This was a fun exercise in creativity. After you read mine, head over to Dear 18 Me and write yours. Do it today and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $10 iTunes card!
Dear 18 year old me,
I (you) recently watched this episode of Star Trek (yeah, a day will come when you think it’s cool again, even though right now you roll your eyes whenever it comes on) where Captain Picard was mortally wounded and Q offered him a chance to go back to his youth and make changes that would keep him from dying in this particular accident. He made the changes, played it safe, and ended up not dying in the present. The problem was that his now present self was this pansy version of his real self, and he wasn’t anything like the successful, courageous and ambitious captain we all know and love. I guess the moral of the story was something like, “don’t be too hard on yourself, because your mistakes are what make you who you are.” Well it was a pretty predictable episode, not too profoundly presented, but I kind of have to agree with it a little in that there are a few mistakes you’re going to make that will change your life for the better. They’re going to really suck, but they will be used in a huge way to change who you are and what you believe.
That being said, here are just a few tiny pointers:
1. You still need to go to PCC. You’re going to meet your husband there. Go, try to complain less about the rules, and try not to get so bitter about the hypocrites or the legalism. You’ll learn from that too and realize that you’re one from time to time. Enjoy the beach more.
2. Call your folks more while you’re in college and be more honest with them about your struggles and why things are so frustrating. That dialogue could be very helpful. Call them more in general just to say “I love you.”
3. When you meet a crazy red head wearing Buddy Holly glasses and are strangely intrigued, go with that. You two are gonna make some cute babies! (Although you might re-think having him come live with you and your family for the summer BEFORE you get engaged-just sayin’.)
4. Work harder at maintaining a few of those college friendships-there are some good people you’re really going to miss.
5. Stop making statements about how things are going to be when you have kids. You’re clueless.
6. You’re going to have to work out a lot after the kids, so you might do yourself a favor and start earlier.
7. Enjoy your little debbies and coke a cola, because you’re going to learn about all sorts of nasties in them and won’t let yourself have them anymore.
8. You really aren’t going to listen to Celine Dion forever, so you might as well stop now.
9. Don’t worry about being cast in the roles of little girls–you’re gonna get to fly!
10. Theater isn’t everything. That’s going to be a tough lesson to learn, I’m just telling it that you’ll learn it someday.
11. You aren’t a very good listener–you could avoid a lot of misunderstandings and awkward moments if you’d work on that.
12. Pay more for your wedding dress and less for your flowers–they aren’t going to be right anyway.
13. Don’t take your grandmas for granted. See them as much as you can.
14. Work harder at staying in touch with your brother–you guys won’t see each other much over the next few years.
15. Keep at it–He’s worth it!
PS. If you read this and were part of my life when I was 18 and you DID try telling me some of this . . . sorry. Hey! I was 18!!! Who listens to anyone when they’re 18???
There is justice in the world when your child learns some of the things you were trying to tell her! Love you Beth! Dad
P.S. The summer Andy was living w/ us was important to the family dynamic. I’m glad he was there for the good and the bad.
Oh, left one out!
16. Upon reading this Dad will work in an “I told you so,” be ready for it. Love you too Dad! 🙂
Dad, where’s your Dear 18 Me letter? I’d like to read that.