Met My Younger Self For Coffee
I saw this trend going around Instagram and it touched me so much, I wanted to do the exercise for myself one day as my morning journaling. The trend was started by a poet but mine somehow turned into a long form essay to myself. I didn’t care, I shared freely and let the words come. I cried as I read it back to myself—and even still now as I share on my blog—and happy there are things like this on the internet that can bring more meaning.
I met my younger self for coffee. She'd suggested drinks but I wanted to get home earlier.
We were both on time. She ordered the latte on special which was a bit too sweet and I ordered a matcha latte with almond milk.
She was in a black shift dress and high heels. I wore a pair of leggings, sneakers and fitted sweater.
She told me she was feeling late to the game and trying to catch up with her career, and her life. She'd just started a new job and a new relationship and was hopeful he would be 'the one' and her career would start to bloom.
She asked me if I'd gotten married, had kids and was successful. I told her a lot has happened in 20 years, things she would have never imagined. I told her I did get married but had no kids, I had a good life, but that something terrible happened.
I gently tell her that her husband died suddenly but she enjoyed the time she had with him while she had it. I told her that despite tragedy, not to fear because she is stronger than she realizes, she is resilient and has so much love and support around her. I shared that what happened made her live with so much more gratitude than she did before.
She told me I look happy and at peace (and she wondered if she'd get there someday). I told her that I am, and that somehow I feel so much more fulfilled than I ever have. I remind her not to worry, to enjoy life, to focus on the positive and to start taking better care of herself because it matters. She asked what I was doing now and I told her I had a great run at my career but decided to change professions completely. I shared that I found another love and that it's possible to love more than one person in life, and be happy again.
We had to part ways. I gave her a long hug which made her uncomfortable, and I told her to take some risks, live boldly and have fun, and not to worry about what other people were doing or thinking.
We promised to meet again soon but I told her how great she was and to keep going.