Past, Present, and Future: Part 2

" Life is a journey, not a destination." ~Steven Tyler

A letter to my past self.

Hey kiddo, it’s me again. I know you’re getting tired of these talks. I mean, why should you have to listen to an old person? What do I know, anyway? I’m telling you, all of this will take you far when you get older. I didn’t get these grey hairs for nothing.

You’re probably wondering what life will be like. Adulthood is not the glamorous adventure you think it’s going to be. There are bills due, rent to pay, and you have to have a job to pay for it all. And don’t even get me started on the constant cleaning that needs to be done.

Your teen years through your 30s will be full of heartache and pain. Some at your own doing, but a lot of it will be caused by others in your life. There will also be some life altering events that will affect millions of people. It will seem like life won’t want to give you a break.

It won’t always be boring and hard. You will make great memories and friends along the way.

In high school, you’ll have Young Life where you’ll experience your first backpacking trip.

You’ll spend a short time in college. Life will get in the way of you going back, but you don’t need a classroom in order to get an education. You will know what I mean when you get older.

When you hit your mid-20s, you’ll really begin to blossom. Still a bit naive, maybe even gullible, but you’ll start to find your true personality. You’ll find your true self and will no longer have to hide who you are. Others will judge and disapprove, but don’t let them keep you from being authentic.

Your 30s will be the best time of your life. I mean, the best time. And you’ll experience so much. A lot of growth will happen during that time.

See, maturity isn’t just about the number on a birthday card. Maturity happens in stages. You make mistakes, and learn the lessons of those mistakes; each one bringing you closer to strength and resilience.

Life will start to make sense just before you turn 40, but be prepared for a mini mental breakdown. You will be wondering how you got this far in life and still have nothing to show for it. On the other hand, with all of the times that life got to be too hard, you still made it to that magical number. You will be older than your parents were when you boarded your first airplane.

You will love flying; the best part is the takeoff. So much adrenaline in those few moments.

The best plane ride you will take is the one that will take you on a trip abroad. That’s a story for another time. Just know, it will be the most amazing time of your life. Just something to look forward to.

How is that for surreal? Wild, huh?

You’re still really young, so 40 seems like a long way from where you are. It really isn’t, though. To be honest, some days I still feel like a kid. Other days, my body is ready for the grave. Don’t think too much about the ending to this story, because it ends with a happy ending.

Every day is a gift and don’t waste them on trying to please other people. Good or bad, people will have something to say about what you are doing. Get comfortable in your own skin and live life by your rules. Learn to love yourself, or you will never learn to accept love. There will be hard days, but there will also be good days. Mistake after mistake, lesson after lesson. In the end it will all be worth it. Don’t give up. And if you ever feel like giving up, promise me you will try just one more time. Give it just one more day. Don't make a permanent decision for temporary problem.

Catch you on the flip side, kiddo. Take care.

Until the next Spark,

Kat