What Kelly Said

Dear 15-year-old Kelly,

You’re 30 right now. Take a deep breath and say it slowly. t-h-i-r-t-y. See it doesn’t sound so bad, right? Actually, sweetheart, thirty has been a really good year for you. It’s taught you a lot and you’ve spent a better part of this year reflecting on things and your life so far. I want you to know what you’ve learned.

• Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up. You don’t ever get time back and once that year is gone, it’s gone. Youth is fleeting and you need to enjoy every blissful day. College isn’t going anywhere, life isn’t going anywhere. So stop wishing to be in another place and just enjoy the here and now.
• You are going to get your heartbroken. It isn’t going to be fun and it is going to hurt. But don’t let it affect how you feel about yourself. You DO recover. You DO marry your soul mate. You DO find happiness. So remember that when you feel like your life is over or when said boyfriend cheats on you it is going to be okay.
• People remember the hurtful words you use. When you get angry try to stop and remember that once you say it you can’t ever take it back. You can apologize (and you will) but people don’t always forget. When you get angry, stop and take a few minutes to calm down. Flying off at the mouth is only going to fill you with regret later.
• Stand up for yourself! If you really want something go for it and don’t let anyone tell you no. Follow your heart when it comes to your career path. You know what you want to do and don’t let anyone talk you out of that. If you do, you will be thirty and going back to school to get another degree/certification. Trust me. You’re 15 but you already truly know what you want to do.
• Remember you are beautiful and you don’t need to chase a thin ideal that doesn’t exist! Repeat after me: you are beautiful just the way you are. I’m serious, say that often and really believe it. It is going to save you a lot of heartache in the future.
• Don’t be embarrassed by your religion. It’s not the norm where you live but it isn’t something to hide from. Be proud in your Jewish heritage and don’t ever apologize for it. It is you and it is a beautiful religion. Allow your experiences to teach you a hard lesson in judgement but allow it help you grow in your faith instead of letting it scare you.
• Your parents are going to get divorced. It is going to hurt…more than anything you will have gone through up to that point. Remember they love you and it is going to work out in the end. I promise. Your parents will both find people to love and cherish and it won’t change how much they love you. Your family will grow, not in ways you would have ever imagined, but in ways that will eventually make sense.
• And finally, my dear, remember that you are a very special little girl. You have a lot to offer this world and though your life won’t always be easy it will always be your life. It is your canvas to paint, your playground to explore and only you can make the decisions that will make your life great.

Smile more, laugh more, love harder and remember thirty is a good year for you. I will hopefully be back in another 15 years to give you all the reminders of more chapters of your life that you created so beautifully.

Love Always,

Me