Dear Past Me,

In the next six months, you graduate from THE best university in the world (WHOOP!), you're marrying the man of your dreams, and we're welcoming our sweet baby girl into the world.

OK, I know what you're thinking. Seriously, what the heck, right? Are you on "Punk'd" or something? Hello? Ashton Kutcher?

All throughout high school, there is a certain feeling. A feeling of waiting. Waiting to be old enough, waiting to be ready, waiting to get a college degree, waiting for life to start.

When I was your age, I thought this feeling would kill me. All you wanted was for your life to start. People would always tell you, "stop waiting for it to happen, it'll hit you long before you even notice". I thought they were crazy. Until now. Somehow, without you knowing, life happened.

I'm so sorry that I kept you waiting.

I'm so sorry that I didn't let you stop and realize that every step you took was so so important. Every decision you made led me to right here.

I spent so many years disappointed in myself for making poor choices, as I'm sure a lot of college kids can attest too. Missing a class, failing a test, whatever it was - I always made such a big deal about it.

I seriously thought that all my mistakes meant that I wouldn't succeed or something — HA! Every mistake has led me to RIGHT HERE.

To every boy who broke my heart, thank you. Thank you for teaching me how to grow, overcome, and never back down. Thank you for leading me right into the arms of a man I get to spend my whole life loving and growing old with.

To every professor that made me doubt myself, thank you. Thank you for pushing me to pursue a degree in a field that I'm ACTUALLY passionate about. Thank you for making me really sit down and decide what was important to me.

To every mistake I ever made, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every single mistake I've made has led me on the path that I'm on today and I wouldn't trade a single thing.

To God, thank you for being patient with me. I will never fully understand Your plan, but I'm starting to see what a beautiful life you've created for me and I cannot wait to see where You lead me.

Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. - Proverbs 23:18

So to my past, thank you. Thank you for giving me every single thing I needed to make it where I am today. I wouldn't be me without you.

Love,

Meg