Dear Future Self,

What I want to say to start this off is I am so proud of you... me... us. I wrote this letter a few years ago, then locked it up, never to be opened till now... so if you're reading this, it means you kept your promise of life. "8 years of pain, then 70 of happiness," as Claire would always say.

You're 19 now; an adult. A grown up, yet still a teenager. Wise, yet still youthful. Experienced, yet still Seeking Adventure. Mature, yet still blossoming into the amazing woman you've still yet to become.

I wrote this letter just because at my age now, something like this would've been lovely to have something like this to keep as a promise that somebody cares. Even if it's just your younger self. I care. So much. I know you're going to do amazing things. All you have to do is get through college. Find what your passionate about and go for it. Even if it's something crazy. Even if it leads you to clown college. I'll be happy as long as you're happy. Well I kinda have to be since we're the same person...

Here are a few things I wish I would've known at my age now, that will make things so much better:

•it's okay to fall apart- even superheroes need to cry sometime.

•don't do drugs- we're going to need that body in great shape if we're going to be a superhero and save and change peoples lives one day

•boys don't matter- it may feel like they do but they only get in the way, the only people you need is you, and Jesus.

•it's okay to wait- waiting doesn't make you a loser. It makes you whole, so you can give your whole heart to the man you love, and not just what's left of it from other guys taking a part of it with them when they leave.

•you're beautiful- no, don't go look in the mirror and wonder how I think you're beautiful, you're beautiful on the inside. Caring, compassionate, intelligent, and wise, and that makes you beautiful on the outside as well.

•make sure you love yourself before you love someone else- you will never fully love them until you're okay with yourself. Plus people don't always last forever, you will be with yourself for eternity

•don't change for anyone- you are you, one of a kind. No ones like you, why would you change to be someone else? Not only are you taking away the opportunity of being one of a kind to yourself, but also the person you're trying to be. If someone wants you to change- unless it's for the good- they're not worth having in your life anyway

Please follow those, they'll make out life better. Easy maybe... well if life can ever be easy.

I want to watch our crumbled up piece of paper that is our life unfold into a beautiful origami swan that is our future. Don't do anything you can't take back, that you'll regret. You do matter, you're the apple to somebody's eye, the yin to her yang, you're the person someone wants to wake up next to for the rest of their life. So think. Turn that beautiful brain of yours on, don't ever turn it off again, and think before doing, just like you look before crossing the road. Don't give up just yet (or ever actually) because things will get better. Life is tough my dear, but so are you. So go kick some butt. GoodLuck on our life.

-14 year old you