Dear Me,

This post is inspired by Mental Exotica‘s beautiful post on a letter to her 16-year old self. She asks readers to share what they’d write to their 16-year old selves if given a chance. Since I’ve been sans any inspiration, this is the perfect excuse to get a post going!

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Dear TT,

If you think you’re having a hard time now, wait till you get to your late twenties!

Okay, not a good start. Let’s re-do this. So, 16 is not quite the blooming time you thought it’d be. Remember, fairy tales and movies are just that – fiction. But at least it helps you shape and colour your dreams, and that’s very, very good. You may not realise it now, but years from now it’ll give you a sense of clarity that is rare – you’ll know what you want. As you’ll gather from the world around you, not many will be able to stake claim to that.

You’re feisty and confident, and you’re discovering a lot of new things about yourself (positive ones at that) – hold on to it. Remember, that regardless of how terrible current circumstances may seem, you have the ability to persevere and surprise yourself. I know you can’t see that right now, but one day you will. It’s who you are.

Love may seem elusive right now, and I can tell it bothers you that the boys love hanging out with you but see you more as a buddy and less as a… well… err, chick. That’s cool because you see, most of these boys will still be in your life 14+ years on (those that won’t, weren’t worth your while to begin with) while the chicks they’re desperately trying to steal a kiss from now, will be less than a memory for them then. Even better than that is that it won’t matter to you – imagine that! More importantly, you’ll have learnt to distinguish a crush from love – very important lesson that. You know how you feel you take the short route to love, and an even shorter one out of it? Well… umm… that will change. You will fall, pardon the cliché, head-over-heels in love, and you’ll lose your way when trying to find the path out. But it’s okay. Your ability to re-build like you do right now, is what’ll hold you in good stead then.

Friends – they’re important. But you know this little fantasy thing you have going about – my friends are my world, they can never do any wrong, they understand me more than my family etc. Drop it! You’re right, in that you will meet some incredible people, and you’ll never be wanting for friends but regardless of how close they are to you or not, they will at some stage hurt you; just as you will, them. Be less unforgiving, and more accepting. Don’t try and keep everyone happy, that’s not going to happen. The ones that are happy (with you & the world at large), don’t need you to prove it to them; the ones that do, are only trouble masquerading as friends.

If this 30 year old could tell you one thing it is this: you’re special. Since special is different from regular, it means that while extraordinary things will happen to you, some of them will be extraordinarily rough. That however, is what’ll make you even more special. Regular folks may not get you, and happiness may play truant for a while… yet, at the end of it all, you’ll be happy. You’ll lead life on your terms, and that is so, SO brave.

Brace yourself, it’s a bit tough but hey, we believe in a good fight, don’t we?

Love,

The 30-yr old TT

PS: This is the thinnest you’ll ever be! Enjoy it 🙂