To The Old Me,

This is for the old me, the girl who worried too much about what others thought of her, the girl who panicked at the end of a high school relationship, the girl who couldn't stand to be alone.

I cannot stress enough about how important it is to find yourself before you find anyone else. To that girl who thinks she's in that hole that keeps going deeper and she can't seem to find her way out, trust me—I have been there. I have been to every level you can imagine and back.

I cannot stress this enough: Nothing in life is going to make you more happy than you make yourself. Not a man, not food, not shopping (even though it's enjoyable for a short amount of time). I know hitting rock bottom can feel like a never-ending occurrence. I know how it feels to have one bad thing after another smacking you in the face. I've started college this past year. Now after saying that, these past maybe four years have been the most emotional, unbalancing, hard years in my life. I think I know that my whole life will not continue to be that way though. Excuse my language, but shit does really just happen in life! A lot of it will, actually. This is beside the point. High school and college years can be the most emotional years of your life. You will be tried with back-stabbing friends, immature boyfriends, and a million papers due at midnight. But I promise you that once you look past the bad, you'll see your lifelong best friend right next to you. And when you least expect it, love will really find a way to surprise you at the most inconvenient and crazy times. Even those papers due at midnight will soon turn into late night cram sessions with those who are dearest to you. After the storm, there's always that fresh sunshine and rainbow.

What I will stress about now, to each and every one of you girls that are who I used to be: Stop putting up with the crap from your boyfriend, tell that back-stabbing friend that she will get nowhere in life acting like that, and start saying no for once!

Focus on you, focus on your future, your goals, and who you're meant to be. I promise you that the deep hole that keeps digging or that rock bottom you've hit is going to change. As soon as you stop digging, you'll notice, "Oh wow, there's a ladder right over there."

And just like a ladder, I promise you every day will be one step higher, one step better.

So please ladies, or gents, take my advice and make yourself happier.

Sincerely,

The Girl Tou Will Be In Future Years