dear future self,

Whatever you do, don’t get stuck on the one thing that ruins your day. Smile and be grateful. Life is too short to waste on negativity.

I’m choosing happiness over suffering, I know I am. I’m making space for the unknown future to fill up my life with yet-to-come surprises.

You say your life is unraveling. Your life cannot unravel. Your life is your life. You haven’t lost it. It’s just different now.

Cause you never think that the last time is the last time. You think there will be more. You think you have forever, but you don’t.

Get excited about the little things. About wearing a new outfit for the first time. About Sunday brunches with your best friends. About the new cute guy in your class. About finding an extra dollar in your pocket. About anything that even remotely makes you happy because as you grow up, passions fade and enthusiasm gets mistaken for foolishness. So don’t let the grey world stop you from shining.

Document the moments you feel most in love with yourself - what you’re wearing, who you’re around, what you’re doing. Recreate and repeat.

I hate to say it, but shit really does happen. You just have to get over it. Beat the hell out of it by doing things that make you happy.

Close your eyes and imagine the best version of you possible. That’s who you really are, let go of any part of you that doesn’t believe it.

Dear Self, Growing means breaking old habits. It means finding a new definition for the names you’ve been called, it means filling in holes others left behind, it means forgiving /accepting yourself, it means refusing to believe you were never enough. Your starting grounds may feel like your only option, but they’re not. You can stay put, you can let your roots grow, or you can yank them out completely. You chose when and where you want to blossom; Let the sunshine in. You are more than what they’ve made you out to be. You have to believe in yourself the way you believe in others. Nourish yourself so that you may grow.

So, do it. Decide. Is this the life you want to live? Is this the person you want to love? Is this the best you can be? Can you be stronger? Kinder? More Compassionate? Decide. Breathe in. Breathe out and decide