A message from 2011
Well wishes from past lives
Here we are, friends. The end of the year. December has once again rolled in to greet us with holiday cheer and a whole lot of reflection. Are you feeling it? I sure am. My theory is that the universe needed to quickly fill up my roster of big changes to ruminate on, so the last few months have been full of ‘em. If that’s the case, universe, you did your job well. (Maybe…too well?)
In all seriousness, this month I’ve cycled through all the shades of emotion: light, heavy, free, stuck, old, young, and finally settling on reflective. Writing for anything other than my journal was not top of mind for most of December, but I came across something special recently — a relic from 2011 that has traveled through time with me.
One fateful day in 2011, I graduated elementary school. I don’t recall much from that day, but it turns out I didn’t need to. Years later, I’d come across a few pages tucked into an old folder of mine, curiosity leading my eyes across the page. Paragraphs peered back at me. My lovely teachers had written us a send-off letter, and with it, a long list of life advice. Over the years, I’d come across this list again and again, always seemingly at random. This time, I want to share a few of them with you.
Be honest with yourself and others.
Listen more.
Don’t always color inside the lines; it’s okay to make your own.
Don’t rush — you are always where you should be at that specific time.
Always remember who is good and kind to you on your journey.
Don’t think too much about the people who don’t like you, think a lot about the people who do.
Give a big “bear” hug to the people that you love.
Go to the beach, be still, and listen.
Dance, dance, dance.
My personal favorites are 4, 6, 8, and 9 (there’s something fun and slightly rebellious about not making this a list of 10).
(4) With the endless array of things to do in a day and the constant push for productivity, we don’t always remember that we don’t need to be in a rush. You’re okay exactly where you are, whether it be sipping a cup of tea on a Saturday morning or running late for work because of train troubles.
(6) We spend a sh*t ton of time thinking about people who don’t like us, or thinking about that one cruel thing someone said to us until we’re all revved up with old anger. Those moments deserve their processing time, but they don’t deserve all your time. There’s good in this world, and in your life. When your friends celebrate you, allow yourself to be celebrated, and in turn, celebrate them too.
(8) In a list full of simplified advice for 5th graders, this one struck me with its timelessness. I think it’s especially useful as you grow older and life grows more complex. I’ve always found solace settling by the beach and listening to the rhythmic sound of waves coming to shore. At night, I’d speak my worries to the moon, feeling safe in her luminous presence. The beach was a place where my thoughts and feelings could melt into the sand, losing their potency.
(9) I’ve always adored dance, and it’s been calling to me this year. I took a few classes here and there, but I’m incredibly excited for the 6-week hip hop journey I’m embarking on in January. Here’s to a new form of self-expression, commitment, and so. much. fun. And hey — I might just share my progress on here!
Sometimes we need a reminder that the past has a lot of good to teach us. I’m endlessly grateful to myself for keeping this letter all these years.
I hope you give yourselves grace when reflecting on 2023 and that 2024 is beautiful to you. Happy holidays, everyone ❤️ Sending all my love.
As always, thank you for reading! I hope one of these tidbits of advice resonated with you, and I’d love to hear some of your favorite advice you’ve either received or given! Also: I couldn’t resist including a photo of the original letter — it feels too nostalgic to keep all to myself.
Love this little peek into your past! And hip hop in January?! 2024 is going to be fabulous for you, I can feel it.