Hey. It’s me. Well you. Yeah. You get it. I’m you in the future. There are just a few things I want you to know. I wish so desperately that you could fully grasp these things and we have the chance to put them into practice.
First off, life is going to be great. It’s beautiful! You will do things that you never, ever thought you would get to do by the time you are eighteen. Like travel to Italy; see the Colosseum, ride a gondola in Venice, visit the most perfect place in the entire world- San Gimignano. You will have friends that will stand by you through anything. You will laugh, a lot. You will learn to swing dance. You may not be good at it, but hey, you’ll love it as much as you think you will. You’ll (hopefully) go caving, and backpacking.
It’s not going to be easy, though. You will be scared, very, very, scared about growing up. You will battle anxiety, and depression, and a bunch of crap like that. People will get on your nerves. You won’t ever get a lead in one of Mrs. Cap’s plays. You will feel alone at times. Relationships that you thought were steady will change at the least opportune time. Grandparents will begin getting sick and you’ll worry and cry a lot.
Now that I've got that covered, can I give you some advice?
Practice piano, every day for as long as you can. Listen to Mom, because she really does know best. Tell her everything. Sing, at the top of your lungs, all the time. Don’t be afraid to talk about your problems. Painting your new room green is a good idea, even though mom says it’s not. You’ll still like it in ten years. Life goes by so fast, so please enjoy it. Getting older doesn’t bring freedom, you’ve got it right now. Go climb a tree, woman. Spend more time outside. Play house every day. The time is coming when you wish you could still play like you used to, and you will enjoy the memories of playing. Read, anything and everything. Don’t give up dance lessons- especially tap. Please, don’t give up dancing. You’ll come back to it (sort of) and wish you had kept up. Laughing is key, so find the humor in everything. Spend time dreaming.
I know you are careful with your heart, but, just so you know: soon you’ll get a crush on a great guy. I mean a really great guy. But while you’re at college he’ll break your heart. Unintentionally, but he will. Just begin preparing yourself, it's not going to be easy. On the subject, you may as well give up your dreams about being sixteen. You won’t go on your first date (you won’t even have a boyfriend by the end of freshman year of college) or get your first kiss or have a boy ask you to prom. You will get your license, though, and it’s awesome. Driving is awesome.
Overall life at eighteen will be good. You will still love Robin Hood and Peter Pan and Disney in general. You’ll still love music and acting and imagining and pretending. You will be surrounded by people who love you. You will still love writing. You will love people deeply. You will adopt a “little sister” and love her as if she were related by blood. You will try to be someone she can look up to. You and Sara will be best friends. Mom will also be one of your best friends. And Daddy. You’ll have disagreements, but you’ll love him even more than you do now. Yeah, I didn’t think it was possible either. He is and will be the absolute best dad you could ever ask for. So hug him a lot.
Little me, be careful but take risks. One of the best decisions you’ll make will be a complete leap of faith. But I’ll keep that one a secret. ;)
I still don’t know what comes next. Life next year is just a big question mark. I’m working on it though. We may end up being a music teacher! and we may end up going to Gordon, just like mom did. I don’t know who we will marry or anything like that, but I know that God is good. He’s not nearly done working with you yet. This is just the beginning.
So just take it a day at a time. Life doesn’t seem so big when your God is bigger, and it’s not so threatening when you take it step by step.
This is going to be one heck of an adventure, Rach.
Best regards,
Future you.
