A Letter to My 20-Something Self

I discovered a new blog this weekend called CassieBoorn.com. What really grabbed me was the "20-Something Self Letters" category, which includes letters written by women to their younger twenty-something selves. The letters are filled with wisdom and advice only women in the advanced ages of thirty or forty can dispense. Cassie also has another category labeled "56 Things To Do Before I’m 25" where she lists "Buy a pair of Uggs" as her #22 thing to do, but we won't hold that against her.

After reading through a few of the 20-Something Letter entries, I was inspired to write to my younger self. My first draft began as: "Dear Self, for the LOVE OF GOD do not let Ben photograph you in those denim maternity overalls..." However, I deleted that and decided to address more pressing matters... "Dear Self, do not rent the movie 'Cape Fear;' it sucks."

In the end I wrote this:

Dear 20-Something-Me,

Brace yourself...your twenties are going to be a tiny bit epic. You’ll graduate from college, get married to your high school sweetheart, have a baby girl and lose your mom to cancer before your twenties’ half-way mark.

Then it gets interesting.

You’ll ‘general’ the total renovation of a house [if it’s not too late, seriously reconsider scrapping this idea and buying a little house instead...you’re going to hate writing that monthly mortgage check].

Also, you and your husband will start a very successful business. Twenty-Something Meredith, pay attention here and look me in the eyes...stay in this business for two years, TWO YEARS and then run like hell. You're welcome. Trust me, you’ll thank me for that advice later.

Another thing: it’s the babysitter [not the cleaning service] who’s stealing your jewelry. Fire her and change the locks. Follow your gut on this. You have a very wise gut.

You’re going to have a difficult time saying ‘no’ to people. However, you’ll learn that saying ‘no’ to one person actually means you’re saying ‘yes’ to another. I know the mere thought of disappointing anyone makes your left eye twitch. But I promise saying ‘no’ will not cause the earth’s crust to separate thereby allowing pointy-eared demons with chronic gingivitis to reach up and pull you into it’s core. This will not happen. Worst case scenario, you’ll be removed from a Christmas card list or two, which won’t make a difference since you’ll stop sending out Christmas cards in your thirties.

Travel more with your husband. I know you’re afraid of flying, but they make ‘happy pills’ for your kind of people, take them. Of course only after you’ve consulted your doctor. You’ll have two more children and too many more obligations in your thirties to even think about getting away.

And finally, don’t buy that expensive strapless bra. You’re never going to wear the damn uncomfortable thing.

Until then,

Your Thirties