Letter to Your Younger Self

“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to give something back.”

-          Maya Angelou

As a follow-up to last week’s topic, “Advice, from You to You,” I’d like to continue the subject of following our own best advice.  Awhile ago I happened upon an article titled “Letter to Your Younger Self” by Phylicia Rashad (aka Claire Huxtable from Cosby Show fame) in Oprah Magazine.  In her letter, Ms. Rashad expressed what she wished her 21-year-old-self had known at the time:

Dear Phylicia,

Romantic involvement distracts you and can blind you to what's really in front of you. And what really is in front of you? You are. You don't even know yourself yet. You think you know and you want to assert that you do, now that you're a certain age, but you don't. What's in front of you is a whole world of experiences beyond your imagination. Put yourself, and your growth and development, first. There are long-term repercussions to what you're doing now. Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that you will hold in your body. It's imprinted on you and affects you in subtle ways—ways you are not always aware of. With that in mind, be very conscious and selective.

With high hopes for you,
Phylicia

What do you know about yourself now that you wish you had known when you were younger?  Would it have saved you time, grief and frustration later in life? 

I’m not suggesting that any of us should regret the decisions we’ve made thus far.  Those choices have shaped each of us into the people that we are today, and may work to our advantage if we’re willing to learn lessons from them, and do better next time. 

But I do suggest that if you’ve been through tough experiences, and made it victoriously to the other side, don’t sit on it.  Share your new-found knowledge with a girl or woman who may need it, such as a daughter, niece or close friend.  It’s true that some life lessons have to be learned first-hand, but if you reach out, you never know who you may touch in a positive way.

So what would I say to my younger self?  I’d tell her that she’s stronger than she knows and can handle any obstacle in her way, because God is in her corner.  I’d remind her that no man’s attention can match the feeling that comes from having a strong sense of self.  And I’d tell her to stop worrying so much, because it will be okay.    

If you had the chance, what would you tell your younger self?