Note to Teenage Self

Dear Teenage Terence,

       You don't know me yet, but you'll soon learn to know me. I'm writing you to give you a bit of guidance, love, and support. Some things you will not understand and some things won't apply to your life right now; once you've matured more and experienced more, you will then understand. Your current life status may seem like an eternity; I'm here to wake you up from your nightmare and say you're future days are as bright as ever.

        Do not be afraid of yourself. You are a divine force that will change the way the world thinks, behaves, and interacts. I know you have plenty of questions about yourself and who you are and I'm here to tell you that you are exactly who you need to be at the right time. You bring joy to people. People love to be around you. People love to talk to you. People love you because you can be YOU around them and you're looked up to for that. Time will reveal what you were created to be. Have patience. Trust me.

      Do not let the behavior of others disrupt or destroy your inner peace. That statement includes family, best friends, general friends, acquaintances, co-workers, boys - ANYONE! Make peace with your past so it doesn't pester with your future. You have done some wild acts at a young age, yet they've taught you plenty of lessons. Don't be so hard on yourself. You are a work in progress.

      What other people think of you is none of your business. People have talked about you for doing the smallest act of kindness. Learn to ignore the emptiness of others because people see a luminous light about you and want to disturb that light from getting brighter. Time heals so give it time. At such a young and innocent age you will hurt like I couldn't image. Do not get discouraged. These days will not last. Time will heal and make your skin tougher and thicker and stronger.

      No one is in charge of your happiness except Terence. You were voted Best Smile in both middle and high school - SHOW IT! Your smile can patch up the most damaged person. The power behind your smile is immortal and a force no one can revoke from you.

      Don't compare your life to others. You are infamous for always looking at someone's life and question why you don't have what they have. NEWSFLASH!!! If you were meant to have what others have, you would have that by now. Timing is more important than you know. You have no idea what someone's journey is all about. Remember, not everyone knows your journey. Stick to your own journey and you will end up on top like you're destined to be.

      Laugh, smile, and enjoy your youth - you don't own all the problems in the world. You have so much life to live and just because you have not accomplished certain things by now does not mean you will not accomplish them at all. Use your smallest acts of achievements as building blocks of to you ultimate success. As long as you are alive, you can still live. Start knowing what you want so you can gain more confidence to accomplish what you want. Be honest with yourself. Lying about who you are and what you want will do nothing but diminish yourself. Most importantly, be open to being loved. You are a dynamic, compassionate, beautiful, loveable, independent, attractive, worthy, trusting, caring, driven, dedicated, worthy, and talented young man. You are a powerhouse - truly a one of a kind. Allow yourself to be loved.

      As I finish my letter to you, I'll part with this, know your self-worth. Terence, you are wanted by many, but not meant for everyone. Remember, know who to share yourself to.


From me to you,

Your twenty three year old self