A thousand Words

-a letter to 18 year-old me-

• 

High school is almost over and you are about to transition into adulthood

Adulthood sounds interesting, a place where things finally fall into place right

You get to go to university, graduate and get into your dream career

And live happily ever after being the game-changer you believe the world is waiting on

Impressive baby girl, impressive!

Well, I am not going to talk to you about vision, purpose, goals and all the virtuous

Because they are often cloudy and mean very little until they are well-defined

And mean very little if the person underneath is not well acquainted with the self

For how can one master anything else, until they master the self

So instead of delving into these ‘giants’ you will constantly chase in your early 20’s

Let me give you a glimpse of what life past this stage will entail

Here is the fine print which comes with the world of adulthood

This is not the fine print you wish you had seen, for it would take away the wonder of life

So think of it as a reflective note, to see how far you have come and how long you still have to go

On academics

Keep the momentum in your studies. Good grades matter. The learning style will be a lot different from what you have seen for the past 13 years. Do your best to see how you will adapt and keep your grades impeccable.

Be adventurous, be creative, and be inquisitive. Think outside the box- the box of how you think things should go. Be innovative, develop your entrepreneurial muscle. Be on the lookout for opportunities, and be ready to deviate from the conventional. Take up Space- no one will do it for you.

You will meet a diverse group of students- the brainy, the nonchalant, the daring and the charming. All these people will give you an insight into life, different from life as you know it. Observe as much as you can, learn from them; find out how they live, how they are conditioned.  Find out their best dishes; find out how they deal with life issues. Take note of all this, it will make you a seasoned person.

On the social scene

Where do I start? Well, be a strong person, because life WILL attempt to break you down every now and then. Embrace your beliefs, master your emotions. Most friendships will be seasonal and temporary, but that should not stop you from being a good friend. Serve the people life brings you very well; it is a good foundation for yourself. Consider invitations before accepting them, and only commit to plans because you want to and not out of obligation. Man is gregarious creature, but be comfortable with solitude, with silence, with the empty spaces.

On that note, there are many people you will meet, and among them will be people you have no business dealing with. Kindly do away with such unfruitful relationships and devote your attention to the meaningful ones. Be discerning, be alert. Have boundaries and enforce them without guilt. Show kindness. Be humble. Be respectful. Words are you currency, use them sparingly and consider their impact before opening your mouth.

 On spirituality

Cultivate a strong relationship with God. Talk to God, and let Him talk to you. Follow His teachings, Hold fast to the faith. Repent daily, and choose to see progress in your walk with Christ. Numerous challenges will come along- days of fervency intertwined with bouts of apathy. In the mist of it all; dare to hold on and dare to persevere. God is real and life is spiritual.

On family

Love. Long-suffering. Empathy.

On adventure

Embrace the adventure that comes with change.  You will see many beautiful places, and never take that for granted. Inhale the fresh air in the morning at the beach. Savor the long train rides. If you are lucky, you will have a road trip with your friends. Well, even planning it counts. See, our days here on earth are as a mist and the sooner you realize this, the more you will cherish every moment. Before you know it, you would possibly have more responsibilities than you can fathom and you can no longer live on a whim.

On health and well-being

Have a high daily water intake, water is life- literally. Wear clothes that fit well. Wear clothes that you like. You have a good eye for fashion, refine it and hone your style. Be intentional on being well groomed. Bath well and often. You may not be comfortable in your body- but the truth is no one really is. We just learn to live with it, and love ourselves that way. Exercise, for your mind, for your body and for the aesthetics- fit people appear to have it all together. Life will hand you surprises, learn to pivot well.

Have a vision, nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you can never go higher than you think. Love yourself. Life is too short to spend another day at war with you. Find a mentor. Mentors’ if needed. Learn from the great.

Understand that your life is purposeful. Understand that vision gives birth to direction. When you know where you want to be and see yourself there, your course of action will be easier to follow. Things will turn out better than you imagine. Safeguard your wellbeing at all costs. Mind your own business. Lead a quiet life. Work with your own hands.

Learn from the failures and mistakes you will encounter along the way but never engrain them into your identity. There is no script we should follow, yet our steps are ordered. The clean hearted will win in the end. Smile to strangers. Be kind for no reasons. There is room enough for everyone to make it.

You are blessed, you will prosper, and you will accomplish your purpose.

If you read this letter again, I am writing it to the future self as well.