Dear future Cathy Rhea,

You’re young right now.

You can only see what is right in front of your eyes at the moment. Nothing matters but the here and now.

Is there cake for dessert? Will that boy call me tonight? Will I get a new Easter dress?

But in time, many more things will matter. Life will get hard. There will be challenges.

We don’t know what your future holds, we don’t know who will come in and out of your life, we can’t predict your level of success, or for that matter, how long you will live. But here are a few things that your 61 year old self would like to say to you to help you prepare for what lies ahead.

• Be kinder to yourself.
• Don’t be afraid to be alone. You will grow from it. And learn.
• One day you will get your heart broken. Really bad. But it will not break you.
• Never stop looking for the good in people.
• Please don’t rush into adulthood. You will have the rest of your life to be an adult.
• You will get tired of children’s birthday parties. It’s normal, try not to feel guilty.
• Your weight will fluctuate. Love yourself no matter what the scales say.
• Never settle – on the big stuff –
• but, be flexible on the little stuff.
• Be authentic. Always. You can only pretend to be something or someone you’re not for so long – but the real you will eventually emerge – so stay true.
• Don’t spend your adult life wanting more from someone than they are willing or able to give – especially your mother.
• Speaking of your mother, don’t let her talk you into that Toni home permanent.
• Never buy a maroon car. You’ll hate it.
• Learn how to dance.
• Call your Daddy more than you do. He won’t always be around.
• Not everyone will live by the Golden Rule.
• You will never love running, so save your money on those expensive running shoes.
• Please don’t get married at age 18. (You’re not going to listen, your’e going to do it anyway).
• Discover early what you are passionate about and pursue it.
• Go to college.
• There is black and there is white / There is right and there is wrong. But there are gray areas in this life. That is the part that will drive you crazy.
• Learn how to tell a joke.
• You will love your children equally, but in different ways. Don’t let that scare you.

There are endless lessons in this life to learn, challenges that will make you question yourself, your abilities, and your stamina. But stay strong; you have your father’s compassion and your mother’s tenacity to get you through your toughest days. You’ll be just fine.

Love,

Me