WEGO Health Activist Writer's Challenge -- Day 10
"Dear 16-year-old-me. Write a letter to yourself at age 16. What would you tell yourself? What would you make your younger self aware of?"
Dear 16-year-old-Carrie,
It's 1994. You're a sophomore in high school. Bill Clinton is the president. Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by a fellow figure skater's boyfriend (or something like that)-- and she cried a lot. OJ Simpson was arrested in the killing of his wife (and later acquitted). Kurt Cobain committed suicide. Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his performance in Forrest Gump. Run Forrest Run!
It was definitely an interesting year. Looking back, life seemed more simple. But your feelings were so complex. John, Amy, and Angie were your best friends (and thankfully they have stuck by you all these years!) You desperately wanted a boyfriend. Your cried to your mom about not being kissed by the time you were 16.
You loved performing with the chorus and in school plays, even though it absolutely terrified you to be on stage. You were actually pretty brave, you know that? You hated always being the fat kid. The overweight girl. Yet, I can tell you now, you were beautiful and actually you were at a very healthy weight. Don't be so hard on yourself.
Stop worrying so much about what you'll do in life. Life has way of working itself out in ways you will never ever expect. Start exercising now, don't wait until you're 34. You'll feel a lot better, I promise!
You will marry an absolutely incredible man. You'll make a good choice. You will work as a team and you'll be best friends. It will be worth the wait!
You love art, but you don't realize it. Take an art class. Buy a set of watercolors. And write. Never, ever stop writing. Write for you. Don't do it for anybody else. Never forget who you are and where you came from.
You have the heart and spirit of a creative child. You will never stop believing in magic or loving the wonder of simple things like snow and rainbows. Value that in yourself. So many people live life without wonder, without delight, you my dear, never will! You will always be able to find joy and beauty where ever you are. That is a true gift.
You are shy, introverted, and thoughtful. Don't be ashamed of that and don't let people walk all over you. Find people who appreciate those aspects of you and will help you to grow.
You are more brave and strong than you think you are. Don't give up when things get hard.
And if for some strange reason we ever get the chance to do this thing a 2nd time, wait for that first kiss. It won't be slimy like the one you remember by that guy who you never really liked in the first place. Trust me on that :-)
And from here on out... it only gets better! Take it slow and enjoy the ride!
Your happy, loving life, 34 year old self
PS... you'll also be the author of a great food/life blog that you started because of those migraines (which you'll suffer with for a while, sorry about that), which led you to eating better foods and then you'll write a cookbook! How cool is that!
Well, you'll think it's cool in about 20 years... since you have no idea what a blog is at the moment!
PPS... take good care of your teeth. They need to last a while.
