I’ve read plenty of ‘Letter to the Younger Me’ letters and it got me thinking, there’s no point in doing one to my past self, I’m not that person anymore, and I can’t change what has been done, but I CAN help myself in the future, so here is a very public letter to my future self. I hope it inspires you to do the same, mentally or otherwise.

Dear Melise,

By now, I hope your still sipping on rum, (maybe step it up to rum cocktails?) and catching up with friends, even if it’s from the comfort of a retirement village. If not, I hope for your sake they have lowered the retirement age, so you’ll be there soon, or maybe you’ve escaped to Bali to live a life of luxury. In that case.. go girl!

In all seriousness, I’m writing you a letter to keep you on track, I know you worry, and that’s not good for our face, so I’m giving you a cheat sheet on what’s important, and what’s worth making time for.

Spend time with people you love. That’s first and foremost, always. I hope you have kept in touch with all the people who have changed you. I hope you have kept them close, through the good and the bad times. I hope you remind them of how important they are to you, and they know how grateful you are for them. Pick up the phone, make some plans.

Trust that things will work out or change them if you don’t like the charted course. Eat food cooked from scratch (I know you are too lazy to do now). Go outside, even when Netflix is calling.

Teach young people how to shake someone’s hand properly (what’s with the flimsy hands people?).
Write down your thoughts. Tell your stories. Tell others’ stories. Listen. Set goals, both crazy and reasonable.

Never stop holding on to hope. It may cause pain, but you will get through. Are you still eating burger rings? Good.

Despite the frustration, I hope you’ve forgiven all the people who have hurt you, and I hope their pain doesn’t matter as much to you anymore. I hope you’ve filled your life with people who only lift you up. But above all of it, be present, hug those around you. Ask them how they are doing, and truly listen. LOVE your family unconditionally, continue to stir trouble with your Dad so people continue to tell you how alike you are, and you can see his one in a million grin, and be a shoulder of strength for your Mum.

I hope you’ve found the skin you feel the most comfortable in, and I hope you never take it off.
I hope you have managed to figure it all out, the ins and outs of life. If not, you’ve got time, you might discover it all laying on a beach in Bali..