DEAR 16 YEAR OLD ME

Hey you, yes YOU!

Not many people will tell you this, and those who do, you might not agree with. So may be, it's better if you and me have a little heart to heart.

You must be pulling your hair out, with your mind pulling you in a thousand different directions, and your heart unsure. But remember. 

You are not what people will make you, but what you will make of yourself. It’s ok to not know the chemistry formulae, and not be an ace at Math.

As you’ll soon realize, as long as you do what you like and what you believe in, and you do it sincerely, you’ll be fine.

Stop underestimating yourself  – Now I understand that you don’t think that you speak well enough, or look good enough, or write well enough – you’ll understand that there are people who would like you for who you are, listen to what you have to say, appreciate you for what you bring to them. Most of these most probably will be your friends and family. So, don’t forget them. Whatever you do, however successful you become, find time for them. You are not as bad as you think you are ;)

Laugh. A lot. Whenever you can – You’ll always have timelines to meet, stress to bear, complaining clients, work pressures, people undermining you, your heart being broken, you being misunderstood-often. Still, find time to laugh. Watching movies, talking with your loved ones, sharing old memories, doing things that make you happy. It’s easy to be bogged down in this world, every day being a challenge, with shocks and surprises galore round the corner. You just have to make sure that you don’t let life bring you down.

Find time : To kiss your father on his cheeks since he might be feeling lonely, to enjoy a glass of wine with you sister since she’ll be the one hugging you when you are feeling low, to pick up the phone and surprise call your girlfriends every once in a while since they are the ones who know your dirtiest secrets, your craziest dreams, to let the special people in your life know you love them, for making you smile each day, listening to you whine and hearing you sing karaoke in the worst of voice. These are the people you would always be able to laugh with. Whole-heartedly. Through tears and nostalgia.

Travel – As much as you can, as often as you can! You’ll realize there are so many things you might die without knowing, but which will change your perspective about life. There are so many roads to take, so many things waiting to be experienced, the drunken nights drinking with your buddies, the road trips taken through the length and breadth of your own country, and other countries, the different people and their life stories, of bravery, of restrictions, of freedom, of independence.

 Write. Whenever. Wherever. Even if most of what you write doesn’t see the light of the day, and is hidden in old diary pages, or notes of your phone. You’ll realize that writing will give you the outlet to vent out your anger, frustrations, and fears. Sometimes, the things you can’t tell anyone, the small happiness you can’t share with anyone, you’ll realize you can tell a piece of paper. And every once in a while, while dusting old bookshelves or cupboards, you’ll come across your old writings, and smile, or cry, and appreciate how far you’ve come.

Realize that nothing is permanent. Neither happiness. Not even the bad times. Yes, it sounds like its coming straight from a book. But the truth is, things will not always go the way you expect them to. You’ll lose people you never thought you would, you’ll discover people you never thought you’ll cross paths with, or who could mean anything in your life – turn to be the most important people ever. There will always be surprises in store, a lot of them that should shake you to the very core. You’ll realize then what’s important and what’s not. You’ll realize every time life draws you a blow, you’ll come out stronger. Sometimes, you’ll not understand what’s happening and why. In fact, a lot of times. Those times, you’ll realize there are some things best left to time. To see how they unravel themselves. For good, or for bad.

 Trust your instincts: The path is always not clear, but you just have to trust your instincts. You'll be right sometimes, a lot of times you'll be wrong. But atleast, it would be something that you would have decided for yourself. It's better that, than later blaming others for having taken decisions on your behalf. Probably for the worse. Your heart knows what's right, you just have to have faith that it will do you right.

Life’s an adventure, and its best lived with no expectations. If it turns out well, good for you. If not, it will surely be worthy of an experience worth remembering, worth being nostalgic about. 

With love,
YOUR 26-YEAR OLD SELF