To preface this letter, I want to say that this idea was inspired by the song “Crave” by Paramore. It’s really put a lot of my past in perspective simply by making me look at it from where I am now.

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Dear 22 Year Old Me,

Life is tough. Right now, you’re struggling with depression and not understanding why you aren’t seeing things the way those around you are. Two years out of college, living far from your safety net. Every day is something new, something unpredictable.

I want to tell you, you’ll be okay. You can make it through this and come out stronger. Indulge your curious nature and learn all you can about the world around you. Expand your passions and embrace them. Take it all one step at a time, but do not be afraid to ask for help.

When you get to where we are now, you’re going to look back on these ten years and realize… You don’t want to change a second of it. After all you will learn about yourself, after all you will overcome, you will come out of this stretch a stronger person.

Embrace the changes as they come. Learn and grow, every chance you get. I know you can, because I know you will. We get to this point not by hiding away when things get hard, but by taking the problems head on and refusing to back down. To quote the song that inspired this letter, “Look up and see a reflection of someone who never gave way to the pain.”

There will be days where it seems better to just give up. But remember that the best option and the easy option aren’t always the same. Giving up is easy, but pushing through and growing is far more rewarding.

The world is going to get scarier. A lot of things out of your control will change around you and even out from under you. While you may not have all the tools to handle it right now, you will when they hit. No matter how scared you are, keep moving forward and let your friends, family, and faith guide you. Be open to the changes in your perspective, and to the perspectives of those around you. That will give you everything you need to make it through.

You’re going to find love, and heartbreak. You’re going to gain very important people to your life, and you’re going to lose some too. These are the rules of the game, and you can’t change them. But how you handle them will change everything.

Remember that you are loved, you underestimate yourself even more than your opponents do, and you are your biggest obstacle. You can also be your biggest ally if you just allow yourself to try.

Keep learning, keep growing, and keep looking out for those around you. Making a difference even for just one person is worth all the effort.

Love always,
32 Year Old Me