Jenny Hamilton: A letter to my 20 something self
ByOh this world is a magical place. Last September I was flying to Nashville so that me and Alli could make our way to Type A Mom. After a missed flight I ended up a flight that I never planned to be on. The lady sitting next to me was very pregnant and attempting to shove a rather heavy suitcase up into one of those tiny compartments. Like any fellow mother I took the suitcase from her and shoved it up there. We began talking and realized that we lived in the same area. Me? A college student taking over the blogging world. Her? A lawyer at a fortune 50 company, a personal stylist, and she herself had just started a blog.
What started as a simple conversation on a flight that neither of us planned to be on turned into a very good friendship. I don’t know many people in my area and I cannot tell you the value I have gained from this dear friend of mine. She is always giving me advice and helping me navigate through life. She is filled with brilliance and amazing stories. I have had the opportunity to watch her sweet baby grow and learn valuable lessons about fashion, life, and my career.
Jenny is one smart cookie.
Dear 20 year-old Jenny,
I am dying to tell you what has transpired over the last fifteen years and impart all the wisdom you’ve gained. Since I give advice for a living, I could easily craft a long list of do’s and don’ts, like don’t send an email when you’re angry. Don’t act on only one side of the story. Don’t let fear interfere with your calling. Do be afraid of strange men who want to buy you drinks. But I am afraid if I even hint at what you will screw up, you would not only change the course of your life, you won’t be the same person you now are. And I can tell you is that I really like who you are today.
You didn’t develop your character because you did everything right. As that rickety old woman told once you, flowers grow in the valley, not the mountaintop. And you have to walk through the valley to get back up there.
So, make your mistakes. Kiss the wrong boys, overdraw your account, and trash your grades. What you do right or do wrong over the next fifteen years may make you grieve and may make you shine, but they won’t necessarily have anything to do with who you are, and that is the most valuable lesson you will learn.
Good character is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece-by thought, choice, courage and determination. -John Luther
Your Friend,
Jenny
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Jenny is indeed the lady you described. A wonder friend I happened to make during a roller coaster of a business deal….a place I never expected to make a life long friend. We share a fabulous friend who gives wonderful advice. The kind of friend who, on the day we brought twins home from the hosptial brought a kitchen full of groceries. Jenny…my 20 something would have listened to your words. Your mistakes are just as valuable and shape who you are. Well said my friend…K
Cassie:
I heard you on NPR today and my interest was piqued. As a 26 year old female living in a big city, I am learning all of these lessons myself. It took me a little while to sort a lot of things out, but the biggest lesson I have learned to this point is to just go with things. Last year, I left my job, my fiance (6o days before the wedding) and now, my home- last month I moved to Chicago for my dream job. I made a lot of leaps of faith but I am doing everything I wanted to do, and none of the good things would have happened without the really, really hard things. I can say that if I were to write a letter to myself in 10 years, there is a good chance it would go something like what Jenny wrote- I wouldn’t change anything because it has shaped me into someone I really like. These letters are awesome and very inspiring, so thank you for sharing them.
Jenny, your letter spoke to me so loudly, thank you for sharing. I can honestly say that you are so right- I wouldn’t change anything. It was a long, bumpy road but I’ve learned to love and trust myself. From what I hear, things only get better from here. Thanks for sharing this.
-Kelsey