Sweetie, it’s human nature to wish that everyone would like us but it’s important to understand that it’s not going to happen. You aren’t going to be for everyone. Just like some people aren’t going to be for you. Soak up every little moment you have with them. Call them, write them letters, let them know how loved and treasured they are. You will not have them forever. Make the most of your time together. Reflecting on our past helps us embrace our present and shape our future.” Taking the time to reflect on our past experiences allows us to gain valuable insights and learn from our successes and failures. By examining our past actions, decisions, and challenges, we can better understand ourselves, our motivations, and our patterns of behavior. This self-awareness enables us to make conscious choices in the present, avoiding repeating past mistakes and embracing opportunities for growth and improvement. By embracing our past, we can cultivate a sense of gratitude for the lessons learned and use them as a foundation for shaping a brighter and more fulfilling future. It is through this process of reflection that we gain the clarity and wisdom needed to navigate our present circumstances and make choices that align with our true desires and aspirations. Ultimately, reflecting on our past empowers us to create a future that is meaningful, purposeful, and aligned with our authentic selves. When I was 16] racism was only talked about in the context of racial slurs. Or duffing people up in an alley. We didn’t have the vocabulary we have now to describe the much more subtle racism that even the people who were harming us weren’t aware they were doing. It was a difficult thing to bring up. There was a shame around it. I saw my parents getting it and it wasn’t anything we ever talked about. It felt like there was no one to talk to. When you’re young, it makes the world feel unsafe. Your letter is a love note to the younger version of yourself, assuring them that everything will be okay.”

In fact, your adult life will be sweeter and harder than what you can imagine right now, but know this, you’re in for a beautiful journey. I was manufactured. My look came from London, with hair and makeup from New York. It evolved thanks to Mary Quant and a friend of mine named Amy Green. She took me to a salon called Kenneth in New York and I met a lady who coloured my hair blonde. And I loved it, that new persona. I was grateful for it because I had been floundering. It was playful and a little sexy. It was courageous for me to step out like that. Richard Coles: Radio presenter and parish priest Reverend Richard Coles, Communard, clergyman. I was once before asked to do the reverse of this, in high school. To write a letter to an older version of myself. I wrote an incredibly naïve piece, asking if I was still friends with the same people (I wasn’t), and things like that. But we’re not at high school yet.Wisdom gained through the years can be shared, cherished, and learned from through a heartfelt letter to your younger self.” Wisdom gained through the years is a precious asset that holds the potential to transform lives when shared and cherished. One powerful way to pass on this wisdom is by writing a heartfelt letter to your younger self. In this act of introspection, you are not only gifting valuable insights to your past, but also offering inspiration and guidance to your future. By reflecting on the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the growth experienced, you can provide invaluable advice and encouragement to the younger version of yourself. Through this act of self-reflection and compassion, the wisdom gained becomes a beacon of light, illuminating the path ahead for both your past and future selves. Accept yourself here. Accept your life now. This is the secret to change and success and happiness — it’s hidden right out in the open, right in the present moment, right in your heart. Put healthy boundaries in place and teach people how to treat you. Do not adapt to how they choose to treat you. In particular, when remembering these more upsetting life events, you’re quite likely to remember it in terms of how you felt at the time: “How your body felt, emotionally how you felt, the fear that you felt.”

Today news correspondent Ann Curry-you should understand that being different is fantastic. In fact, rejoice in all those things that make you different.To be alive is a precious thing — don’t forget that and don’t minimize your own existence. Don’t doubt how important you are. You can’t even imagine how important you are.

Less than 10% of the American population have gone through what you did. You are about to meet some of the scariest and most interesting people of your life. Every single one of them has something to teach you. Forget where you came from and learn where they come from. Because we are all the same at the core. The injustices in our society will become more apparent than ever. Remember all their faces. Remember all their stories. Remember you are blessed when you're having a pity party. You will be free. 9. Never stop writing.Positive energy flows freely from you and as you get older, you will have to work hard to protect your energy. But if you learn to think about things from a positive point of view, you develop an attitude of gratitude. And that leads to a happier, more fulfilled life. Both now and when you are an adult. for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. When it's all about where your heart is, that attracts a lot of energy. Everything else follows. ... There's nothing better than complete purity. Being completely raw always works." - Macy Gray I'm going to include the best quotes below (and there are many), but one thing I want to point out that makes me know God sent this book into my life for a reason - Trisha Yearwood closes this out with her letter to herself before one of her doomed-to-fail marriages (pre-Garth of course). And her description mentions how September 11th changed her outlook. And she went to Belmont. I finished this book on September 11th, went to Belmont, and music is my life. Sometimes you do have to believe, just a little, in fate.