Dear Doni: A Letter to My 18-Year Old Self

posted 14th December 2010    Written by: Doniree    CATEGORY: Doniree, Inspiration, Life Lesson, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 3, What I've Learned

letter to my younger self

Dear Doni,

High school graduation, eh?  You never thought this day would come, did you?  But here it is, a beautiful and sunny Minnesota summer day, and you’ll be accepting your diploma soon.

It’s a big world out there, and I know you’re excited to take it on, to contribute to it, and for all the people whose paths you’re going to cross.

I know you don’t know exactly what you want to do with your life right now, and that’s ok. Your ideas are great, but I should warn you that the field of journalism is going to change a LOT in the next 10 years, you should probably keep writing and consider a different career. I know you don’t want to be a reporter, and the magazine field isn’t going to be what you’re expecting.  Start paying attention to what gets published online.

You’re going to change your mind about your major a few times, and they’re all good ideas, and they’re all going to come back to you at some point. Journalism. Spanish. Secondary education. Psychology. Counseling. You’ll end up with a degree in Psychology, but the other pursuits in your twenties – writing, blogging, yoga, and teaching yoga are going to beautifully blend the things you dabbled in while in college.

Your first few jobs are going to teach you so much about business, corporations, and what you don’t want out of a career. But pay attention! The things you’ll learn about media buying and advertising are going to help shape the direction your career for years to come – even if you don’t stay in an agency.

You’re going to hit a point in your 20′s – call it the Quarter-Life Crisis, call it indecisiveness, call it College Did NOT Prepare Me For This – call it what you want. But you’re going to hit a point in your 20′s where you won’t know what your next move should be. DON’T PANIC.

You’re going to discover yoga, and what it can do for anxiety management. You’re going to meet the right people at the right time, and you’re going to start learning that that’s not an accident. You’re going to meet a friend at a concert.  His name is Rod, and he’s going to start asking you why you can’t be a yoga teacher, why you can’t start traveling, and what’s stopping you from pursuing your dreams.

You’re going to start giving that serious thought.

You’re going to read Eat, Pray, Love on your 25th birthday and start to wonder why YOU can’t spend an extended amount of time exploring your own world. Relax, you’re going to do that before you know it, starting with Colorado and then moving onto the West Coast.

Keep writing. That’s going to pay off. Other things that are going to pay off : setting goals, joining 20-Something Bloggers (you don’t even really know what blogging is yet, but this community is going to introduce you to some of the most important people in your life), taking spontaneous trips, buying a Mac,

You’re going to date guys who don’t get you and who take you for granted – that’s ok.  That’ll teach you what you want and don’t want.  At 27, you’re going to meet the guy that gets you, doesn’t take you for granted, celebrates you, and challenges you.  You’re going to know the first time that you meet him that he’s something special, and you’ll figure out why soon enough.  Don’t let him go.

You should also really start saving your money. Life isn’t cheap, but you’ll learn to prioritize what’s important and spend accordingly.  Don’t open credit cards while you’re in college to pay for groceries, gas, clothes, etc.  You’re going to do this anyway, and I wish I could stop you.

College is going to be awesome, even if you transfer twice.  The first few years after college are going to be great too, even if you don’t quite understand what it is you’re doing with your life.  Your QLC will hit right around 25, and you’ll start weeding out the things that don’t matter in favor of the things that do.

Stay focused, keep smiling, and never be afraid of your biggest dreams.

Love,
Doni (almost 10 years later)

{Photo credit}

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Comments (7)

7 Responses to “Dear Doni: A Letter to My 18-Year Old Self”

  • gracekboyle Says:
    December 14th, 2010 at 8:16 am

    Aww, what a great exercise. So wonderful :)

  • Alisha Says:
    December 14th, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    A lovely, loving letter to yourself.

  • Randy K. Walker Says:
    December 14th, 2010 at 3:49 pm

    Congrats on learning from mistakes and pursuing your dreams. Keep on keeping' on.

  • Doniree Says:
    December 15th, 2010 at 9:54 am

    Thanks, Gracie. I enjoyed writing it :)

  • Doniree Says:
    December 15th, 2010 at 9:54 am

    Thank you – if only I could time-travel and hand that to myself at graduation :)

  • erinmakesitwork Says:
    December 15th, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    Sometimes I think I need future me to write me a letter now. I know that's what the QLC is all about, but finding balance is not easy.

  • Doniree Says:
    December 16th, 2010 at 10:45 am

    So do it :) Put yourself 5, 10 years in the future and write a letter to yourself. What do you need future YOU to tell you? That it's all going to work out and be ok? Because it is :)

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