The #dearme movement began as an International Women’s Day celebration, encouraging women on the YouTube platform to answer a question: What wisdom would you share with your teenage self?
In hundreds of beautiful video responses, women all over the world sent messages of hope and love to their young, teenage selves. Responses flooded in from YouTube stars like Hannah Hart and Lacy Green, YouTube even received a response from the White House.
Inspired by these videos, I wanted to add my own thoughts to the mix, in a #dearme letter to my teenage self.
Dear me,
Take a breath. I’m writing to tell you that it all works out. The years you’re facing right now are hard, and I know it feels like things will never get any better. But I promise you, not only do things get better, things become wonderful. That love and acceptance you want so desperately right now, you’ll find it. But not until you find it in yourself.
You need to forgive yourself for not being perfect. Let go of what you think you’re supposed to look like, how you think people are supposed to perceive you. Let it go, and grow into the woman you are. Gather up all of your fears, all of the parts of you that you think are contradictory, or shameful, or ugly, and start figuring out how to love those parts of you too. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself every day that the girl staring back at you is smart, beautiful, and has something important to say. Learn to love her with a graceful and magnanimous heart.
Love yourself, and dare to grow in your mind and your heart and your spirit. Be big and brave and bold, and when you do, something extraordinary will happen. You’ll find that the love and value you’re growing inside of you starts to seep out into the world!
Your future features a cast of people who love you unconditionally and will spur you to grow into your best self. Release yourself from the fear and self-doubt, and run towards the future as it brightens your sightline.
I can tell you with certainty, the view from here is spectacular.
Love, your future self.
With A Pen And Suitcase 
” Learn to love her with a graceful and magnanimous heart”. My favorite line on initial read 😉
Dear younger hot headed arrogant me.
Chill. You are not that important. Life does not revolve around you. Relax, its not as big a deal as you think. Don’t sweat things too much – almost everything is small potatoes. Find peace and contentment in the day and in the things you have. Enjoy them, appreciate them. Want the things you have. Save some money for retirement. Keep a blog about something, feed it regularly. Take good care of your teeth. Find a healthy stress outlet – some cardio based routine. Visit your grandparents while you can. Go to church with your parents – friends. Go to college and study while there. Learn to cook. Love the people in your life. Take some vacations. Go camping. Serve people – love on them, encourage them. Stay away from negative people. Find a job that you at least like. Be available for other people as they need. Be on standby. Get a Bible and read it. Be a good friend – listen. Be a good listener. Get a dog, a lab. Party a little, but not too much. Be faithful to your girlfriend and to your wife. Be a person of Integrity – look that up.