Look here Chickie:

Cool it on the sass. Nobody likes a know-it-all.

Also, stop plucking your eyebrows. You look surprised all the time.

Yes, you will need math later.

Call your grandma, preferably today. Trust me.

Weighing yourself is stupid. Stop doing that.

The hot guy downstairs walks around his apartment naked.  Do with that what you will.

Buy stock in Apple.

Slim Jims cause heartburn.

You are always going to suck at public speaking. It’s fine.

Stop smoking, get a mammogram and cross your fingers.

You will hide to cry at work.  So?

Parking in parking garages is not for you. Above-ground it whenever possible.

Like some sort of panda, you can only get pregnant on a Tuesday between noon and one thirty.  Plan accordingly.

Running? Not so much. You can jog. Or walk.  Let's face it, you're going to walk.

Be nicer to your mom. She loves you.

Sit up straight, stand up tall, and learn to breathe.

In and out. In and out.

Feel that?

This is who you are behind the noise and the fear.

Why so serious? Life is not the situation room.

You're from Matawan, NJ.

Laugh. A lot. Especially at you. I'm laughing at you now.

And know that holding back your smile is stealing your joy.

Bank on you because you've got a lot to offer, but stay curious and be a student of life.

You'll do the latter anyway. You can't help it. But make the former a practice.

Listen.

Raise your voice in more ways than one. You need to be heard.

Screwing up is not failure. Its an opportunity to grow.

Find the lesson and learn from it.

Don't worry, you look fine.

Oh yeah,

Breathe.

Sincerely,

You in 10 years

Where do I start

If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far

Then you could be

One step ahead

Of all the painful memories still running thru my head

I wonder how much different things would be

I cannot decide

Do I give some speech about how to get the most out of your life

Or do I go deep

And try to change

The choices that you’ll make cuz they’re choices that made me

Even though I love this crazy life

Sometimes I wish it was a smoother ride

If I knew then what I know now

Condemnation would’ve had no power

My joy my pain would’ve never been my worth

If I knew then what I know now

Would’ve not been hard to figure out

What I would’ve changed if I had heard

It’s not your fault

You're never meant to carry this beyond the cross

Every mountain every valley

Thru each heartache you will see

Every moment brings you closer

To who you were meant to be

She would be only four,

Longing to explore,

The unseen world beyond her sight.

Longing to withstand through out the night

But she won't take the risk.

The risk of exploration twinned with failure.

The risks of finding a friend, or finding a hater.

Trapped inside a self claimed bubble

That she will never rupture.

Because she doesn't know.

She can't see the regret and dread,

Swarming in my head,

Like blocks made of lead

If only she knew.

I would whisper in her ear,

And tell her to embrace the fear.

Engage in the risk

Treat life as a whisk

Because then she will know.

That without risk no one,

Not even the man who created the sun,

Can experience success,

Can rise above the rest,

And become the person of her dreams.

The partner you want in your life will not be found easily. He is not the man who will confidently sweet talk you, using words that frequently leave his tongue. This man is shallow and will never recognize you as special. 

He will be the shy one in the corner that blends into the wall. The mysterious one that is not full of lines and memorized phrases to get you. He is interesting, kind and sweet. So walk past the guy who has tried for 10 girls numbers and sounds romantic, but really wants notches on his bedpost. Talk to the humble one who will appreciate you for everything that you are. He will exceed your expectations, quietly and lovingly. 

He is the key. 

Hey there, it’s been awhile… about ten years I’d say? Anyways, right now you’re in the middle of middle school (I’m just too funny), and you hate it.

Just be glad it’s only for three years instead of four.

You have very strong opinions, which is great, until they become very strong judgements against others. That’s not so great. You think that everything is black and white, and that people kind of suck.

Now let me tell you something: You’re right. People do kind of suck, but guess what? You’re a person also, so sometimes, you’re the one that sucks. Is that too harsh? Oh well, we’ve always been blunt.

Don’t be so quick to judge others, take a step back and realize that not everyone’s like you. Be more forgiving, because when you’re having a moment when you suck, you’ll appreciate when people are so forgiving to you.

Dear Me,

Your mom has cancer. Convince her to get a screening now so they catch it earlier. Maybe it'll make a difference.

When things get really stressful, and they will, hang in there. Don't leave.

Your son is struggling. Stay connected. The next few years are going to be the hardest of his life and he needs you.

Also, you're going to meet the love of your life. You'll know him when you meet him. Don't be afraid to involve him in your life; with your son. He's a good man and he'll make a positive difference.

Read this letter a few times and take it to heart. Brace yourself. Pray. You're going to get through this.

Me

You will get your chance and you will take it. 

You will also abandon your dreams in ways you won't even notice. 

In ten years from now you will still have deceived your "one true love" for theater but will have found a new approach to life. Doubt will take you to the most uncomfortable places, but you you will settle for your one true meaning and start all the "dirty work". I hope I will never meet you. We will come across each other a couple of times, it will be in those deja-vu moments that you will neglect. Maybe you can share: what is it that you saw in me, when you first created your dreams about me? 

Dream me once again, so I can unlock the YOU that you want to be...so you won't have to meet me, so you won't be disappointed. 

You don't know me yet,

but I know all about you.

What you will like,

where you will go,

who you will meet.

My memory of you is fading,

I am the you 10 years from now.

You're only seven,

At Manzano Mesa Elementary

Your teacher is Mrs. Bluneir.

You live in a bad neighborhood,

The ghetto, and the rich don't want you.

Your mother won't be back,

not for another 8 years,

no matter what she promises.

I am telling you, little boy,

to hold your head up at school.

Making friends isn't important,

because you will move several times.

So just study hard, be the best you.

Everything you will like to do,

there is no shame in it.

Asia, cats, writing, drawing.

Don't let anyone make you believe

that what you like is wrong.

You'll meet me soon.

Because I am you.

I love you.

Take care.