A Letter to My Eighteen-Year-Old self
Dear Me,
Feeling overwhelmed already by the first week of classes? New place, new people, and the perpetual chaos — a bit too much to take in. Being an introvert might be cool on Instagram, but not IRL. But, learn to live in the moment, because you’ll never get this time back. And you will miss the chaos when it finally ends.
Talk more. Initiate conversations. Go out, express, and explore. This year, I hope you see things that take your breath away. I hope you believe you have a purpose, and that you love yourself a little more.
People will come and go, the toxic ones will unfailingly find you, and that won’t change. Accept it, and don’t let the negativity get to you, and please do not confide in them! They will only make your life hell. You are yet to find your best friends yet — your “anmol ratans”. Also, that boy you’re dating? The proposal you accepted just because you didn’t want to lose him as a friend and you think he gets you like no one else? You don’t even know him that well. He will turn out to be very different. And yes, you are going to lose him.
Work hard. I know, I know. But hard work is always in vogue. And also, while we are on the subject, work out. Eat healthy. (Don’t eat chocolate so much!). Get some exercise. Keep that weight off. It’s only going to get harder to lose.
Let your guard down, and have fun. Read more books, do those movie marathons, have band practices, go café- hunting on weekends, dance like a monkey at that Local Train concert, drink beer. You’re going to like beer.
Above anything, know that I love you even when you’re struggling to love yourself and that someday, you will be loved for who you are. You will be the best version of yourself.
Keep trying. You’ll get there.
Love,
Me
PS: hey tomboy. You’re going to wear a dress and love it. Horrendous, I know.
