A Letter to My Younger Self

Dear Little Paula,

I want to tell you a few things that might make your life somewhat easier; stuff I wish someone would have told me even if I hadn't listened. These are things I have learned in my almost 62 years of living on this old Earth, stuff that is generally only learned by trial and error. After all, that is what life is—trial and error. So, here are some tips on how to live a good and productive life.

First of all, laugh often. Life is a bunch of blind leading the blind. When you run into a snare, laugh first, sort it out afterwards. This will reduce stress and aggravation. Life is, after all, an organized chaos of sorts. One thing leads to another, leads to another, and so on and so forth.

In school, always do your best. Try not to talk too much, although I know it is so difficult for you, especially when you are excited. There are so many things to be excited about, but school is not the place to talk about it. Unless, of course, it's recess. Always do the best you can in your studies. Your parents will tell you that's how you get into a good college and that's true. But college is so far away from you right now and for all you know, it may never come! (Hint: It will, but it will be a long way off!)

Related to school is the idea of popularity. It's nice to be popular and all, but I'll tell you what your mother will tell you: if you have one friend you can count as a true friend, a friend that will stick with you through thick and thin, health and illness, weird times and stable times, please count yourself blessed. So many times, so-called friends will wander in and out of your life. There one minute and gone the next. These are not true friends. Oh, it will be fun for a while, but it may end in hurt and despair. Guard your heart. Let your head guide you, not your heart. You have a soft heart, and many will take advantage.

Love your animals. They are so therapeutic and will love you forever. Animals love unconditionally; they teach us so much about ourselves. If you can, buy a dog, a horse and a couple of donkeys. What amazing creatures they are! Live on a farm where your soul feels free. Don't live in the city for any longer than you can stand. There are too many rules and regulations there for your free spirit.

Regarding love—don't fall so easily. Wait for the right guy; you might fight long and hard with your parents, but, they love you more than they love their own lives. They would give everything up for you. For you! They want you to find the perfect Christian young man who will love you for you, forever. And it's going to be so worth the wait. Honor your parents. They are wonderful people and you are of them.

When you become a parent, please be fair with your kids. If you make a mistake, admit it, if you punished them unjustly, apologize. They will respect you and love you much more if you do these things. They, in turn, will be fair and just with your grandchildren. Can you even imagine having grandchildren? It is the most amazing thing ever!

Most of all, love God. Go to a church you absolutely love. Be gentle with people. Hearts are easily broken and difficult to mend, and you may not even know what you did to cause it. Remember, God will bring you through the toughest times you can imagine, and there will be many of them. But He is faithful to you, His child, and will not let go of you. So, don't let go of Him.

There is so much more I could tell you, but you will have to follow on through with this life. When you feel like giving up, when you feel like you can't go on, please remember problems are temporary. They pass and in time, you'll likely not remember most of them. Life is precious. Your life will be more wonderful than you can imagine right now. Whatever you do, never give up!

I hope these few tips help you grow up to be a kind, loving soul, a ray of sunshine for people to be around. Don't ever forget you are loved and loved well.

Love,

Your Bigger Self