Dear Me....

A writer friend of mine just did a post about what she'd say to her twenty something year old self. I love this idea and have seen it similarly done with YA writers to their teen selves.

For me, the two biggest differences between where I was in my teens or early twenties versus now is that I feel like I've finally arrived. My younger self was always trying to prepare for life. It was always about what the next step was going to be whether it was getting into college or finding a first job or what city to live in or if I'd ever get married. But, now, all of those nagging questions have been answered. I found a city I love (DC), a great job with people I adore, and I did find the guy after all.

I'm not sure when it happened but somewhere along the way from 20 to 30 I stopped picking away at the pieces of me and started celebrating all of me. I became comfortable and confident and, now, I feel completely at peace. Finally, all that prep work is done. I'm living my life--and I'm loving it.

So here's my letter to my twenty something year old self (which could also very well be a note to my teen self too).

Dear Twenty Something Self,

1. STOP freaking out about how things will turnout and just live. Because it WILL all work out. The job. The boy. All of it. Just not at all how or when you thought. But trust me. When you get there you'll know and it's good. Really good.

2. Enjoy your metabolism. Enough said.

3. Never apologize for who you are or what you want.

4. ALWAYS remember Henry Ford's advice, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right."

5. Start reading YA sooner!

6. Start writing fiction sooner. Yes, fiction.

7. Do not dye your hair yourself. Just trust me on this one.

8. Take less money if it means more happiness. (You do this by the way! Good choice.)

9. Keep drinking wine and dancing barefoot. It keeps you sane.

Sincerely,
31-year-old (*gasp*) Sarah