Dear Me (a letter to myself)

Prompt:
When many of us are teenagers, we think we know everything and that our parents and other adults in our lives couldn’t possibly know or understand what we are going through. But with age comes wisdom. How many times have we said to ourselves “I wish I knew then what I know now”? I can imagine if that were the case, we probably would have avoided many pitfalls of teenage-dom, but would probably have also missed out on many lessons, too. Either way, if given the chance, have you ever thought about what you would go back and tell yourself as a teenager in regards to what you know about life and the world now? Well this week, you will have the opportunity to do just that. This week’s BFF inspiration # 157 is “A letter to yourself at sixteen”.

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Dear Michael,

Hello and how’s it going? It’s me, well, really you, writing to you from the future! Pretty cool, huh?

Hey, guess what? Despite what you think, you’re going to make it past 50 and you know what else? You’re not going to like writing letters any more then than you do now. Some things never change, huh?

So what’s new with me in the year 2012? I can’t really answer that question without giving away pretty much everything and since you’re going to grow up to be a man who doesn’t like book, television or movie spoilers, I’m going to respect that and not tell you anything about your life in the upcoming years. Relax, despite what you think, not knowing everything won’t kill you. Obviously. And if I did tell you everything you wouldn’t believe me anyway because (don’t roll your eyes and shake your head at me) you’re doubtful by nature.

Now what can I tell you then without giving away too much? I quit smoking just about fifteen years ago and yes, it was difficult. Really difficult. Not to lecture, but you can really do yourself a favor by deciding to quit a little earlier in life which might make that whole future ordeal a little simpler for yourself. Either way, you’re going to quit and start again more times that you’ll be able to remember so don’t even try. Don’t try remembering, that is.

Let’s see here. High School graduation was uneventful and if you can hang on to the camera you check out of the school’s photo lab you won’t have to come up with $15.00 the day after graduation to get your diploma. I’d tell you to stay in college if for no other reason then you won’t have to take that lousy job working on that assembly line packing stereo equipment, but then if you don’t leave school and take that lousy assembly line job you won’t realize how much you don’t like that kind of work until it’s too late and then you won’t go back to college. Hmm, if you do you might not and if you don’t you might. Is this a time travel paradox? I don’t know, but yes, you still tend to think along “goofy” lines in 2012 so don’t worry about it so much at 16 because it’s just a part of who you are.

You’re going to meet someone named Lisa in a few years. You’re going to feel weird about it, lots of funny feelings, but talk to her, don’t be bashful. Ask her out. Marry her. You’re going to meet someone named Margaret a few years after that and all I’ll say is stay away. Remain bashful and don’t ask her out.

When you’re 24 you’re going to have the chance to drop everything and go out east and see the Grateful Dead at Madison Square Garden. Don’t think about it, just go. And keep playing the trumpet, you’ll find out in time how cool it really is.

I guess the only other thing I can say is that life isn’t so bad and try not to worry so much or you’ll lose your hair.

Oh yeah, keep eating pizza and don’t ever stop watching baseball.

Gotta go now.

Love,
Michael