Dear 16 Year Old Me - Day 10 WEGO Health Blog

I'm participating in the WEGO Health Blog's 'Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge' where bloggers are asked to write about their conditions. The goal is to write from these 30 health related prompts for 30 days April.

Today is day number ten.
Dear 16 year-old-me. Write a letter to yourself at age 16. What would you tell yourself? What would you make your younger self aware of?




Dear 16 year old Penny,


First of all, I want to tell you that people in your life love you, more than you will ever know. And you are beautiful, just the way you are. Don't worry about the girls at school or the cliques or the groups to which you do not belong. You will not regret one minute that you didn't spend in their presence. Get on with your bad old self. Go away to college like you planned, and spread your wings. You are destined for great things. Have faith.


You will have an astonishing career. You will get to show how truly smart you are, and you will have people appreciate it. You will be an awesome teacher and will inspire children to learn. You will be a learner your whole life, and that is something to be proud of, not ashamed. You will be OK reading books while others party. You will be OK wanting to know more. It will be what keeps you going throughout your whole life.


You will marry and it will come full circle. You will be faced with challenges with your firstborn. Believe in yourself. When Dr. D states that she will never do this or never do that, do not believe one word of it. Not one single word. She will do great things in life and be one of your three blessings. Start out strong, not fearful. She has gifts to bring to this world. And even when you think that she doesn't love her Mommy, when those hard days of 2 year old set in, I want you to keep believing. Find people who are the same as you and hold onto them. And know that she does love you, deeply and truly.


You will rise to the challenges that will happen. You will learn and learn and learn and it will not break you. You will be stronger for this, as you are tried. It will seem as if more cannot possibly happen to you, and I want you to have a strong back for all of it. Your life leading up to it will be the pre-test of all pre-tests. Learn the lessons so you do not have to learn them again. 


You are astonishing, and capable and worthy of this life. You will do great things, with great love. You will guide three children toward adulthood. You will be challenged and you will rise, Penny. You will rise. You will rise. You will rise.


Much love,
Penny