A letter from Jun 18, 2023

Hi Jodie, It's Jodie on Sunday the 18th of June 2023 - it's strange to me that there is a future self reading this knowing what happens in my future and what outcomes of my tiny problems right now are. I'm writing this to be delivered to me in 3 years. In 3 years I will almost be 21 as is obvious I am currently 17 and I have just finished my A levels. There are a few things I want to cover in this email I have questions I would like my future self to reflect on, I want to give a current life update (as my life is about to start getting very exciting) and I want to reflect on some of my current flaws. I hope you find this letter interesting as I am worried that you might just skim over this but in the hopes that you won't I am writing this to help you out if you need it. So firstly, a current life update - I finished my final A level exam on Friday which was such a relief so I now have a long exciting summer to enjoy (if I don't ruin it with my mood swings and freak outs) I am going to Ayia Napa with my friends Olivia and Liepa. So I suppose my first question is are you still friends with them? For my senior trip my year have decided to go to A yia Napa which I am excited about. I have fun new clothes for it. I also have my graduation this Friday, it's weird for me that the person receiving this letter knows a life outside of BSB because I obviously don't. My birthday party is on Wednesday me and my friendship group are all going to a bar that my parents have rented out. And then I am going to Croatia with my family. I really hope I don't ruin this holiday with my depression and bi-polar freak outs - you definitely know what I mean I truly hope you manage yourself better in 3 years Jodie, because this self harm isn't cool. You are absolutely beautiful and don't let anyone give you a reason to mark yourself. I want you to know that Jodie, as much as you don't believe it you are beautiful and strong. In regards to next steps after my A levels is I am going to Loughborough (hopefully) so how is that going? I hope you're happy and content and I hope you get yourself a boyfriend who loves you! I can't be bothered to retype and fit this into the email but how were your A levels? Firstly you're you you've worked so hard so they probably won't be horrendous BUT if they are you've been through a lot so I think we can work and accept anything and if you're reading this you already have so A levels won't really mean anything at the point in time that you're in. I find It difficult to know what to say because I have no idea what happens in my future which is why it makes it so fascinating to me that you're reading this and you know exactly what's happened. I think the best thing I can do for you now is to give you some advice not that my 21 year old self would necessarily need advice from my 17 year old self but just in case. I also hope that this will help my current self ease my mind and worries. I wouldn't say that this is generic advice so I am therefore directing this at you and what I know that you're like now. 1. Don't fixate on things remember to move on. I am begging you to care less and live more stop overthinking and please stop caring about what other people think, they have such a small influence on your life that it really doesn't matter. Easier said than done - and I should give myself that advice right now but oh well. 2. Don't spend more than 5 minutes worrying about something that won't matter in 5 years or realistically even a month. Everyone has their own life and no one really cares about you. 3. Your family is everything - they are with you always and will support you for life. Family is forever. 4. Never prioritise a boy over your girls. Bros before hoes. Trust your friends, they do care about you. 5. Own your mistakes. Learn from them, apologise, accept the consequences and move on. 6. Don't blame everything on yourself/don't be so hard on yourself. 7. Work hard. If we're being honest nothing really matters focus on the ones that love you and treat them well and you'll be fine + you're still young it's ok to make mistakes. And if you're currently not ok talk to someone PLEASE Jodie talk to someone you deserve everything you have and I love you so please make sure you love us. Everything will be ok, you can do this. All my love, Jodie 18/07/23 xoxoxoxox