#imetmyyoungerselfforcoffee

This is a trend on Instagram.  I saw one post, then read several more.  It intrigued me.  I'm not ready to post on IG to the entire world, but I know I have a small audience of friends here.

I met my teenage self at Starbucks.

I thought we still looked a lot alike, but she didn’t, I could tell.

 

It was awkward at first, a huge age gap, a huge gap in perspective.

But I decided maybe I was just there to listen and reassure her.

 

I asked how she thought her life was going, what she saw in her future.

She said she had her first boyfriend, but it wasn’t easy.

 

She said she lacked confidence, embarrassed easily, and was often self-conscious.

She felt stifled and stuck and was looking forward to college as a chance to reinvent herself.

 

She still laid in bed at night and day-dreamed of romance and beautiful houses.  

She could visualize so well it almost felt real.

 

I told her with patience she would outgrow her insecurities. 

She would learn to trust and believe in herself.

 

I said she was smart to go away to college.  

She would make life-long friends, some foolish mistakes, but gain self-confidence.  

 

I said so much fantasy would cloud her judgement in the future.  

She would learn (too late) the basis for successful relationships is clear unfiltered reality. 

 

I could tell she was getting confused and overwhelmed. 

She asked how she could avoid the bad judgment and mistakes.

 

I told her it was her path; it was inevitable.

She had to go through it all to get to where I am now.

 

She will make some regrettable choices, have bad experiences, but many more good ones.

And there will be valuable lessons to learn.

 

I reminder her how much love and support she has.  

I told her of her inner strength she has yet to discover.

 

I said I’d found time spent alone is the key to growth.

Through this she will get to know and understand herself, even to like herself.  

 

I reassured her that it all works out.

She has a wonderful life to look forward to.

She will come into her own and she will find her voice. 

And that eventually she’ll get to a very comfortable and contented place.  

I hugged her tight when we parted (she wasn't used to hugs yet) my eyes filling, 

and we promised to check in again before too long.