A Letter to My 20-something Self

Blogger Cassie Boorn is collecting letters from older women to their 20-something selves to help other 20-somethings navigate their 20s, which can be an awkward, intense time (they were for me).  To read more about it and post your letter, visit HERE.

Here's my letter:

Dear 20-something Cora –

Shoulda, woulda, coulda – none of these words are helpful. As much as you can, banish them from your vocabulary.

You are an amazing soul and things will get better. Just keep saying that to yourself and when you see an opportunity to make things better, take it, regardless of how big or how small, for yourself or for others.

Stick with the therapy, if not the medication – you’ll eventually get the right diagnosis and things will be better.

These are not the best times of your life – you have many more best times coming. Collect the best times and know you’ll have more to add to your collection.

Give into your lazy side more often – it serves a purpose, a very important one. You’ll find out what that purpose is when you start being proactively lazy.

Life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon, so don’t worry if you haven’t done things that are important to you – there’s still time.

Trust your gut. You know yourself better than anyone and do what is right for you, as kindly as possible. You’ll disappoint others, but give them a hug, tell them you love them, and get on to doing what you need to do for yourself.

Go exercise – you always feel better after doing it. Always, despite the lies you tell yourself. This is the one time not to indulge in laziness.

Now, go look in the mirror and give yourself that look that you think is cute and revel in the feeling.

And believe in yourself. You are enormously capable, smart and personable. Believe in yourself and others will to.

I love you.

30-something Cora