Sometimes, I wish that I could travel back in time and give my teenage self a hug and tell her everything is going to be ok. It seemed so hard back then – I made some stupid decisions which albeit, weren’t life shattering, but just made things a bit harder and more confusing. I wish I could just go back and give her some advice and some knowledge so things were a bit easier.

I got to thinking recently about what I actually would like to tell my younger self and even though it won’t ever get posted through time, I wrote myself a letter.

Dear Melissa,

I truly wish that I could sit down with you and talk to you about life so far. Everything seems really hard right now, but things are going to get better and better.

You’re probably a little sceptical, and I understand. Sure, it’s easy for me to tell you things will get easier, but how can you believe me? What can I say to you that will convince you it’s not as hopeless as it seems?

Well, let’s begin... Despite how it feels right now, school isn’t the be all and end all of your life. School is just the beginning and the world will become your proverbial oyster when you graduate. And the people that you go to school with? In the end, they are not really important. Sure, there are a few that are great, but the rest? They will eventually fade out of the foreground of your life, into the background, and then eventually they will disappear into obscurity.

That boy who was incredibly and maliciously cruel to you, the one that came to your birthday party, brining a crappy gift with him only to steal it from you at the end of the night? Well he will end up in jail. That other boy who called you names and made you feel ugly and worthless, he’ll throw his life away on drugs and booze and will become a drain on society, sucking the life out of everyone around him until they abandon him. The girls who you thought were your friends who constantly made things hard for you, who lulled you into thinking that they liked you even though they despised you for your frank honesty and your inability to accept their complete and utter bullshit? Well they will move on with their lives, just like you will, and they will become a distant memory.

Post-school life will be amazing. You will go to uni, get a job and carve a wonderful life for yourself. You will make some incredible friends, one in particular who you cannot imagine your life without. She will be one of the most important people in your life and she will make those “friends” you had at school seem like a bitter taste in your mouth in comparison. You will have so much fun with her and you will thank your lucky stars every day to have her as a friend.

Now, seeing as I am you, I know what your next question is going to be. What about boys? What happens? You are going to spend a long time questioning why you don’t have someone special in your life. You’ll feel like you’re not pretty enough, or not smart enough for that special someone, but you won’t be questioning yourself for long.

I can tell you right now that you are going to meet the most amazing man and your life will change instantly. This man is everything you have ever dreamed of: He is kind; he is smart; he is beyond handsome; he is incredibly funny; he loves animals; he shares the same passion for music you do; and most importantly he will love you for who you are. He will love every inch of you, he will worship you and he will make you feel like a goddess. You are without a doubt made for each other. You will see each other and fall in love instantly, and even though you will have to wait a while to have him, he will eventually be all yours and you all his.

You will talk about marriage and children straight away. You will move in together, travel together, learn about each other and fall more in love every day. He will make every single day of your life better than the last and he will be your lifeforce. He will be the reason that you wake up every day. The thought of him will motivate your every breath, every step, every heart beat. You will get married young and have an entire lifetime together.

See? Things look pretty great don't they?

Just hold in there, you’ll make it.

From,

You.