Dear 30 Year Old Me:
It is your 25 year old self here! Hi. {insert waving emoji here}
Happy birthday girl!! Since you are reading this, today we {our past self, present me, and you in the future} have turned the good old 30. I hope you {30 year old self} are celebrating with the clinking sound of 2 shots of aged whiskey, or 2 glasses of Guinness, or those Moscow Mules we so much enjoy. That is if you still like whiskey, Guinness, or Mules. I hope you do. Don’t go around telling people you like vodka. I {Your 25 year old self} would be highly disappointed. There is also the case that at 30, you might not drink at all anymore. Let me be honest, at 25 we barely drink, so I hope you still leisurely seep on something besides water and cold pressed juices.
It is 12:30pm on May 2nd, 2017 ( I know it is not our birthday) and I was sweating this morning thinking I needed to express some thoughts to you. Basically have a one on one with you or me or us and have you read it on your birthday; In January.
At present moment I am working diligently to start and make our photography business/brand grow. If I may, so far it has been quite tedious and absolutely gratifying! By 30, I hope our business is huge girl. I also hope it is a breath of fresh air. Unless along the way ( 26 year old, 27 year old, 28 year old, and 29 year old) we decided to completely change course. In that case whatever it is you chose to do it must make you happy, you must enjoy it, and the ups must over weigh the downs. If you could not answer YES to any of the MUSTS above you need to go to meditation camp and find yourself, cause 25 year old self is shaking her head right now. You hear me, right?
Nonetheless, I have a lot of hope for you. I am sure you are slaying with your photography, fine arts, and love for humanity (and any other skills) as a mixture of forces to implement good and positive change in the world. I am aiming high little lady so you better be shaking your head up and down with a loud YAASSS! Between 25 and 30 there is plenty of time. Let’s learn a lot and Make. Shit. Happen! Side note: Don’t forget we always do things with honesty, integrity, kindness, and class. There are no other options. {Pound It!}
I know you well and I know you follow your intuition with passion! I don’t fret.
My dear Maria. Girly. Babe! Whatever it is that is going through your head at this moment, remember you can do it. You are strong, confident, and courageous. If you think you are not, do not judge yourself; it is all a hoax in your head. Setting all spiritual things aside, I am your old self and I am allowed to judge you right now, because I am working on self-empowerment, confidence, and courage at this moment. If by 30 you haven’t {which I am sure you have} at least mastered one aspect and gotten better at the others, you better wake the heck up. Tough love!
We really have no control of how our life will unfold. Our past self is a testament of that. I mean we went to school for graphic design and graduated with a photography and communications degree. We thought we wanted to get a 9-5pm job and ended up with 3 jobs and traveling Europe endlessly. Now I am in the process of dealing with business licenses, insurances, and contracts. If in 2017 I am able to make things blossom, at 30 you best bet you can make things shine. No matter the hurdles, potholes, bridges, and rope courses you can jump high, swing gracefully, and hike for hours. You got this!
Also, let’s get something straight between you and I: At the age of 25 I have finally realized we would like to get married. From age 15-24 that aspect was quite foreign. All we had clear in between those years was that we wanted to wear a crimson red dress if ever married. At present that desire is still strong. Which means it has been 11 years of that desire. So, um, I hope you keep that unconventional tradition going. If not I understand, but at least put some cool flowers on it!
By 30 I am assuming you have found some really nice and handsome fella to complement you. Someone that you can build a harmonious partnership and lead the journey of life with. He shall be ready to commit and also willing to do his own self work. Do not settle for less! You know you deserve no less. Yet, if that is not the case (there is nothing wrong with that) em…Have you considered buying yourself some cats? I am kidding! Maybe you already have cats. Oh gosh! May I suggest Match.com (or the equivalent) then? I heard it is really good for meeting people. I have not tried it, but I have seen the commercials. We have never been the online dating type, but if we are still single [and not by choice like now] might as well give it a try. Your 25 year old self has a lot of hope for you, so let’s opt for you have a man.
One more thing, be thankful for everything we have been given thus far. Right now at 25, I get so caught up in making things happen that I sometimes shampoo my hair twice without knowing or almost go running with my exercise outfit on minus the leggings. At 30, I hope you have gotten better at living in your present moment- which is the most important aspect of life. Embrace our family and your current friends. Love who you are at this moment, at 30. It is all part of the journey. Always try to forgive, offer understanding, and have compassion for yourself and others. Trust and believe in yourself like I do so fervently now!
By the way, I hope you still like ice cream and dessert. 25 year old self makes them a food group. You better question yourself, before you wreck yourself. Sweetness is life.
Love you or should I say me…whatever!
Best of energies,
Your best friend and 25 year old self, M