COFFEE WITH MY YOUNGER SELF
A little while ago I came across a TikTok trend inspired by a poem
by Jennae Cecelia where she meets her younger self for coffee and the
conversation they have with each other. When I looked into it further it
seemed like a great exercise in looking back and seeing where I've come
from, and where I've ended up. To acknowledge who I've been and how that
younger person's efforts have created the life I have now.
This is the original poem:
HOW TO WRITE YOUR OWN VERSION
According to realsimple.com to get started you can ask yourself some of these questions:- What was my younger self most worried about, and how did it turn out?
- What would my younger self be proud of me for?
- What have I learned about happiness and money?
- What advice or reassurance does my younger self need to hear from me today?
- What parts of my younger self do I want to reconnect with?
- What would my younger self ask me about the life I’m living now?
- Are there any values my younger self held that I still honor today?
I figured it would be fun to have a go - and to let my younger self
know that all the effort, the care and planning, the juggling, and the
hard work would eventually bring so much more than she expected.
MY VERSION OF HAVING COFFEE WITH MY YOUNGER SELF
I met my younger self for coffee on a Saturday morning
It was the only time she had free.
I had offered to pay because I knew her finances were tight.
She checked her watch often
She was already thinking about the rest of her day.
She told me how well her children were doing
And asked how they were now
I told her she’d be proud of who they’d become.
She seems surprised by how relaxed I am
And wonders if she’ll ever feel less stressed and busy?
One day you will, I tell her
It was the only time she had free.
I had offered to pay because I knew her finances were tight.
She checked her watch often
She was already thinking about the rest of her day.
She told me how well her children were doing
And asked how they were now
I told her she’d be proud of who they’d become.
She seems surprised by how relaxed I am
And wonders if she’ll ever feel less stressed and busy?
One day you will, I tell her
It will come in an unexpected moment,
You’ll stop and breathe out a gentle sigh of relief,
Because it was worth all the effort, the work, and the prayers.
Life is good, your marriage is good, your family is good.
She smiles, but I see that she doesn’t fully believe me.
It all seems impossible with the load she’s carrying.
I just tell her to trust herself, trust God, trust the journey,
Trust that things will work out.
You’ll find your way to where you want to be
It will all be okay,
Things will get easier,
The second half of life will be better than you can imagine.
Trust the process.
You’ll stop and breathe out a gentle sigh of relief,
Because it was worth all the effort, the work, and the prayers.
Life is good, your marriage is good, your family is good.
She smiles, but I see that she doesn’t fully believe me.
It all seems impossible with the load she’s carrying.
I just tell her to trust herself, trust God, trust the journey,
Trust that things will work out.
You’ll find your way to where you want to be
It will all be okay,
Things will get easier,
The second half of life will be better than you can imagine.
Trust the process.
But for now, take a moment for yourself,
Have another slice of cake, enjoy your coffee, breathe…..
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Have you heard of the "I Met My Younger Self For Coffee" trend? What
advice would you give your younger self?
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Your version is lovely. I'm not sure which of my younger self versions I'd want to meet. To be honest, I'm not sure any of them would listen to me!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd have believed that life would work out as well as it has Jo. I was so mired in just getting through back then. I wish I'd known then how well things would work out.
DeleteWhat a lovely post and idea, Leanne. It was great to read, I am not going back anywhere anymore as some of my past is part of my trauma that I am currently managing to deal with WELL and am healing! Have a wonderful week. Denyse x
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - I like looking back if it helps me appreciate what I have now. I like that all the work and the effort and the commitment paid off and I get to enjoy the fruit of it now. I think we each have to do what works best for our mental and emotional health - and often being in the moment is the best thing if you're at risk of triggers. x
DeleteHi, Leanne - Both poems, Jennae's and yours, are incredibly inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing them. I hope your younger self took another slice of cake, enjoyed her coffee, and finally just breathed….. <3
ReplyDeleteI hope she did too Donna - that second slice of cake (and room to breathe) would have been so outside her normal reality back then!
DeleteHi Leanne - The line "The second half of life will be better than you can imagine" is so hopeful and something I think many people need to hear; especially for me, now that I have turned 60 and just started on my 2nd innings. It's easy to get caught up in the struggles of the present, especially when you're younger and juggling so much. Your coffee date offers such a comforting perspective and a reminder to keep going.
ReplyDeletePradeep / Time and Tide
Hi Pradeep - thanks so much for that comment - you summed it up perfectly. I wish I'd known back in my 30's that life would work out so well and that all the effort would pay off. It would have given me more light at the end of what seemed like a very long tunnel back then.
DeleteThis was a thought provoking post Leanne with lovely poems by Jennae and yourself. I tend to stay in the present and not look back too often these days as this is where I’m most content. I recently met a former workmate that I’d been friends with in my twenties and she told me that I hadn’t changed a bit. Outwardly I’m 4 st heavier (was v thin) with cropped greying hair (was v long and wavy) and inwardly suffered chronic anxiety which has thankfully dissipated over the years to the point I hardly recognise my former self. It made me think how little we know other people. You’ve done really well, Leanne, congratulations. Maria
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea, Leanne! (I hadn’t heard of the trend). I loved reading your version, and especially liked your focus on trust. Beautiful post, thank you for sharing this. I’m not sure what advice I’d give my younger self but will be pondering this.
ReplyDeleteHi Leanne. I enjoyed reading your beautiful post this morning. I don't have a big desire to look back at my past self. I'm just grateful to be where I am today. ♥️
ReplyDelete