I’m working on a project to get people to write a letter to their younger self. The premise is that if it was possible to send a letter back through time, what would you say. It could be some advice, a “state of union” on what’s going on in your current life – whatever you might think of.

Here’s mine. Hopefully I will be publishing the Dear Me letters of others here soon.

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Dear Me,

Yes, it’s actually yourself writing this letter, only you are a bit older and a little bit wiser. Hope this isn’t freaking you out or anything. I know it’s hard to believe isn’t it? Someone has found out a way for me to send you a message through the space time continuum. It’s a bit like Back to the Future in a way, I’m the future Marty but I don’t go back and forward for real. Only this letter comes to you from the future.

The purpose of it is to give you the benefit of a few pieces of advice that will help you through the next few years. If the messengers of time have delivered this letter to you properly, you’re just leaving 6^th class and are all set to enter secondary school and you’re going on 13 years old.

I know you like ordered lists so I have put this list together for you (us/me/whatever)

• This is the most important thing for you to take note of I think. Stop trying to be the perfect son and perfect student. I know why you are doing it and by the time you get to realise this you won’t be able to shake the perfection habit. It’s OK to do the things all other teenagers do – going to discos, taking a drink, staying out late. You’re sensible enough not to take anything too far, so just relax more. I know you feel like an outsider and you keep to yourself a lot of the time, but you really have to go out and socialise more. If you did this, I think it would be the best thing you could do for me.
• Take a year out after finishing the leaving cert. You’re not ready for college, not by a long shot. You choose a subject that isn’t really what you want. Although you think you’re choosing it because you like it, really you are choosing it because you think it will make people happy – I’m going back to point 1 again… Instead of college, take some time to explore your options and do some travel. Although the country is an economic basket case at the moment, things get much, much better economically. You should try media studies or journalism. You know it’s always appealed to you, so I think you should give it a shot.
• In your first job you will meet a girl through work. Despite her sending many signals that she really likes you, you completely miss them – and you spend all your time wondering if you should ask her out and wondering if she IS sending signals. Do yourself a huge favour and ask her, I really think she could be your soul mate. Please do it because you still wonder “what if” years later.
• Stop spending your money like it was water. You are far too free and easy with it. Save more – it sounds boring, but it pays off.

What else? I don’t want to end up writing a whole manual for the rest of your life so I’m not going to list any more specifics other than to say, keep your chin up, always walk tall and be more proud of yourself and your accomplishments. It’s not a sin. Got that? Good – now, go out there and make me proud!

All the best.

Me.