FINDING YOUR TRUEST NORTH

Dear Me,

If I could reach back through time, I’d pull you into the warmest hug and whisper a few things I’ve learned – lessons that would have saved you a few tears, but more importantly, affirmed the incredible person you were always becoming.

I see you, standing at the crossroads of adolescence and young adulthood, often feeling like a chameleon, constantly shifting your colours to fit in.

To be liked.

To be loved.

You’re searching so earnestly for where you belong, sometimes losing sight of the brilliant, unique light that you intrinsically are.

I want to tell you this: that quiet voice inside you, the one that whispers your true desires, your authentic opinions, your genuine passions – listen to it.

It’s not selfish; it’s your compass.

For so long, you’ll try to dim it, or even silence it, believing that self-sacrifice is the path to acceptance.

But true connection, the kind that nourishes your soul, comes from people who celebrate all of you, not just the parts you think are acceptable.

You'll spend years trying on different identities like clothes, discarding some, clinging to others, all in an effort to define yourself.

What I’ve come to understand is that identity isn't a fixed destination, but a beautiful, ever-evolving journey.

Never shrink yourself to fit spaces too small for you. You're never too much.

It’s less about who you are, and more about how you choose to show up in the world, moment by moment. It’s in the kindness you extend, the curiosity you pursue, the boundaries you set, and the joy you allow yourself to feel.

There will be moments of doubt, times when you feel lost, as if you’ve forgotten who you are. These are not failures, my dear. They are invitations – invitations to pause, to breathe, to reconnect with that quiet voice. Self-awareness isn't about having all the answers, but about cultivating the courage to ask the questions, to sit with discomfort, and to learn from every experience.

The most profound lesson?

You are enough. Exactly as you are, right now, with all your quirks, your dreams, your fears, and your beautiful imperfections.

Don't wait for external validation to confirm your worth. It resides within you, unwavering and eternal. The people who tell you that you're too much today, will one day ask you how to be more. So don't cower away, don't dim your shine to accommodate someone else's fear.

Embrace the messy, wonderful process of becoming.

Trust yourself.

Love yourself fiercely.

The world needs the real you.

With all my love and understanding,

Your Older Self.

<3

P.S: It gets better, always, and love, the real kind, always wins.