Dear 16 year old self

Recently, I had the opportunity to reconnect with some high school people at an informal reunion. It was fun to catch up with people that experienced the same set of walls and adults for at least 4 years. Of course one topic of conversation that came up was the If we knew then, what we know now .............would things be different? Ummm yeah, they would.

But it made me think of a recent posting on a blog I follow religiously, The Creative Junkie,
(which makes me laugh hysterically every time, BTW thanks for that Andy!) So she wrote a post addressing her 16 year old self. And in an effort NOT to plagiarize ('cause that is a pet peeve of mine), I think I'd like to try the same.............. PS: I am not changing the names to protect the innocent and the possibly not so, but will use initials instead.

Dear 16 year old Meg,

Yes, it is me. I know, I know. You are totally blown away that you have lived to be 43 ' cause we always thought we'd be dead by now, but it has actually happened. Anyway there are a few things we need to discuss................so listen closely.


The whole punk, neon, million earrings, fishnet stocking thing you got going on, Yeah, that will be mild in 25 years! However, it did achieve the goal you were shooting for. People do remember you because of it.

You know that family drama right now? Well, it will get worse, then better, then worse and then much, much worse and then you'll be so over it.

Stop! Seriously, Stop and take a look around you. You are surrounded by great guys. You should appreciate a few a little more like JW, CS, EH, and PM and possibly some you are not aware of!

You really need to walk (or sever with a knife) away, from the BH situation, you'd be much better off. Trust me!

Friends are going to come and go. You cannot stop that or rescue any of them. Give it up!

That body you loath right now, and in your 20's, you will yearn for in the future!

Don't bother asking DN to the senior ball. He's just going to blow you off and go with someone else. Plan on going stag from the start. It's way more fun!

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Oh and the smoking thing. So NOT cool. It will be a habit that will take you over 15 years to break.

But the reason you quit smoking, is because you have a little girl. She is all girl however including all the drama and this is just from the perspective from when she is 8. You will constantly wonder where she came from. God help us.

Unfortunately, you will not be the next Quincy. Come on seriously!? Look at your math skills and your effort in school.

Don't worry, you will be very successful in your career. You will start as a special education teacher, work at the district office teaching teachers, become a curriculum coach for your school , and become an elementary school librarian. ( Stop laughing because you love your job and are passionate about it which is more than most people can say)

You do not need to worry about your big brother so much. He will figure it all out and be way more than OK.

Sorry to inform you but, MJ will break your heart and you will be devastated, but I won't tell you to avoid him, because 1. You will have lots of fun with him and 2. You will learn a great deal and grow from the whole ordeal.


Your mom and dad aren't focused on you right now because they know you have a good head on your shoulders.

Sometimes you forget that and do very, very dumb things. Like, don't leave your friends at a party with some guy you just met. Not the best choice.

Oh, and you do not always have to do things just because you think that others think you should do them. The "Others" do not always know what you need.

Believe it or not you do end up with a nice family and live in a neighborhood very similar to the one you grew up in.

There are things that you will experience that are not fun or even close, but you will survive and it will shape who you are today which in my opinion is not such a bad person.

So when you wake up and think you had a weird dream, I hope that at least one or two of things has been absorbed. Maybe that did happen and that is why it is written here. hmmm? See ya in about 27 years.