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Imagine meeting your younger self for coffee.
It's Samantha, and I've spent more time than I should admit on Instagram imagining just that lately.
There's an online trend where people are writing letters to their younger selves, reflecting on the differences between now and then.
What they would wear.
What drink they would order.
How they would think and feel and show up in the world.
I just read the original poem that this trend is based on and immediately wanted to share it here:
She was late.
I was early.
I wore my dark brown hair in a slicked-back bun.
Her hair was faded red and in her face.
I had dark blue jeans on.
She wore sweatpants with a few stains.
She lets out a sigh, and she has a good cry.
I tell her to release her feelings one at a time.
The scars on her have now faded on me quite a bit.
I want to tell her it won't always be like this.
But I don't.
She doesn't need to hear
that things will be better.
She just wants a hug and reassurance of her feelings
during this uncertain season ahead of her.
We leave the aroma of coffee beans and baked goods.
I walk her home to our old neighbourhood.
We won't meet again for 15 more years.
But each day, she thinks of the woman
who acknowledged her tears."
As a yogi, writer, and someone who enjoys a bit of mindless scrolling, I love that this is a thing right now.
Pausing.
Reflecting.
Acknowledging where you are and where you have been, and just sitting with that.
It's inspired me to think of what it would be like to meet 15-year-old Sam.
We'd both be late.
She'd wear something cute. I'd wear something comfy.
She'd complain about not having a boyfriend like everyone else.
I'd tell her we marry a beautiful woman and now have a son.
Maybe this will prompt you to write your own reflection, Annika.
And if it does, go easy on yourself. Do it with so much love for the kid you were and the person you are, and every iteration you've been along the way.
Who you are is exactly who you need to be at this moment in time.
With love,
Samantha
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