Dear Me: Put Yourself First

Dear Fourteen-Year-Old Me,

Don’t do it. I know what you’re thinking, and it is not a good idea. He is only going to cause problems for years to come. He may seem harmless right now, but trust me: run. Run as far away as you can, and do not look back. Save yourself problems in high school.

Don’t do it. Put that blade back down. You are better than that, and you don’t need to hurt yourself to feel something. You have people that care for you. It may not seem like it at times, but you always will. Your family loves you unconditionally, and I only hope you can see that some day.

Don’t do it. Drop her as a friend because she is not worth your time. She is going to cause you so much pain and anger. You have to weed out the weak people, and she is one of them, as mean as that sounds. Also, it will save you a lot of trips to the office in senior year.

Guard yourself. Do not fall victim to the bullies that surround you in life. They mean nothing to you. You are strong and worthy of so much. Stand up for who you are and who you’re becoming. You have such a bright future ahead of you.

Life is way too short to not eat that pack of smarties in front of the entire English class. Don’t care about what people think of you. If you love yourself, do what makes you happy. You can’t let others decide who you are.

Befriend the girl in your math class and the other girl in your Spanish class because even though you don’t know it now, they are going to become two of your best friends after you graduate. They will be the two supporting you through everything, and they understand what you’ve been through. Break out of that shell and talk to them, no matter how scary it is.

Don’t fight with your parents. There’s a lot going on in your house, and the last thing they need is another stressor. Lay low and do what you’re told, and you will have no problem coasting through life until you move out. No matter how bad you want to run, don’t. You still need your parents, even though you think you are self-sufficient.

Cry when you need to. Take baths whenever you feel like it. Adventure through the forest, even if it does mean getting poison ivy all over your body. Cuddle your cat even when she scratches you. Listen to music and dance like no one is watching. Put that makeup on if you want to wear it.

Most importantly, focus on yourself. Stop putting others ahead of you. At the end of the day, you’re the one that has to take care of yourself. Please make sure you are okay before you go and do something for someone else. I know that’s going to be hard, but you need to do it.

 

Love,

Your eighteen-year-old self

 

 

 

Teagen Frantz
19
USA

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