Dear Me

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

Dear Me,

You're sixteen and a bit dorky and would rather play soccer than experiment with your mum's makeup kit. That's fine, sweetie. You have plenty of years ahead of you with black eyeliner drawn around your eyes and you'll be amazed by how much a sport can turn you into a badass.

That cute Latino sales guy at your fave ghetto boutique in downtown LA? Shhh. He's not really flirting with you. He just wants you to get that pink cropped bomber jacket.

Don't overestimate your eyes and read in the dark until they become sore and droopy. Trust me, you don't want to have to wear super thick eyeglasses. And contacts are a little annoying.

You got an A-? Screw that. You'll realise later in life that grades don't fully reflect your genuine learning and real marketable skills. Go out, meet new people, try new things. Nothing beats the School of Life.

Don't be scared of tiny struggles and failures, my dear. They make you stronger and wiser. Embrace your flaws and weaknesses for what they are and focus on your strengths. Quit running away. Nothing good ever comes out of it.

They tell you, "You can't"? Show them YOU CAN. Some people are always looking for something to try and lambast others. Let them, and prove them wrong.

With shaky legs, you face the waves of Huntington Beach. Chin up, love. Soon enough, you'll get to stand on a surfboard and ride the hell out of them.

You're confused about what you want to become? That's okay. You'll encounter the same conundrum a decade after and probably face it again.

You wake up one day and suddenly want to become a pop star? Sure. But until you believe in yourself and put yourself out there, you'll never set a stage on fire.

Life is a giant cloud of possibilities especially when you're young, yes, but you can only achieve your dreams when you take action and work toward them.

Best of luck, you little fighter,

DANA (about a decade later)