Dear Sarah,

You are 18 now and about to graduate from high school. You have so many dreams and hopes and I am so proud of the person you are going to become.

I am writing from 20 years in the future and I have a very important message to give to you.

Nothing will ever be the way you imagined it or think it will be like. Things will not work out the way you ever would expect them to. And that is for the best because you will learn so much more about life, love, and people this way.  You will learn that life is not fair, but when it appears that way, life can feel magical. You will learn that love is not something that can be quantified or measured, but only felt in the deepest parts or your soul, that it will speak to you when you need it most.  And the things you learn about the nature of people and how to interact with them will be your saving grace.

You will cry, hurt, and feel like your heart will never mend from the heartache of life. Life will break you. But you will learn from those moments and pain. Sarah, you will learn your greatest gift: to get back up and keep fighting for your life and heart everyday. You will be able to share and help others learn to cope with the pain of being a person in this day and age.

When it seems like everything is ending or changing for the worse, you will learn to take the pain you have experienced and make into something full of love and hope. It is difficult, but you have so many good people in your life throughout the years that creating out of pain will become second nature.

You will learn to stop planning your life in a grand way. Living in the moment will become your saving grace, To learn to take each moment as they come and not expect or anticipate more then there actually is. Learning to love with your whole heart in every moment, to give love to people who need it most will be difficult for you, but so rewarding as well.

Sarah, I want you to learn that life is full of lessons to be learned and if one is as lucky as you will be, there is always something new to learn about life and love. This is your purpose on this Earth at this time. To learn how to live and love to your fullest and be a force for good. I know you will give it your all.

I also want you to remember all the good in the world, the good that can come at any moment from a stranger even. I want you to become part of that good and kindness in the world. You have and have had so many good, kind people in your life that it is only right that you also become a force for kindness and learning.  I hope you learn and enjoy your journey as it is happening. Trust yourself. Your voice. I know you can and will.