Dear Me,

garinda · 17-01-2012, 19:50

Talk in another thread, about how it's so much more interesting, reading a real letter, rather then an email...or worse, a text, got me thinking about letters.

Love letters, letters to be opened in case of a death, letters passing on important news, which could be sad, as well as good, letters imparting heartfelt advice, they can be very important communications in our lives.

If, by some magic, we could write a letter to your younger self, what information would you like the younger you to know?

Please feel free to use this thread to write a letter to yourself, at some earlier stage of your life.

Here's mine, to myself at the age of fifteen.

Dear G,
please stop wasting time, worrying about the future. It turns out well, and you have a great life!

Don't wait another two years in torment, pretending to be something you aren't. Be honest, and talk to Mum and Dad now. It's horrible, upsetting them, but they're loving, and supportive, and it ultimately brings you closer together.

Keep working hard, and trying your best. You're lucky, and all the things you dream of doing, whilst stuck in that bedroom, come true.

Time's precious, and goes by in a flash, which is hard to grasp whilst you're young. So I'll just say enjoy every moment, and try not to waste time on things you can't change.

Carrying on from time being precious, make the most of the time you spend with those you love. Some people will leave your life earlier than they should. Enjoy the wonderful times you spend with them, and make sure they know just how much you love them, before they leave your life.

Your life will be full of twists. I won't spoil it, by telling you what happens. I'll just say, even though you want to spread your wings, the rover returns. Wink, wink.

The horrible things that happen, happen for a reason. They make you stronger.

As you get older you'll have the luxury of having choice. Nasty people and things, can simply be cut out of your life. It's great. Your life turns out so much better than those kids who delighted in trying to make your younger life miserable.

You'll see some amazing things, have totally unique experiences, and meet some wonferful people. It's easy to say, but try not to waste too much time on things that are impossible to change. Though if it's something you believe in, and can alter a particular thing, go for it.

Enjoy your life, it's good.

Best wishes,
G.

P.S. Don't fret about romantic love, because you remain a happy singleton. Though I'm not saying there won't be some wild adventures in that area, there are....but you're too young to read about them right now!

Margaret Pilkington · 17-01-2012, 20:06

Dear M,
Yes I know that life is a drag right now. Too much to be done for others...little time to do what you want. It won't always be so.
You won't believe me when I tell you this but you have a long way to go. There are a lot of things out there just waiting for you.
You really need to believe in yourself.....that you are worthy of the good things.....that the things you would love, can be yours, if only you decide to take the first steps.
It isn't going to be easy, but you have the strength and determination that will see you through.

You are going to mean a lot to a lot of people. You are going to help people....but in that helping of others you will be helping yourself.
You will travel far and wide. I know this might seem strange right now - you don't have the bus fare into town. It won't always be like this.

In years to come you will look back and wonder how you got to where you will be.
It won't be luck that gets you there...it will be hard work and sheer pig headedness.

Just be who you are and it will all come right in the end.

Love M x x(I have faith in you)

Margaret Pilkington · 17-01-2012, 20:07

I wish that letter hadn't got lost in the post.

annesingleton · 17-01-2012, 20:27

Garinda that is beautiful, it's left a tear in my eye, very profound.
My letter would tell me to make the most of the grammar school opportunity I was given and not be such a rebel.
It's funny, I've been discussing with my partner this evening what we would go back and tell our sixteen year old selves - coincidence!

walkinman221 · 17-01-2012, 20:33

Well done g even made me smile/sniffle a bit and i'm well ard

.I dont think i have the skills to put down what i would say to my younger self but your letter seems a pretty good blueprint for a letter of that type, super thread.

garinda · 17-01-2012, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkinman221

Well done g even made me smile/sniffle a bit and i'm well ard

.I dont think i have the skills to put down what i would say to my younger self but your letter seems a pretty good blueprint for a letter of that type, super thread.

Thanks, to you and to Anne.

No skill needed, though. Just the simple words of advice you'd give to a younger you, if you could.

Partly inspired by the talk of letters in the other thread, but also about hearing about the mesages people sent to their loved ones, not knowing if they'd make it off that ship in Italy. Which had me filling up, watching the news yesterday.

mobertol · 17-01-2012, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkinman221

Well done g even made me smile/sniffle a bit and i'm well ard

.I dont think i have the skills to put down what i would say to my younger self but your letter seems a pretty good blueprint for a letter of that type, super thread.

Try thinking back to how you were at 15 Dave -free your mind and write that letter. "K" to you for being a softie (I adore that in a "big" man) and for the Quiz wiz avatar -love it!!

Have to go and pick up son in town now -will be working on my letter to me as I do!

garinda · 17-01-2012, 22:37

P.P.S. Give up the struggle with logarithms, sines, cosines, and tangents etc. You fail your maths O-level. You do pass it, years later in London. It's now called a G.S.C.E., and it's way easier. So ditch the maths, do more art.

accyman · 18-01-2012, 00:29

Dear Accyman

Put that ginger tart down its more trouble than its worth.

ps:

change doctors the one you got will nearly kill you

jaysay · 18-01-2012, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkinman221

Well done g even made me smile/sniffle a bit and i'm well ard

.I dont think i have the skills to put down what i would say to my younger self but your letter seems a pretty good blueprint for a letter of that type, super thread.

I would have the skills to put down what I would say to my younger self WM, but this thread ain't in the over 18s

Less · 18-01-2012, 11:27

Dear Less,
This is the sixth letter I have sent to you recently, I know you can read so I will assume that you are ignoring me in that stubborn way that you had back then, how can I tell?
Well, I advised you to develop an operating system for computers, I told you to get it up and running by the late seventies and you didn't.
I also told you to start up your own record label called Virgin, not to remain a virgin until your late 20's!
Well this is your last chance ignore this at your peril, I will be writing to you tomorrow, with the winning lotto numbers for Wednesday 18th of January 2012, yes, I know this seems a long way into your life, but I'm getting desperate, just make sure you invest a pound and what's left of your future will be spent in the lap of luxury.
Your's with great affection,
Me.

MargaretR · 18-01-2012, 11:59

Dear Me,
I won't be specific about your future because what happens has a purpose for your learning experience.

In order to ease the way, I say.....
....nothing is 'for ever' and 'expect the unexpected'.

Retlaw · 18-01-2012, 14:52

Dear Me
Uh, o eck I've furgetten wod a wur bena write, ner mind, just ged on wi id, nowt ul change thee. Thi fayther sed tha wur an awkwurd sod when that wur little, un tha still are.

Me

mobertol · 18-01-2012, 16:22

Dear Me, it’s been a long time and I had to find your photo to remind me what you were really like. Funny thing is that we seem pretty similar even now –same glasses, hair still short, though I wish I was as slim as you.

You’re not as bad as you thought you were back then, but you were always comparing yourself to your younger sister who was the pretty, popular one. Another 2 years to go till you have a boyfriend, I’m afraid you’ll be a late starter but you will make up for lost time, believe me.

You won’t become an international tennis star or a vet, though you will end up working with animals. Mum’s always going on about you being Thursday’s child who has far to go –well, you will go far but not in the way she means. You will get to study where you want to go, just not as soon as is expected – the three years spent in Liverpool (it’s a great place, believe me) will be unforgettable.

I’m still friends with all four of your best friends which is great and probably quite unusual considering where we all end up –you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Know you can always rely on them. Mum and dad are both doing well too, but Denise is still a pain and doesn’t make much effort at keeping in touch.

Life will not take you along the road you were counting on but you won’t be too disappointed with the outcome. A few knocks and bumps along the way will do you no harm and you will learn to be very self-reliant as a mother. No, you won’t be on your own, you will make something work which everyone will advise you against – but then you always have been very stubborn . It will be one of the rare times you follow your heart and not your head.

So keep on with living life as you are doing now, don’t fret and over-analyse what happens to you –you can’t control everything. One thing leads to another and I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.
Hope you enjoy getting this far - I did most of the time, D xx

PS Will try to carry on being good into the future but am thinking of sending us a letter when we’re twenty-one, so I may risk getting lost again!

(Photo of mobertol in summer school uniform, 3 months before 15th birthday.)

Eric · 18-01-2012, 23:37

Hey Eric ... wake up.

You won't have to worry about making any efforts to change your life ... 50 years from now you will still be the same screwed-up individual that you are already.

Good news/bad news time: Bad news is that hopes really were dupes; and the fears are lying like sonsabitches. Good news: when you get to 2012 you will find that most of the planet is more messed up than you are.

Good luck.