Back in September I followed a prompt to write a letter to 16-year-old me. My mom loved it and wondered what it would be like if I wrote other posts like it. I think she had other types of posts in mind when she said that, but when I wrote that letter I thought it was a rather anticlimactic year to write about. Sixteen was just an ordinary year, but there are other years that I think back on and would probably be more interesting to write about. I hope you will all join me in reflecting on our younger selves and talking to them during November’s theme week!
[I’m a little older than 12 in this photo, but it’s the closest to 12 that I have easily accessible in an okay quality and digital file because… I’m old. :)]
Dear 12-year-old Crystal,
Can I give you a big hug? I feel like you need a big hug. You’ve needed one ever since you were 9 and your world changed. If you take one thing away from this letter, let it be this: you will get through this and you’ll be happier sooner than you expect. I know that you think you won’t be happy until you’re 18 and you can leave Minnesota far behind you. That feels like a long way off, but I promise you won’t have to wait that long.
So, if you’re going to stick with me long enough to read more of this, here’s what else I’d like to say.
1 // You don’t need to diet. I know you think you do, but you really don’t. You don’t need to try to figure out how to sneak Slim Fast into the house and you should definitely eat your meals.
2 // That girl that you want to be friends with? You know, the one who seems so cool and popular and maybe, just maybe, life would be better if you sat with the “popular” kids? You don’t want to be friends with her. I mean, I’m sure she’s nice, but you get over wanting to be part of the popular crowd. Maybe not completely and you’ll have moments growing up when you want to fit in with them (it’s not that you don’t–you get along with them, you’re just not their BFFs and that’s okay). But overall, you’ll soon enjoy exploring your own interests and doing your own thing. Also, you’ll have the coolest group of friends at your side–the group of friends that’s forming right now. In fact, this is the year you’ll meet the friend that you’re still besties with now, years later. And I mean years! (You just went out for lunch with her this weekend… sushi… I know, you eat sushi now. Weird!) That new girl that K brings to lunch? That’s her!
All this is to say that I know it hurts now that you’re not accepted into the group that you’d like to be accepted into, you’re gonna be fine with it. Seriously. Just hang in there!
3 // Have fun with Mr. G as your science teacher! He’s going to be a standout teacher in your mind years later. Also, when you have to dissect a frog in class your lab partner won’t be helpful. Don’t even try to convince him that he should lend a hand, because you’ll waste a lot of class time. The TA will help, though. And by help I mean he’ll dissect it for you, since you really won’t want to. Just ask him from the start. Also, you love Mr. G (obviously) and you’ll love your teacher’s next year as well. School will start to be fun!
That’s all. Just hang in there, Crystal. This year sucks. Well, the past few years have sucked, but you will get through it.
Give Caramel a hug and kiss for me. Straighten his years and watch them flop in different directions again. Enjoy that sweet, little bunny.
Lots of love from your older self!
Crystal
PS – 7
What would you say to your 12-year-old self? Leave a comment and I’ll share your thoughts along with a link back to your blog or other social media at the end of the week!
9 Comments
Lorey
November 24, 2015 at 2:38 pmAww this is so sweet! 12 was such an important age for me as well! We moved to a new town, I started going to a private school and made a bff that was almost as weird as me on the very first day- I’m still friends with her now, in fact. So funny to see what was so important and life changing to us then. Makes putting the things that seem like that to us now into perspective, as well.
claire
November 24, 2015 at 4:28 pmah, I love this! I would definitely say the same about the ‘cool’ kids. And that group of boys you really want to notice you? Well years down the line you will be glad they didn’t!!
Emily Anne
November 24, 2015 at 4:40 pmI’ve been writing letters to my past self too. I’ve actually been working on a post like this for awhile and kept leaving it. This inspired me to go back to it! Thanks for sharing!
Alexandra @ My Urban Family
November 24, 2015 at 5:02 pmThis is such a cute post idea! Love it 🙂
Shamira West
November 24, 2015 at 5:43 pmI used to have a diary where I would write letters to myself and then read them the following year to remind myself how much I have accomplished and grown. I loved this post. I used to always want the “cool” & “cute” boys to notice me in school, but they never did. After seeing some of my old classmates on Facebook today, I am glad they didn’t notice me haha (they are not so cute anymore).
Emma @ The Happy Journal
November 24, 2015 at 6:06 pmI absolutely love these prompts. I wrote one myself about a year ago, and it’s so funny to look back on how you used to be. Sweet!
Emily
November 24, 2015 at 6:23 pmOh man, my letter to 12 year old me would be hillarious, like “remember to shower and yeah, all those girls that spend hours curling their hair before basketball games? It’s okay you don’t do that. And you were right, the world still loves Justin Timberlake.” ☺️
Sydnee
November 24, 2015 at 10:09 pmI’ve always loved the idea behind letters and vlogs to younger years. I’ve contemplated writing them for a while and think that maybe I finally will.
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More
November 25, 2015 at 11:23 amSO so so so sweet! And honestly, a few points that I think a lot of us can relate to.