Dear 16-year-old me,
You are not fat. In fact you are dead hot. You’ll only
realise this once you do get chubby so take care of yourself.
Take a year off after school, it doesn’t matter what your
friends are doing- they don’t exactly make sterling work of life with their
decisions. Also, you’ll soon discover; they are not really your friends.
Don’t study law, you hate law. You hate the people who teach
law and moreover those who elect to study law. Do literature part-time while
you take your year off and sleep, read books and ride your horse. Don’t be
afraid – you are strong and smart. Invest in a riding hat that fits and never EVER agree to ride Tamara's horse.
That first love who broke your heart is a sick individual
who ends up marrying a fat girl. Revel in that thought for a while.
Eat oranges and read novels, these are your memories. All of
those soft winter afternoons indoors reading will be a happy place to go to
when the going gets tough. Don’t be afraid to write, you are good at it. One
day everyone will agree.
Ignore passive aggressive hints about your worth, you are
perfect. You have no reason to get down on yourself. It’s okay to miss your
dad. Cherish grandma because she’ll not be around for very long. You did good
by her, but she is lonely NOW.
That charming boy who you move across the country for – it’s
totally worth it. It will be a long, tough, life-changing experience but you’ll
not regret it. Make friends though, because you’ll need them.
One day you end up with a handsome, perfect young man and
you’ll get engaged. You’ll have many adventures and you’ll share a love for all
the best things in life: books, Yeats, horses, music, dogs, cats, history,
cooking and the never-ending process of learning. So please 16-year-old me, do
not let anyone convince you to marry that big old slob of a man when you are
23. You do not want to marry so young, it puts you in a slump for a very long
time. Save yourself for this young man, he is totally worth it but he’ll need
your help to find his way.
PS: stay away from oral contraceptives, take B6 and drink
primrose and fish oil because one day you WILL want children.
Love always,
30-year-old you.
