A Note to My 20-Something Self…

My friend Cassie Boorn put out a request to bloggers asking them to write a letter to their 20-Something Self...

Dear Audrey,

That handsome man on the Blue Room Steps you meet on October 28, 1998 will change your life.

Right now the world is wide and vast and open to anything and everything. Honor that. Don’t wish this time away. It’s OK to want to leave Rhode Island for a bit, you’ll be back… and everyone in your family will understand.

Take the job in NYC at Donna Karan. And don’t go back to get the blazer when you realize you forgot it on the day of your interview… believe me, you’ll be fine without it. Also, don’t worry about forgetting your engagement ring on the bathroom sink. Believe it or not, they liked thinking you were single because the last girl planned her whole wedding while at work and they hated that!

Please stop tweezing your eyebrows so thin, you’re beginning to channel Pamela Anderson ugly eyebrows. Seriously. Put the tweezers down.

Keep writing in those journals. Someday you’ll look back at the words you wrote and the ideas and dreams and goals you had and realize… they did come true.

Take in every single moment. You will look back at the 245 West 74th Street studio basement apartment and smile when you think of all the mice you caught. Yes, you will smile and actually say, “those were the times.”

The feeling you feel about hoping you’ll have enough money to pay rent and the bills right now… this will make you work harder and harder and harder.

Kathy Lee will eventually leave Regis. Shocking, I know.

Calling Nana will be a memory you cherish. Embrace the moments where you can call her and hear her voice. Make sure your family is always your #1 priority.

Fashion is your true calling and passion… you’re right, that feeling in your heart and gut… keep going with it. In 10 years you’ll see what I mean.

You don’t need to spend money on astrologers.

When you feel like taking a break from NYC in the summer of 2001, do it.

Just an FYI… you don’t look good as a brunette. Skip those 2 years and just stay blonde.

Keep believing in happily-ever-afters.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston don’t last…

Your biggest supporters now, are going to be your biggest supporters later. These are the people you want in your corner on the best days and on the not-so-best days. And I know you know who they are…

Always keep believing in yourself. You’ve done it since you were a little girl. The universe has a plan for everyone, and don’t be so impatient to figure it all out. It will happen and it will come.

I know you don’t like surprises – It’s a boy! It’s a boy! It’s a boy! It’s a boy! (Yup, you counted right… 4 of them.)

I’m proud of you kid… you’ve worked hard, never lose that work ethic.

And always remember… ENJOY THE RIDE!

Love your 30-something self,
Audrey

PS – Don’t throw out that photo of the Vera Wang gown you found in Bride Magazine, you will look and feel beautiful in it someday… trust me.

About Audrey

Audrey McClelland has been a digital influencer since 2005. She’s a mom of 5 and shares tips on her three favorite things: parenting, fashion and beauty. She’s also a Contemporary Romance Author.

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8 Comments

  1. 6.24.10

    Audrey, THIS is beautiful. Thank You so much for writing this!!

  2. 6.24.10
    admin said:

    Audrey… this is so beautiful and so YOU… honest, sincere, fun, funny and true. I have loved every moment of your life and I thank you forever for coming to me and Dad. I love you!!

  3. 6.24.10
    Chrissy said:

    Awwwwwwww! Audrey! I LOVE this post! This post is beautiful, and so are you! Love it! xo

  4. 6.24.10

    Dammit Audrey, It’s things like this that make me realize how amazingly lucky I was to meet you and Matt at Disney last year. You really do rock. Believe it or not you had this old tough nut in tears reading this, because its the kind of advice I hope my daughters pick up in the rambling emails we exchange. Keep on rocking us all with your honesty and transparency.
    Simon

  5. 6.25.10

    I love this post so much. I think I may have to do write one to myself.

  6. 6.25.10
    Laurie said:

    I’m so glad I found your site (thru 5min4mom)! I have four girls and it’s nice to know there is balance in the world. 🙂 And I really enjoyed this post. I have been thinking a lot lately about who I have been and who I am… good idea to actually write to myself. I’m headed off to family camp next week and will spend a little time chewing on that.

    Like you I wish I would have just skipped the brunette phase too. Why do we DO these things to ourselves? 🙂

    -Laurie
    http://livingpower.blogspot.com
    http://twitter.com/mylivingpower

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