Dear 20-year-old self,
I know you have many fears about the future. Instead of pursuing your dream job, you have decided to settle for something that is a sure thing. You are scared of failure. Soon you will find out it is not a sure thing, because you were never meant to do it. You will change your mind many times before you graduate college and that is okay. Every decision you make is the right decision for you at that time. Every failure is there for you to learn from your mistakes and become more aligned with your true self. Stop being scared of what people will think of you. That fear will slowly dissipate over the next twenty years. You have a lot to look forward to. Turning 40 is not so bad.
Being 40-years-old isn't at all what you are expecting. You are not old and wrinkly...okay maybe just a few....well actually you get many wrinkles after Millie comes along and you actually start considering botox. You don't live a boring domesticated life at 40 like you are thinking. In fact, there is never a dull moment in your house; especially because you have a husband with ADHD and a 4-year-old daughter that can have a melt down at any minute. Waking up to a husband that dances in the morning, dresses up in a T-Rex costume and says weird things is a daily occurrence for you at 40. Your daughter teaches you to be more patient, loving and to let loose and have fun every day. You are a better person because of them. You are thinking that at 40 you will never go out and have fun with your friends, but that has not happened yet! Yes, the nights out do not last very long (because we are old) and not as often, but when the fun nights occur, they are of high quality with insightful conversations. You do not have the same best friends at 40 that you have at 20. Your 20-year-old best friends will always be in your heart and you in theirs. You will always be able to pick up where you left off with them, but life has lead you in a different direction. When you get here to age 40, you will see, it is like a breath of fresh air. You will feel a sense of freedom from knowing yourself so well. You can say no when you want to and yes when it feels right. Your intuition has become your guide for decision making. You become fearless and start following your dreams. Your passions for helping animals and the youth of our nation continue to grow and are blooming into something magnificent. So please don't worry, my younger self, because you are on an exciting journey. Live each day knowing that every day is important and leading you to this place of freedom. Smile, sit back and enjoy the next 20 years!
