myself a decade ago

A letter to myself a decade ago:

You're 11 turning 16. You think you know it all, and, you do know a lot for an 11-year-old (keep reading those books), but you are also overtrusting. You'll make plenty of mistakes, and I'm sure I will keep on doing so too, just make sure you learn from them. Apologise when you should, be gracious in failure and defeat. However, stand up for what you believe in, keep calling out injustice and unkindness - try to do what's right even if it's hard.

Life is messy darling - please don't be fooled that these things only happen in the books you read and films you watch - you never know what's going to happen. Life will throw a lot at you, but you'll become stronger as a consequence. With every struggle, you will become wiser and kinder. You'll begin to understand others more than you ever thought you could, and they will be thankful that you will listen, so make sure that you listen more than you do now.

But please don't be afraid, they'll be some hard times, but you'll survive them, even if it will feel like you can't possibly make it through. You're happy now, but you'll soon realise that the world is cruel and you'll be cruellest to yourself. They'll be moments when you'll feel so low that it will feel like the whole world is filled with eternal darkness, but you must hold onto that hope you have because you have so much to live for and there are many people you care about you.

They'll also be some beautiful surprises - better than you can imagine. You will go to new places, meet new people and experience new things. You will fall deeply in love and understand why love is the most beautiful euphoric feeling. However, your heart will also break. But don't give up on love darling, keep loving with all your heart.

You will lose friends who will leave this world too soon, and you will lose friends you thought you needed like you thought you needed your baby teeth. You will also make new friends in unlikely places and keep some of the loyalist, most loving friends you have now. Always appreciate those who are there for you, they are the people we will love you no matter what, whether you are on the top step or down on your knees.

Keep dreaming, keep being too much, keep living.

Love from

Me x