Reflections

Well, the day has come. The day that, when I was 10, I never thought would come because I wasn't going to grow up and be an adult. The day that I when I was in my teens I knew would come, but I thought I'd be "really old" and have my life completely figured out. The day that, when I turned 25 I was dreading more than anything. Today is the day that time ticked over and I suddenly went from 29 to 30 years of age. And you know what? It wasn't nearly what I expected. A day, just like any other really. It doesn't feel strange or scary, and I certainly don't have everything figured out with life. But I can honestly say that I'm incredibly happy with today and with how my life has gone and where it is headed. I thought that on this day I would take some time to reflect on how I got to this point. What better way to do that than to write a letter to myself to be opened by young Beck on her 15th birthday - half a lifetime ago.


Dear 15 year old self,

I'm sure today the thought of turning 30 is about the last thing on your mind. I can't remember exactly what I was thinking back then, but it was probably something about how I'd be driving in just one short year. And I was probably dreaming about how I'd be going to college soon and outlining my ever changing 5-10 year plan for life. Over the next 15 years that plan - that idealistic image that you have in your head about what your life will be like down the road - it is strangely accurate and yet the twists and turns along the way will surprise the heck out of you. In my 20s I often said, "My 15 year old self would kick my a$ if we met on the street." I said it because I thought that I had changed so dramatically from the person that you are today. In some ways you've changed a lot over the years, but reflecting back I realize that we're still a lot alike and some things never change. That plan of yours has caused you a lot of stress over the years, so let me give you some advice:

• SLOW DOWN and enjoy life. Stop trying to grow up so fast. The future will come and it will be great.
• Don't take yourself so seriously.
• Don't worry about what others think about you. Everyone is human, everyone makes mistakes.
• Failure isn't the end of the world. The sooner you learn that lesson, the better off you'll be.
• Make decisions for your future that are right for you, for your hopes and your dreams not because you want others to be proud of you.
  
• This year, you'll meet the man you're going to marry. Have fun figuring out which one it is! You won't believe how this one works out.
  
• No need to stress about whether you're going to get married or have kids. You have a beautiful family and a beautiful life at 30.
  

Enjoy the next 15 years. They're going to go by in the blink of an eye. There will be some great times and there will be some very rough times, but know that when you come out the other side, you'll be a better person. You'll be a content person. You'll be exactly where you are meant to be.

Love,
Future