If there were a letter I have to write to my younger self, let’s say, to the twenty years old me, what will that letter look like? It’s a trending topic and I thought I might as well give a try !! Because we know ourselves most intimately, isn’t it.
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Dear,
I know you are trying to stay afloat and it feels daunting. But believe me however tough it may be to imagine, but your difficulties will eventually transform you into someone you’ll be proud of. I know you are constantly wondering what’s wrong with you. Believe me, nothing is wrong with you. You are okay. Absolutely okay. You just need to stop second doubting yourself.
So if you feel you are too sensitive. Know that it’s okay to be sensitive and it can be a gift. If you feel out of place, know that there’s place for every creature in this earth. Never feel apologetic about being unconventional or open. Never be defensive about your different opinions and non stereotypical thinking. Don’t follow the crowd if you don’t desire to. It’s okay to choose a different life than is expected from you. It’s okay to create your own rules and your own boundaries. And remember, if you feel that the whole world is against you, you haven’t really seen the world.
People’s opinion is their business not yours. Your business should be with you. It’s okay to be disconnected with people who you don’t connect with. With time, you’ll find your tribe. And often, we are not born in the tribe we belong to.
No one can define your success but you. It’s okay to be satisfied for less. it’s okay to be super ambitious. It’s okay to be a follower or a trendsetter. It’s okay to sit back and take it slow. It’s okay to chase goals aggressively. As long as you are truly in-charge of what you are doing nothing matters. Make conscious and not compulsive choices. Don’t let wilderness of race get you. Make a living but also make sure you keep the romance alive. Be in touch with what sparks the sense of wonder and joy in you. And pursue it diligently. Trust your gut. Trust your intelligence. Trust your ideas and your creative instincts.
You don’t need a soulmate. But It’s okay to fall in love and fall out of love. It’s okay not to fall in love at all. It’s okay to desire men. It’s okay to desire women. Or both. Accept yourself without a shred of guilt
Know that relationships are variable reality. Nurture them but don’t resist inevitable changes. Relationships evolve and often dissolve. And if it needs to break, let it break without fearing what may come. Let it break without labeling it as a failure. It can be painful. But embrace pain nevertheless. Don’t fear breakdowns. Nothing is meant to last forever in true terms.
Take your stand where you must. It’s not okay to let someone harass you, dismiss you or insult you for what you are. It’s not okay if someone pushes boundaries that you have put up for yourself. It’s not okay to let any other person decide the course of your life. It’s not okay to change yourself elementally to suit someone else’s need. It’s not okay to sacrifice your dreams just in order to be seen as an epitome of goodness.
Care for your friends as much as they care for you. Your friends will be there when things go stormy. But also know it’s okay to have friends or none at all. Don’t force friendships. As a matter of fact, don’t force relationships of any kind. Everyone has a right to choose their own values. You can’t force people to change just like people can’t force you to change. Live with that. If you can’t live with how a person is, don’t hesitate to walk out of his life for the time being. Or forever. And do so guiltlessly.
You might have the tendency to view world negatively. It’s not your fault, it’s just because of your experiences. Count your blessings daily. There are more blessings than you are aware of. And there are countless more to come. Who would know it better than me.
So don’t lose heart. The world is yours to see. Life is what you make out of it. Do so authentically. Live on your own terms.
Yours truly.
From a time yet to come.