Dear Younger Self,<\/p>\n
I know you\u2019re excited about the prospect of going overseas for the first time \u2013 and at the same time, anxious about leaving your comfort zone and venturing out into the \u2018real world\u2019. The unknown scares you but that\u2019s okay. Girl you\u2019re 15 going on 16\u2026you don\u2019t have to have it all figured out. Part of the beauty of life is seeing how it unfolds before us, and you\u2019re only fooling yourself if you think you have it all figured out.<\/p>\n
Having said that, you\u2019re going to make mistakes. But you\u2019ll learn from them. You\u2019ll make the mistake of letting others tell you who you are, and believing in their criticism. You\u2019ll try so hard to do everything right; to please those around you \u2013 so much so that you\u2019ll end up putting way too much pressure on yourself.<\/p>\n
I know you feel insecure and are worried about not being accepted. But don\u2019t be afraid of letting your true-self show \u2013 stop walking on eggshells and hiding your opinions. You can\u2019t please everyone and not everyone is going to agree with you.<\/p>\n
College isn\u2019t going to be easy. In fact, it\u2019s going to be two years filled with copious amounts of worries, stress, all-nighters, tears\u2026and also amazing memories which you\u2019ll carry with you for the rest of your life. You will feel like you have to do everything perfectly \u2013 to be the best and brightest for people to accept you. But let me tell you something; your grades don\u2019t define you, neither does the number on the scale. Those factors do not determine your self- worth.<\/p>\n
There will be many times when you want to shut down and hide from the world. Days when you will feel worthless \u2013 but believe me when I say you aren\u2019t! And that you\u2019re still worthy of being loved despite your flaws.<\/p>\n
My dear, I want you to know that you don\u2019t have to strive for perfection. The imperfections and insecurities you see within yourself are actually what makes you unique. Don\u2019t let others\u2019 opinions change who you are.<\/p>\n
Stay open and continue to love others with an open heart. You feel others\u2019 emotions so deeply as if they were your own. When they cry, you cry along with them. When they rejoice, you share in their joy. But even so, you won\u2019t be able to help everyone; to help them feel better or to solve all their problems. So don\u2019t blame yourself over it. Be grateful to those who you are able to help, but don\u2019t let yourself get emotionally drained by attempting to carry everything on your shoulders.<\/p>\n
What matters is how much you love. How much you have the heart for helping others. And how much that love you show others can make a difference \u2013 even a small one. Love lasts. It always will.<\/p>\n
Loving others is important, but don\u2019t forget to show that same love to yourself. You spend so long feeling contempt towards yourself and tearing yourself apart\u2026that you can\u2019t see any of the positives within yourself. Don\u2019t look into the mirror and cringe. We are our own harshest critics\u2026so how you see yourself (inside and out), may not be how others or God sees you. It isn\u2019t selfish to love yourself, and it is okay to forgive yourself for making mistakes. We\u2019re all human after all.<\/p>\n
There is no point either, in holding onto the guilt of past mistakes. All the \u2018could\u2019ve beens\u2019 or \u2018should\u2019ve beens\u2019. Learn from them and move on. Keep your chin up!<\/p>\n
You\u2019re also anxious and worried about the future right? I guessed it! Remember younger self\u2026even though you\u2019re far away from home, from your family; you\u2019re not alone. If God is by your side, what more should you fear?<\/p>\n
But if you ever start to wonder whether you\u2019ll be strong enough to move forward in life, to face each day (yes there will be times like that) \u2013 ALWAYS remember that no matter what happens, or what you think\u2026you can always run to your family, and run to God. They will never leave your side. Ever.<\/p>\n
Despite all the times you will want to give up, you\u2019ll be amazed by how much you grow, and how much you learn from all the things you will experience. You\u2019ll also gain new experiences, and realise the true meaning of \u2018the unconditional love of parents\u2019.<\/p>\n
I admit, it is going to hurt when you come to realise how fake some people can be, but remember\u2026you\u2019ll form friendships with some of the most amazing people. SO just forget the fake ones. Don\u2019t let that hurt get to you.<\/p>\n
Younger self, stay open and feel the freedom and joy that comes from embracing each and every moment with love. BUT, never lose that self-worth and self-confidence you once had\u2026because I\u2019m still trying to find mine.<\/p>\n
Good luck and have fun! There\u2019s a whole world of opportunity out there for you to enjoy!<\/p>\n
Sincerely,
\nYour older self<\/p>\n
by Tiff, Sydney, Australia<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear Younger Self, I know you\u2019re excited about the prospect of going overseas for the first time \u2013 and at the same time, anxious about leaving your comfort zone and venturing out into the \u2018real world\u2019. The unknown scares you but that\u2019s okay. Girl you\u2019re 15 going on 16\u2026you don\u2019t have to have it all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48980,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[181,221,10],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scaccmm.sarawakmethodist.org\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23744"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scaccmm.sarawakmethodist.org\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scaccmm.sarawakmethodist.org\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scaccmm.sarawakmethodist.org\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scaccmm.sarawakmethodist.org\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23744"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/scaccmm.sarawakmethodist.org\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23744\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scaccmm.sarawakmethodist.org\/new\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/48980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scaccmm.sarawakmethodist.org\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scaccmm.sarawakmethodist.org\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scaccmm.sarawakmethodist.org\/new\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}