First and foremost: thank you to those that have been talking to me in the last few days, and helping me to get through the veritable emotional rollercoaster that is this move.
Second: I found something tonight. Something that I honestly had completely forgotten about. And to be completely honest? I needed to find it. Of (nearly) everything I have found in those boxes so far, this is the most important. I found a letter that I had written to myself in 2006. It was the last assignment of my high school psychology class, and the assignment was to write a letter to our future selves with words that we thought that form of ourself might need most; if only Mr. Franklin had known how much it would eventually mean to me… And without further hesitancy:
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Dear Jeremy,
Read these words. Heed them, and keep them in mind: never give up. Never. Even when you feel at your lowest, keep your head up, because things will get better. Much better.
On a personal note (as if a letter to yourself isn’t the very definition of “personal note”): resist ALL temptations that cause you to question yourself, or that make you feel untrue to yourself. Don’t take to mind what peple say or think about you, for very few will matter. And those that do matter, will matter the most; but none so much as yourself. Keep your head level, your heart open, and your mind as a sponge. For all that you do, make sure that you learn something from each experience. And keep in mind that the person you are meant to spend the rest of your life with and love with all of your heart is not perfect (and neither are you). They will say something that will hurt you deeply, and do something that will make you feel like your world is ending.
But even in moments like that, it will have been worth it. You will be a better person for it, and will eventually grow into who and what you are meant to be, because of it. But the best advice I can give you right now, is to be yourself and never change simply for the sake of changing. Only grow and change as necessary to be the very best you that you KNOW you can be; don’t let others influence you in ways that cause you to stray from your path. You know where you want to be, and what you want to do. Do it. Just do it. Do not make excuses, make strides. Make leaps, and make bounds. You will stray from your path every once in awhile, but you must remain true to you and only you. Do this, and we will make it through this crazy carnival that we call life.
With faith, hope, & honesty,
You.
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Eerie, isn’t it? As my friend Jordan said, “…[T]hat’s incredible. Looks like you really are the only one who can give yourself therapy.” It truly astounds me how I could have written that to myself, because of an assignment in my PSYCHOLOGY class, and have so very much of it quite literally come true. Even through all of the struggles I have been facing in repacking certain boxes (which I had not touched since I moved), I really cannot express how much this letter has served to help me realign my mind, heart, and goals. I want to extend a very big, and very sincere, thank you to everyone that has helped me in these last few days. I don’t think I would have been standing on the right foundation to appreciate this letter, had you not all helped me overcome the obstacles when they presented themselves to me. I cannot express my thanks adequately, outside of sticking true to the letter, and myself, and moving on and forward and working towards being the best “me” that I can. It’s my time to roll!