Day 8: A letter

Dear 9 year old me,

We just turned 30 years old and it's not nearly as old as you think it is. But I'd like you to know a few things to help you get here.

You're going to meet some kids at Intermediate that will be great friends. So great that you are still friends with them 20 years later. Be the best friend to them that you can be, because they are the ones that will laugh with you, support you and will always be there for you no matter what. They will play with you at lunch, be in your classes at school, party with you and go for lunch and coffee (yes we drink coffee now) whenever you need too.

School is hard. But, you should study lots and you'll get through. Don't coast along thinking that you can just get by with a pass, you need to do better than that. Do as much as you can and get involved. You are only at school once and won't get those opportunities again. Taken advantage of everything you can.

You're going to face one of the toughest and sadest times of your life much sooner than you should have too. I'm not going to tell you the details, but I just want you to know that you will be ok and you will get through it. You won't forget and that's ok, but you will get through it. In saying that, don't think that you have to do it alone, get the help you're offered and be a better person for it.

Your parents know more than you think they do. Always remember that.

Mum will say no for years, just let her. You'll get a tattoo after uni. We now have more than one and Mum loves them.

Before you apply for University take the time to really think about what you want to do. You'll probably just go and do what you think you want to do, but you should know that it's ok to take the time off first. If you do go, remember that you can graduate anytime, but you won't be able to have a 'do over'.

You don't need to wait for every single duck to be in line before you make a move. Sometimes you need to leap without knowing what's on the other side.

The family will not always be the same as it is now. Unfortunetly sometimes life isn't as fair or as simple as it seems at your age. That's ok. You all still love each other, you all still talk almost every day. You're still family. Remember that when it seems like it's all crumbling around you. 

You're going to work in some places that you never thought you would. Run with it, because you meet some of your best friends at these places. But, don't let that stop you from leaving as soon as you're ready to move on. Remember what I said above? That you don't need know what's on the other side before leaping, that comes in handy in your work life. Embrace it, it will be the best thing you can do.

You won't get married young and you won't have children as soon as you want too. You think to much and you worry to much. You will get there eventually, just not on the timeline you have planned. Throw that away and just go with the flow. You'll be much happier if you do.

You are going to have so much fun and so many crazy times - take advantage of the craziness and ride the fun as much as possible. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Always take up as many opportunities to have fun! Life can be tough, embrace the fun moments and they will far outweigh all the buggery ones.

All of this advise should make sense when you get there, but if you ignore it totally that's fine too, we're good just the way we are. Do you want to know some secrets about us at 30? We live with our best friend (who's a boy), we have two lovely pussycats, we have a nephew on the way, we have been to England and stayed at the cottage. The rest you get to figure out along the way.

With love and luck, 30 year old you.