A Letter to Your (younger) Self

A friend recently told me about a book called “Dear Me” which features a series of letters written by famous people, to their 16 year old selves. What a great concept!

Do you remember what 16 feels like? The uncertainty about where you’re going and how you’re going to get there? The excitement about what the future holds? The frustration brought on by the constraints of being 16? And of course, looking back now, you realize how uncomplicated things really were.

Think about it for a minute – what would a letter to YOUR 16 year old self look like? What lessons that you’ve learnt along the way would you deem important enough to share? Make a list, start a letter… you’ll possibly find that even now, you’re still not taking your own advice. Let go of toxic people, remember that nothing stays the same, do what you love, nurture yourself, wear sunscreen…

If you’re in business, apply the same exercise. Do you remember how you felt when you first started out in business? The excitement, the nervous anticipation, the dreams and goals you had? Life, and business, can be tough. It’s important to take a step back from time to time to regroup and remember why we’re doing what we’re doing, and not get lost in the daily grind. Remember the passion that you had at the start of your great idea?  Do what you need to, to get that back.

As for me, I think it’s high time I revisited “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” – surely a few life lessons in there! Or just a nice trip down memory lane. Long live stonewashed jeans.


http://www.dearme.org