After Chrissy Metz’s open letter to her teenage self, I thought it might be therapeutic to write a letter to past me. Strange right? But self-love is an ongoing process, so let’s keep an open mind.

Where to start… well kiddo, you are going to go through a LOT of shit. Seriously it’s going to feel never ending. But it will get better, and it will be totally worth it.

Don’t let it take you down. I know you’ll try to harm yourself and take all the mean girls to heart. It doesn’t help that your family is totally dysfunctional and you have no safe place to land. You’ve been failed by every adult you’ve ever confided in. You’ll have to save yourself.

All of this suffering will give you unimaginable strength and compassion.

All of this suffering will give you unimaginable strength and compassion. You’ll stand tall and work to help others find their way out of the dark spiral. You will also make some really amazing friends who will stick by you through everything.

Eventually you’ll learn how to drop all the baggage and find yourself. The little girl who wanted out all this time will be allowed to play and paint the world with vibrant smiles and laughter.

You’ll view your body as beautiful, capable, and sexy! It seems so far off right now I know, but it’s true.

Ignore all those things your mother and others will say about your body. The reality is you represent things they hate about themselves or they’re jealous of what you do have. It’s really not personal.

Everyone is insecure. I have yet to meet someone who truly loves every inch of their body. We all have “flaws”.

STOP trying to fit in, you’ll drive yourself crazy trying.

Being different isn’t a bad thing. STOP trying to fit in, you’ll drive yourself crazy trying. The truth is that no one fits in, everyone is striving to fit some unattainable goal.

YOU are enough. I know you’ll sleep with some guys to feel loved or wanted — you don’t need to do that. YOU are worth it, deserving and freaking cute! You don’t need approval to be yourself, and NEVER apologize for it.

Lastly, being a woman is not dictated by your ability to reproduce, how many people like you, or how “acceptable” your body is. You will define what being a woman is to you, and the only approval you’ll need is from yourself. You will find self-love.

Life is going to be great! Stop waiting for the next bad thing to happen and LIVE!

Love,
Me

Cover photo by Retro Bunny Pinups