I’d like to preface this post by saying, as a kid, I used to write letters to “My Future Self,” hide them around the house—tucked away in a bin, in a book I know I’ll eventually go back to, or just a message written on an object itself—and hopefully find in a couple years as a fun, little anecdote to look back on. I actually stumbled upon one about two weeks ago, as I was cleaning out my room and found about a page’s worth of words scrawled across the underside of a lid on a bin under my bed. I thought I’d take this opportunity to write a letter back to myself. 

A Younger Version of Myself,  

I wish it were possible for me to go back and tell you what I know now. I wish it were possible for me to go back and save you from embarrassment. I wish I were able to tell you which battles aren’t worth fighting. I wish I could save you from the shock that some people true colors aren’t as alluring as you think. I wish I could do a whole lot of things for you that I can’t. But there is one thing I can tell you, so if you take anything away my letter, let it be this: I wish I could save you from the pain, the heartbreak, and the mistakes you are going to realize you want to take back, but trust in me, you will come out on the other side of these hardships with a new sense of character that you would do it all over again for. 

I want you to be proud of yourself. I want you to forgive yourself for all of the limits you ever set on yourself. Forgive yourself for all of the times you told yourself, “I’m not enough,” or “I can’t do it.” Because something I’ve learned along the way is I was always enough, I was always capable; the only person who told me otherwise was my own voice taunting me in the back of my head. I want you to know you can do it. Hell, you can do anything you set your mind to if you want it enough. I know that’s a cliche, and you’re probably scoffing at me in the back of your head, but you better believe the world is yours. Own that sh*t. You are enough. In fact you are more than enough, you’re a beautiful, intelligent, wonderfully chaotic mess, and you’re going show the world just how much that has to offer. 

I want you to never be apologetic. I want you to live. I want you to feel it all. I want you to try everything you can get your hands on, and squeeze all that you can out of that experience. Push yourself out of your comfort zone, because you will find these experiences mean so much more than just ‘doing what you do best.’ Be loud about the things you believe in. Always make a statement. The mess is beautiful. You will figure things out as you go, I’m still learning, we’re all still learning—for God’s sake, I think the only thing I know for sure, is that there are no certainties. But that’s exactly the point. Make the most of every second you’ve got, and be 100%, authentically yourself because honestly, there’s really no more time to waste doing anything but that. 

And most of all, if I haven’t made this clear enough, I want you to believe in yourself. Or at least fake it till you make it. I’m a big believer of that statement. Trying something new and change in general is uncomfortable, I’m not going to pretend it’s isn’t. All I can hope is that you jump into it, knowing that whatever this world decides to throw at you, you’ll handle it with grace. There is so much left to the unknown as we go into each day, but do not let that deter you. Any obstacle is only as strong as you let it be, and you have always had the strength inside you to overcome them. 

In this society, I truly believe you are rewarded with what you earn. And in that sense, anything is possible if you work for it, the key is just believing you can. You are unique. You are brave. You are strong. You are kind. I want you to look at yourself and love yourself, because it is you that got you this far, and it is you that is going to take you to all of the beautiful places you’ll go. 

Sincerely, 

Your Future Self

Emma Charles