Ah, 21-year-old-self. What would you think of future-you?
Would you be proud knowing that your tax returns are up to date, and that your rebates have been used to clear your credit card debt?
You’d snigger hearing that just one glass of wine has resulted in middle-of-the-night dry mouth and wooziness. More than once. On the up side, you’ve acquired a taste for beer. Not all beer, only certain craft beers. You little hipster.
You own a house with someone you almost wish you’d never met.
Sometimes you neglect your friends, most frequently for your boyfriends. Both have broken your heart.
Would you be shocked knowing how fearful you’ve become?
You still haven’t travelled to Europe, progressed past high school French, had children or gotten married, but you have finally settled on your tattoo. It’s on your wrist and it was your 30th birthday present to yourself.
You’ve taken some pretty good photographs. And you make a mean chicken pot pie. You can weave words. You can’t draw.
You’re rolling your eyes, aren’t you, hearing that you knit. On purpose. But you’ve finished a couple of projects, and that’s an achievement. Yes, knitting got you there.
There is a man who tells you he loves you every day. He’s not perfect but that’s ok. Neither are you.
And you’re learning that too is just fine.
Wonderful creative writing…so real, even knowing your 21 year old self would be rolling her eyes! I too would love to see more of your photos. This one matches perfectly with your letter!
This is beautiful and I absolutely love the way you approached this post. Looking forward to reading more of your words.
You little hipster! I die!
Your words are seriously well woven.
That’s because when you are 21 ( okay, I’m 22 but you get the idea) there are so many things going on at once. We are told the whole world is ours for taking but it is intangible and slippery and nobody knows where to begin. We are told to wait and let life unfold but when we try to sit back, we are told to make something of the opportunities we are given and so something with our life. People say “Oh, you are young, enjoy it while you can!” while others say “It’s time to grow up and sort out your life”. We finish our education but feel like we know nothing. Everything is in motion. Friends are leaving, paths are splitting, new places need to be found. Decisions about at the short and midterm level need to be made on what feels to me like no basis at all. It does my head in.
LOVE! You weave words is right! This is a such a great list and I had to chuckle at some of these like getting woozy off one glass of wine… that is so me! I would love to see your photographs!
I love this letter. I’ve found that life has better plans for us than we have for ourselves….we just have to be patient enough to let them unfold. But we sure don’t realize that at 21!