A Letter to my 18 Year Old Self

Dear Younger Me,

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Always remember that.

College will be an important four years of your life.  And perhaps they will be the best four years of your life.  Don’t take them for granted.  You’ll take some hard classes.  You’ll take some easy classes.  And you’ll take those mind-numbing classes that every freshman has to take.  Do well in every one of those classes.  You may not think so, but all of your hard work will one day pay off.

Continue to play soccer every day.  Your body will thank you for it and you will surely fall in love with the sport all over again later in life.  Take advantage of playing with the guys.  It will teach you how to “hold your own,” which is something you will need to know later in life.

Listen to your mother.  Even if you don’t like what she has to say, and even if you hate how she makes you do things you don’t want to do, she is one of the greatest people you will ever learn to love.  And she is one of the very few people on this earth that will ever love you unconditionally.  Don’t take her for granted and don’t ever disrespect her.  She gave up so much of her life so you could have one of your own.  Love her like she deserves because you are going to miss her when she is gone.

Listen to your brothers.  I know you don’t have the best relationship with them, but you have to realize that they really do care about you and they always want the best for you.  You don’t have to love them every minute of every day, but you do have to be a good sister to them.  Your oldest brother is going to need you at a very serious time of his life and you will need to sacrifice a new job to be there by his bed side.  And your other brother is going to need you for one of his most important moments of his life.  You won’t want to miss it.  Love them just as much as you love your parents.  Be a part of their big moments and be a part of their life in every way possible … because one day, they will be all you have.

You’re going to get your heart broken.  Not just once, but twice.  But you will bounce back from those heartaches.  Yes, it’s going to be painful at first, but like they say, time heals all wounds.  Just don’t let those painful relationships keep you from falling in love a third time.  Or even a fourth time.  Fall in love as many times as it takes for you to find “the one.”  And believe me, you will find him.  You may not spend the rest of your life with him, but trust me when I say that you will find him.

The “real world” isn’t what everyone thinks (or claims) it is.  It’s hard and at times, it’s not fun.  But you will learn that money doesn’t grow on trees and you have to earn every penny you spend.  You will go through a career-crisis, but don’t freak.  And even worse, you’ll go through a quarter-life crisis.  But eventually you will learn what sparks that passion inside of you.  And whatever it is, go for it.  Follow your heart, not your mind; your heart feels things your mind cannot see. 

You’re going to make mistakes.  Many of them.  Perhaps even over and over again.  But that’s okay.  You learn by making mistakes, right?  Don’t let people get the best of you.  Fight for what you want and nothing less.  Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not worth it.  Don’t give up on something you can’t live a day without.  Because one day you’re going to make it … and you’re going to shine like never before.

Be true to yourself.  Always and forever.

Love always,
Older Me