Dear Younger Self,
You should know that even though you do not have many friends or that being popular is something you will not ever achieve, there will come a time when you have so many friends it will be difficult to manage. Currently, my phone is filled with messages from friends all around the state and country. The boys and girls who make fun of you will eventually apologize to you. They’ll realize how awful they treated you because they will have children of their own whom they wish to protect from people like the bullies they were.
It seems that I have begun to write even more than I ever did at your age with journals filled up and a book in the process. This leads to a reflection of how I evolved as a writer. The journals you write in now, I still have and keep them in my storage unit. I am still living in the same house you are in right now. I moved back after a short marriage and divorce. Love seems to be the one area we have not mastered.
I am writing this letter to you as a way to give you confidence in who you are and who you will become. When I was your age, (I know how that sounds) I always felt left out. In the future, though, we emerge as confident and we embrace our inner nerd. I love Star Wars, shows about dragons, and even documentaries! People approach us to ask our advice as we are a leader in our field. We advocate for others and always help students and children because we decide to become a teacher. Teaching is the one place we feel confident and respected.
I hope when you read this, it arrives when you need it the most. It will arrive when the popular kids are teasing you and you feel like there’s no way you will be surrounded by friends. I am here to give you hope. My life is filled with lots of loving and caring friends. We talk and message one another, travel together, at out to restaurants together and you will become so busy with all the wonderful people in your life that we create a Heart Map. It will encompass so much love.
I will leave you with this: Life is full of challenges, but also full of love, friendship, family, and respect. Keep smiling and being you. Someday you will step into the light and realize all you are is enough and it is wonderful.

Love,
Your Older Self