Dear Me, Dear You
November 1, 2023
Writer: Eve Collon
Editor: Haley Gagerman
Dear Me, a 5-year-old with many delightful attributes,
Life is as simple as this: it is beautiful, which you already recognize in some forms, but have yet to discover in others. It will take you by surprise, force smiles across your face, and rip tears from your eyes. These different emotions, both familiar and unfamiliar, allow you to take multiple perspectives of every situation you are faced with. As hard as it may seem, appreciate the bad days. They will creep up on you and, occasionally, make you feel as though you’re trapped in between waves without any way of catching your breath before the next one crashes. Through these waves of life, you will discover support systems, different ways to ask for help, and how to overcome strong emotions. Wasting as much as one second on negative self-talk disrespects the person who once believed in Santa, collected stuffed animals, and viewed the world as magical. On occasion, fighting the life thrown at you feels like an impossible deed. Don’t be afraid to admit defeat, to admit fear, or to admit when you’ve failed. Hesitation will only hold you back.
Open your heart to those around you knowing this makes you vulnerable. Vulnerability can ache–but instead of adopting a negative perspective–choose to learn from the process of pushing your way through a tricky situation rather than trying to find a way around it. There will come a day when you will finally break down over the heavy invasive thoughts in your head. Take a deep breath. Your family will be by your side, comforting you as you lose track of your thoughts. This particular day will test you in ways you’ve never experienced but will result in the breakthrough of feeling comfortable enough to share your emotions with your peers. Your loved ones yearn for your success and happiness so you should turn to them to recenter yourself in times of weakness and insecurity. Strength and confidence are always on the horizon, you just have to maintain the right mindset in order to reach them.
Dear you, a nineteen-year-old who will have many delightful attributes,
Don’t get me wrong, approaching life with a serious mindset is crucial, but only in certain scenarios. Finding the light within your heart and living through that leads to a magically joyful life. Allow your imagination to guide you through life- dig into your interests, no matter how peculiar they may seem. Your mind is unique, it dreams relentlessly about the present–not the past and not the future. It is essential to soak in your present surroundings with every sense of your body to activate positivity. Whether it means taking the time to make a leaf pile during the fall, or a snowman during the winter, press pause on the strangling tasks of school and sports to let loose.
Loosening the grip on seemingly pressing matters brings light to what is truly significant. Reflect on the person who has worked tirelessly to carry you to the destination that marks your life today. Reflect on the simplicity of her life at one point or another and ask yourself why that simplicity led to such an extraordinary childhood. I’ll give you a hint, the simple sprouts of happiness include the nightly walks in the neighborhood with your family, the joy of hearing the ice cream truck rounding the corner, or hearing the news that you get to have chicken nuggets for dinner instead of vegetables. None of these involve status, academic success, or social approval. Take care of the body that grew with you, laugh excessively, dance in the rain, and appreciate the joy in loved ones around you. Remember that nothing is permanent, so be the person that everyone loves and enjoy yourself while doing it.
Image: Julia Bonnano
