#theawkwardphase

Our pre order is up and rolling!

I decided to write a letter to my 17-year-old self. Throughout the process, I found my tone unyielding and almost desperate. I let up a bit though. I mean this was the after-age of my pre-teen partying, and incomprehensible odd decisions. I am also proud.

Dear 17-year-old Chele,

So. Let’s start off superficial, it’ll be easy for you to relate. Your fashion does indeed improve. You’ll never fit in with the new, or the bold. You’re an old soul and no matter what they say, with your wind-dried beach hair, you will always be you—stop buying dresses off of Victoria’s Secret. They are not age-appropriate, nor classy.

You may work 3 jobs but soon enough it’s all going to that life-saving 4runner you’re about to buy. You eventually roll the SUV over going 75+ mph when you get home from your Round The World trip. Forget the trauma. Momentum is a bitch to stop and, you heard me right, a RTW trip. You don’t know it yet but you’re a traveler at heart and soon enough, just going out of state for University won’t be enough.

Stop envying your skinny girlfriends. Things change. Trust me.

Smile. You really do look bothered when you don’t smile. Mom is going to teach you something about confidence and business. She’ll point it out when you’re stilling at a coffee shop, people-watching.

Zane is getting big, I know. It’s weird being an aunt isn’t it? And now Jada? You better start getting involved, this aunt thing is only going to get bigger and brighter. Good luck with those innocent questions kids tend to ask…

Speaking of children, maturity isn’t always a virtue.

People have been telling you for years how mature you are for your age. People want you to think it’s such a great thing. But guess what? As you age, you’ll hear people telling you quite the opposite. We eventually figured out that maturity can easily be a euphemism for boring if we’re not careful. Help bring the childhood message of curiosity and discovery up to adulthood application.

You may think you keep losing friends. You are. It feels lonely however I trust you’ll turn that loneliness into sincere solitude. In a few years, you’re going to sift through the madness and surround yourself with only the best.

There’s a lot to learn. It’ll always be this way. Even when you’re 25. So promise me this and understand it. Read every book on that list; keep in mind contrary to many self-help books, it’s not all about YOU.

Do everything you’re afraid to do. Be willing to work hard. Kill em’ with kindness.

Plan your next move without telling anyone, the independence is addicting. There will be a few rude awakenings. Accept them. You are 100% accountable for every move you make.

I may not sound like I’m on the same page as you are right now, but things change. Like I said, my style has improved. I at least don’t cut my own bangs anymore.

As you head off to college soon, I just want to end on one note: you simply don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to.

I’ve never loved you so much,

Chele