Growing up

Dear me,

Growth is the process of increasing in physical size

Growing up is inevitable

It is unavoidable

And it’s a journey

All I wanted since I was younger was to be a year older

Because when you are older you’re allowed to do more

People take you more seriously

And that means life is better right?

I was always reaching for that higher age

When I was four I wanted to be five to go to Kindergarten

When I was twelve I wanted to be thirteen to finally be considered a teenager

When I was fifteen I longed to be sixteen so I could get my drivers license

And then the next age was eighteen so I could finally be an adult

Adulthood

All my life this was what I was anticipating

The concept of it was so great

I could do what I want

Make my own choices and make my own life

I thought everything would be perfect and go smoothly

It does not and will not

I thought I knew everything I needed to know

I did not

But If I could guide my younger self I would tell her to live in the moment

I would tell her to not be so critical on herself

Be more confident

Stand up for what she believes in

And I would tell her it is okay to not have everything figured out

Because not everyone does

Life is a learning experience

Different experiences will teach you different things

And people can provide the greatest lessons of all

Friendship

Sometimes your friendships will fade away

And that’s okay

Just know when to let go and when to hold on

People will enter and leave your life constantly

But it is up to you to know when they are worth keeping around

Your feelings will get hurt

You will ask yourself what did you do wrong?

Why did it have to end this way?

What can you do to fix it?

You will search your brain a million times

Running over every scenario

Conversation

Encounter

Only to come up with a feared solution

Growing apart

I now know that this is okay

Because forced relationships are worse than nonexistent ones

That is what I have learned from growing older

Life will continuously move forward no matter how much you wish to go back in time

You cannot change your actions once already made

You cannot take back the words you already said

Nor the hate

Or truth

Or the lies

Think carefully and make smart decisions is not always easy as it sounds

You will make mistakes

But it is in your power to fix them

Pick up those broken pieces and grow from the experience

Continue down the twisted path of life

And make your decisions at every turn, fork in the road, or dead end

As I am still growing I am still learning

Sometimes it is okay to be selfish, it is your life

So take control

At times it will be scary

Confusing

And you’ll doubt yourself

About the future unknown

But through it all you will still continue to grow

Move forward

Progress

I would like to think I have my life figured out

That everything I do will be perfect

Work out right

But this is not reality

Now that I am older I want to take my time to progress

I want to live every day with a purpose

A meaning

And not let life pass me by

Because just like you

Or that tree outside the window

Or the bird flying in the sky

I will continue to grow

Progress

It is inevitable

Unavoidable

A Journey

And a decision for you to make of how your growth will shape your life.