Dear Me,
As the new school year begins to become familiar and you’re starting to realize how much you actually have on your plate, I hope you stop and take the time to appreciate and reflect on what is actually different this year; whether it be about yourself, about your environment, or who you surround yourself with. I want you to assess what part of your persona you want to focus on. You’re at a point in your life where change is constant. You’re more serious about who you are and who you ultimately want to be. With all of this being said, something I hope you understand is that the person you ultimately do want to become is potentially, internally, and technically already the person you are. You just have to reflect on what you want and steer yourself along that path. The good thing about all of this is that your path is only written until now, so it’s up to you to pave it from here on out. Here are a few things I hope for you as you continue to morph. Consider it somewhat of a pep-talk:
Let go of the negative, and learn from it.
First off, stop sweating the small stuff and let go of any irrelevant hiccups. No matter what situation, endeavor, choice, or experience you’ve faced in the past, specifically the negative ones, I want you to remember that it is always, in some way, enriching. If not enriching in fortune, then enriching in lesson. I hope you always cherish it all and find the most positive meaning. As a wise man once told you, “Once you move forward, it will all be history and history doesn’t hurt you.”
Keep an open mind and always let yourself understand.
Perspective is really important. Understanding situations other than your own and putting yourself in other people’s shoes is so influential to your own understanding of your own life and your place in this world. Always stay aware. Don’t pick situations and people apart to the point where you are completely stuck on the endless question of “why are people the way they are” because not everyone is meant to understand each other. There is always more to experience, there are always more people to meet and in the end, you will find your people anyway.
Be confident in confrontation. Don’t be afraid to connect.
What I mean is, be confident in interacting with other people and connecting with them. In a day and age where physical interaction is becoming more and more masked by virtual interaction, I want you to never lose sight in the importance of truly connecting with people. Whether it be through conversation, compliment, or even a smile, it all matters. Also, be confident in expressing how you feel. I’m tired of everyone thinking that caring less wins. We’re selling ourselves short of the ultimate human experience: empathy.
Don’t settle for less then you deserve.
Remember in Perks of Being a Wallflower, how after Sam vents about her rough streak with guys she asks, “Why do I and everyone I love pick people who treat us like we're nothing?” and Charlie responds, “We accept the love we think we deserve.” Well this pertains not only to love situations you encounter from here on out, but also in any friendship or really anything at all. I believe we, as humans, have a tendency to settle for what’s immediate, for what’s comfortable and for what’s easy. But just because it’s any of those things, doesn’t mean that it’s what you truly deserve. You deserve to feel excited, to feel truly complete. You deserve to be content so don’t deceive yourself.
Stop convincing yourself that it won't work out before you even give it a chance.
Yes, this can relate to love as well but I’m more specifically referring to your projects, your ideas and any endeavor or dream you want to commence. Stop doubting your talent and stop doubting your capabilities. You’ve been hearing the phrase, “you never know until you try” since forever. Now’s the time to really put those prepubescent words to good use, my friend, because they are certainly true.
Channel your creativity and make time for it.
I believe in what you’re capable of creating and I want you to really focus on using your free time to do something productive. Remember yesterday when you asked yourself, “What am I doing with the time that I’m not doing anything with?” Well here’s the answer for what you should be doing: anything. It doesn’t even have to be something creative. I know you understand how precious time is, use it wisely.
Surround yourself with stimulation and inspiration.
If anything, you surely know that a lot of who you are ties into your environment and the people you surround yourself with. Therefore, surround yourself with things that make you feel alive, make you feel like you have a purpose and inspire you. I promise you, if you do this, you WILL be the best version of yourself.
Don’t rush.
I know at times you just want to be at the next step. Whether it is another age older, being in a different place or being at some future point in your life, I need you to really take the time to enjoy the ride because time is something you never get back. Live in the moment, you’ll be there soon enough.
So self, (and whoever else is busy becoming who they are), I hope you remember these things as you continue to set forth on your path of self-discovery. Surely you will develop more reflections as you continue to experience life. I feel like, no matter what age, we’re always in-progress, always learning, always developing. As Frantz Fanon once said, “In this world through which I travel I am endlessly creating myself” and I know that’s a quote you have always lived by. Never lose the beauty of striving for more. I believe it’s important to stay consistent on your journey, but there’s always room for growth. I hope at the end of this school year you can look back and say you’ve been busy creating yourself. Keep your spark bright and never stop reflecting, it keeps your mind clear.
With love always,
With sweet thoughts always,
Me-In-Progress
