Dear Self,

Hi. How’s your heart? Goods and bads? Ups and downs? Remember, that’s to be expected. I know life is weird/hard/bad right now, but here are some things to remember.

Life is messy.
It’s okay that things aren’t always good. It’s okay that sometimes you feel on track and then the next day feel like you crashed into a tree. Keep doing things that you know are good for you, even when you don’t feel like it. Ride your bike. Go on walks. Text people back. Listen to Starting Line and Taking Back Sunday and Something Corporate. Pay attention to LG. Trust other people enough to talk to them. Remember messy doesn’t mean bad.

You contain multitudes.
It’s okay to feel everything. You don’t have to pick a feeling and commit to it for any period of time. It’s okay to feel happy and sad and angry and confused all in one moment. It’s okay to feel sad for a while and then wake up feeling happy even though nothing has changed. It’s okay to compartmentalize and pretend and try and give up. You are everything, everything, everything all at once.

Everything, in time.
Be patient. Just because there is a decision to be made doesn’t mean it has to be made now. Or even soon. You are not in the wrong story just because you feel out of place. You are building onto the plot that will get you to the next chapter when the time comes. Just wait.

You are not an inconvenience.
Speak up. Be brave. Take up space. Anyone who can’t handle this will remove themselves from your story, and hear me when I say this: we are fine with that.

Keep shooting your shot.
Ask people to be your pen pal even if you haven’t actually talked to them in a long time. Ask friends to zoom with you even if you worry they won’t want to. Tell people about your stuff even if that means they might actually see you. Even if it doesn’t always work out, the times it does will make every effort worth it.

Remember, you can do this. Exactly as you are.

Courage, dear heart.

Love,
Katie