A letter to no one

19th March 2025

Dear Younger Me,

I am currently sitting down at the wooden desk, on a very uncomfortable dining chair, hoping to take some things off my mind. There is a lot I need to tell you and I wish I could go back in time to give this letter to you.

Right now you are about 15 years old, going through hormones, emotions, changes and frustrations. Your home isn’t your safe space, school gives you anxiety, your friends don’t seem like friends anymore. It is hard. Really hard.

You are probably looking at yourself in the mirror, hating every part of your body, crying or screaming inside, maybe… The Internet isn’t helping, is it? All the perfect models and influencers, sharing their perfect life routines, flawless skin, shiny hair, skinny bodies. Makes you feel like you are gross, ugly, or broken.

Well, you won’t believe this, but you aren’t any of those things. Your body is to be yours alone, and no one will ever compare to the beauty you have, not only on the inside but also on the outside.

Being beautiful or pretty is just a subjective opinion, not a fact. You won’t be beautiful in everyone’s eyes, just like not everyone is beautiful in your eyes. But tell me, does it matter? Is it just so important to be admired for your looks? What about your generosity or kindness? I remember that time you used your pocket money to cover that old lady’s missing few dollars for her food shopping. I remember that time you spent hours of your free time helping sort out the books in the library after some not-so-funny kid decided to rearrange the books into the wrong sections. I remember that time you left an anonymous note for the teacher, after one of the class clowns disrespected her, and she was on the verge of tears. She eventually cried from how nice your note was.

And this is the beauty you should be striving for - the beauty of helping, being good, and kind to others. Who cares if you have split ends in your hair? Who cares if you get a few more spots on your face when you get your period? Who cares if your jeans get a little rubbed off spot between your thighs?

I know it is hard when people say mean things to you, when they mock you for your looks, when they don’t see the real you. The only reason they do it is because they are ugly… Their hearts are ugly, so it doesn’t matter how they look on the outside.

It won’t be easy to ignore the remarks, to not doubt yourself, and to stay confident. But as a 50-year-old version of you, I can promise you that with time, effort and hard work, you will learn to ignore it. You find peace and comfort within yourself, because you are enough, you are beautiful, and you are kind. Do not ever let anyone make you believe otherwise.

Brace yourself for a roller coaster of emotions when you grow into an adult. Life is not easy. It seems even as if it gets harder with time, and maybe it does, but during that period you will also learn, grow, improve, and develop. I want you to enjoy that time. I want you to keep seeking new experiences, new people, and new hobbies. Try everything that gives you at least the smallest amount of happiness, because it is only your responsibility to look for it - no one will bring it to you on a plate.

It is easy to fall back into the negatives of life, let the responsibilities overshadow the good parts, and feel horrible. I can’t promise things won’t get worse before they get better, but I can promise that they will improve if you keep searching and have an open mind for the good that life brings.

Be ready to sometimes take a step back before you can take two steps forward. It will never be as easy as just walking in one direction. There is nothing wrong with taking a break, allowing yourself time to reset, or even getting hit with something negative and falling back - something that at the time feels like the end of the world - but in truth it isn’t. What it is, is a setback, very much needed for learning and growing.

Please remember that your life is to be lived by you only. Don’t let anyone tell you what to do, how to feel, or how to process things. Everyone has a different path they will be walk; some people will be ahead of you, some behind, and there will be some people that can walk alongside you for a while. If someone starts holding you back, let them do it at their own speed, don’t keep holding their hand at your pace. Sometimes people who walk alongside you start walking faster, and it is okay. Let them go and do their own thing, because others will eventually appear at your side and join you at your pace.

There is no need to compare yourself to others. It doesn’t matter if it’s looks, lifestyle, jobs, or friend groups. All it matters is that you are kind, strong, resilient, and helping others. If you are that, everything else will fall in place. If you have these qualities, you will find peace. You will be a magnet to other kind people, and together you can share your good energy and never lose it.

There is a whole life ahead of you, full of struggles, tough times, happy times, lessons, excitement and beauty. You will fall down, but you also will pick yourself up. You will hurt, but you will also be happy. Do what feels best at the time - if it doesn’t work out, learn from it and move on. Next time you won’t do it again.

I do, however, want you to always (and I mean always) remember that you are enough, beautiful, gorgeous, extraordinary, incredible, and fantastic. You will find a person that will appreciate every part of you and will love you unconditionally and fully, even if right now it doesn’t feel like that. Please, do not doubt that.

Yours truly,

Older Me.