aTORO Thought: Letter to a Younger Me

This type of exercise pops up a lot on feeds, especially as millennials age into our 30’s. Asking us to "...think about what you would tell a younger you, help them feel more confident and less out-of-sorts, give them a different thing to hope for…." and while this will be a letter to my younger self, it may not be what is expected and maybe that’s the whole point.

My dearest 12-year-old Claudia,

I would say “I hope you’re well”, but I know for a fact that while you are experiencing so many beautiful things, you are also terrified. I’m not going to tell you not to be, but I am going to suggest that you breathe. Do a five count in and then a five count out, repeat that three times.

This may be hard to hear from me, but there is no big infinite moment of clarity coming for you. Your books and novels all have people to admire but they are also facing dragons (Eragon), medieval weaponry (Dragon Lance) or are attempting to run a business at 15-years-old (Heartland)…none of which is in your future.

You won’t own land yet, won’t own a horse yet, won’t own a dog yet, and you won’t be done paying off your student loans yet. And while these things make you wonder every so often if you could have made alternate choices, the amazing thing that has happened is that these “what-ifs” are no longer making you sad.

Believe it or not, you are, to quote our Pride and Prejudice version that’s coming in a couple years, “incandescently happy”, and oh boy we now fiercely enjoy where we are and what we can go explore before a “maybe” scenario occurs.

You live on the East Coast, you go see Broadway shows regularly, you have money in the savings account, you have incredible friends (seriously they are LIFELONG quality), you have nieces and nephews that you send hilarious toys to on birthdays and holidays and whenever you miss them (Amazon, invest now).

Here are some spoilers without context for you, some are life changing and some are life building:

·?????Spend the night whenever possible, some of the most defining things happen once a moment closes.

·?????Learn how to host amazing parties, Halloween will become your favorite for its unexpected happenings.

·?????Be present in your friendships when they are being built and sustained, not when you regret how they are going.

·?????People come into your life for a season, a reason, or a lifetime, know when a friendship has ended and be kind.

·?????Pick up the packet, even when you’re sad.

·?????Say yes when people invite you along, even if you weren't originally invited.

·?????Call Grandpa more than you think you should once you move away.

·?????Always identify yourself when you answer the phone.

·?????Invite everyone, everywhere because you hate being excluded and you definitely make it a mission to not do that to people as you keep growing up (so proud of you for that!).

·?????Fall in love with at least one part of yourself every year.

Well kiddo, that’s all I have for now. You are so loved and such a precious part of who we become. We are happy, I swear, and I can’t wait for you get here.

With all my love,

31 and soon to be 32-year-old, Claudia