Letters to My Younger Self: The 21-Year-Old Who Is Trying to Figure Life Out

“Letters to My Younger Self” is a series focused on wisdom and self-awareness. Just as you write letters to a friend to encourage and uplift them, here is the advice we would go back and tell our younger selves.

Dear 21-year-old Victoria,

I realize now that the season of life you are currently in is just a small chapter in the grand scheme of things.

Jumping into the world in your 20’s is quite the journey. In many ways, nothing seems to make sense. There’s a lot to live up to: college graduation, getting engaged and planning a wedding, all while figuring out what it means to be an adult. 

Don’t get overwhelmed by not having all the answers. There is beauty in the unknown. Embrace every moment you have with your friends and your family. It’s an absolute treasure.

There is beauty in the unknown.

When life tries to make you bitter or critical, choose to believe the best in people—especially in the people who love you. They’re just trying to look out for you.

This year of your life, you’ll experience just a little more freedom. Enjoy yourself. Get your head out of the books every now and then to take a break from your structured schedule. Find time to nurture your healthy habits. While you constantly give of your time to others, it’s okay to take time for you, too. 

Be quick to forgive people for not being perfect because there’s only One who is perfect. Don’t let the little things get to you. Mistakes are nothing more than opportunities to learn and grow.

As the world continues to challenge your identity, stay true to who you know you are. Leave people’s opinions to the way-side. They don’t really matter at the end of the day anyway.

Walk confidently in your dreams. You’re not crazy for wanting to be the leading lady of your own life. Yes, there are plenty of other creatives out there doing incredible things, but they’re not you. You are your greatest superpower. 

You’re not crazy for wanting to be the leading lady of your own life.

Stop comparing yourself to people on Instagram. Social media is a great tool, but it’s not everything in life. Spend more time off the screens. You’ll feel a lot better about life. Your priorities will quickly shift when you realize what really matters—your relationships. 

You may not have it all figured out and that’s okay. It’s okay because you never will. You have to let things go and simply trust. Don’t let the craziness of life keep you from seeking those laugh lines.

You’re more than capable of overcoming this season and discovering what you’re passionate about. The three jobs you’re working right now are helping shape who you will become. The dream job is not all it’s cut out to be. Enjoy what’s given to you as you walk through open doors. 

Practicing gratitude doesn’t mean you’re settling. It means you’re mature enough to value the small things that lead up to the big picture. Stay consistent even in the waiting. It’s all worth it in the end.

What advice did you need when you were coming into adulthood?

Image via Kathryna Hancock, Darling Issue No. 11