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Dear Teen MeDear Teen Me,

Yes, you there.

You in the horn-rimmed glasses in your stupid millwheel hat. You knew you’d look totally dumb wearing that to a carnival party, didn’t you? And now you sit there hating the music, hating the people who dragged you there, hating your hair, your figure, your baggy tapered jeans and most of all your glasses. Yes, I know all that. I remember the whole damn evening, when they seemed to play nothing but Salt’n’Pepa, Rozalla and KLF. What did you think they’d play, Paul McCartney, or Elvis Costello? What did you expect the boys would do – would they suddenly notice you with that mil

Dear Teen MeDear Adolescent Self,

I know, everything sucks and you don't want to hear from some lame-ass old person. Lame-ass old people try to tell you things like this all the time, but they're just stupid old people that can't possibly understand. You don't respect me because I'm not in a band, I don't have black hair, and I don't look awesome. I don't write screamey songs that speak to your weasley black soul, nor am I Tim Burton or Freddie Mercury. I get it, past self. I get it. Frankly, I don't want to hear things from me either most of the time. As lame as I may be, just hear me out for a minute.

There's this thing you should really, really try,

dear teen meDear Sarah,
            Remember that time you tried to top yourself by hiding under the covers? That was hilarious. I remember you tugging at the edges of the blanket and praying, without a shred of scientific evidence, that the lack of oxygen would be enough to kill you. You sat under there for something like fifteen minutes before you gave up and went to make a sandwich. But while you were under there, choking a little on your pillow because you never washed your sheets, I remember you thought someone was watching. Someone who understood your suffering. Someone who understood you.
            Kid, that was me. And I've got two words for you: man up. Life can get a whole lot harder than this. Before too much longer, it's going to. And by the time you get to my age, you're going to be glad.
            Why were you

Dear Daddy's GirlDear Naive 15,

You're ignorant as Hell.

You dress in baggy blue jeans, wear an oversized hoodie every day, and never let your hair down. Students at school, and even your mom, think you're gay… and you don't even know.

All of your classmates blame you for a burn book that circulated after that Mean Girls movie. Everyone thinks you're a jealous bitch and secretly they mock you. How can you not see that?

Your teachers are all positive that you cut yourself and that you're always on drugs. Even now you have no idea why they ask you to take your jacket off during class. Could it be that you always wear long sleeves?

It's okay, sweetheart.

Dear Teen Me

Dear Teen Me,

You were an annoying brat and I'm glad I'm rid of you, and so is everyone else.

Sincerely,
Adult Me.

Dear Teen Ruby RoseDear Ruby,

I know you hate me calling you that. I know you'd rather I use one of the millions of aliases you've buried yourself under over the years, the way you used to hide under pillows or disappear into piles of leaves, or cover yourself in snow while the other kids made snow angels (because you didn't have wings - you're the abominable snowman).

You're still that little girl, as much as you disguise it - the only difference is that now you're hiding in words and clothes. I know what you're doing with all of that lace and the skirts and PVC. The way you wear provocative clothing so that people look at you and judge you by the threads, s

Dear Teen MeDear Teen Me,

Too often, we lean toward writing to the general audience. I've rewritten this very letter at least three times, and had to scrap it each time because it did not accomplish what it needs to accomplish. It needs to be a letter to you, not to every teenage girl in America. It needs to speak to your heart, your dreams, and your faults. It needs to be about you.

Since we were able to comprehend compassion, we've used it as a shield to avoid ourselves. We've sympathized with the plights of the starving in Asia, the trafficked in India, the raped and tortured in Sudan and Burma. We've given to the Red Cross on behalf of hurricane an

Dear Teen MeDear Teen Me:

You're in the hospital right now, curled up in a ball and wheezing in pain. The doctors have you on bed rest because every time you try to stand up the world goes black. You weigh just less than 90 pounds, and you haven't eaten in months. It's not because you don't want to eat; it's because keeping food down is like nailing Jell-O to the wall, impossible. You dry heave over a metal bed pan the nurse gave you, but nothing but this disgusting yellow and brown stuff ever comes up. The nurses tell you that the yellow stuff is bile and the brown stuff is blood.

They used to do tests on you every day. They would come in with their n

Dear Teen MeDear Teen Me,

It's been more than six years since we saw each other for the last time. I guess I should be asking then how are you holding up, but – honestly – let's skip that part. We've never been big on etiquette and rules of politeness, right? Best friends don't need that nonsense. Courtesy is used only to veil shallowness and our relations are anything but shallow. And besides, I know everything about you. Far more than you know about yourself. Well... To be honest, that's not an incredible feat. Poor you, always so clueless.

Let's take sexuality, for instance. I know that you've never paid much attention to this subject, b

Dear Teen MeDear Teen Me

Why hello there stranger!

I suppose you're looking at this letter with curiosity—I mean we look exactly alike, but I'm older.

Do you remember thinking that you were never good enough for this earth or anyone in it? Do you remember the multiple options on how to cop out on going to school? Or what sounded better was to end it then and there.

Well don't. It's not worth putting mom, dad, and yes the little brat in more pain and suffering, then it is to deal with the ignorant idiots of school right?

Remember one of the girls telling you nasty things—well when she adds you on Facebook she apologizes to you.

And I do apologize;

Dear Teen MeDear teen me,

I won´t ask you how you´re doing because I still remember very well. You´re sixteen now and ever so annoying as almost every teen is. You live with your father and his psychopathic girlfriend, who never loved her own children. You cry almost every night, hoping things will finally work out for you. That someday you will be happy. School sucks and you think you will always be alone because no one would love such an egoistic, annoying little brat like yourself. You don´t have a plan in life and your dreams for the future seem ridiculous and unlikely. You´re wearing cheap clothes and look just like you are

A beautiful teacupDear Thi,

You could never guess the cruelty that you'll face in the next 6 years. But don't worry because you'll survive it all 'cause I'm still here, aren't I?

At the tender age of 14, you think the worst thing is not getting your feelings return by your crush. But you're so far from the truth 'cause that's just the tip of the iceberg. For the first time in school, you became an outcast. You don't care how your hair look or the fact that you would wear the same sweater for a whole week. You started to notice things you've never noticed before. How people treated you like you have no feelings. How the friends you had back in middle school a

Dear Teen Me...You grew up too soon, your dandelion seeds sprouting weeds quickly, but that doesn't mean you know everything about life yet. Those feelings you've been wishing for? To be loved like coffee, like chocolate milk, like popcorn at the movie theater as the lights dim and people husssssssssh...around you? They're lurking, waiting to make their move. You can ignore them all you want, but first loves are a bitch and by the time that night is over, you'll already be infatuated with the sound of his voice, the tilt of his head, the dimples of his smile. You'll string him along for almost a year, never realizing that his puppy-dog eyes and his unc

Dear Teen CaitlanDear Teen Caitlan,

There are so many things I could tell you, but --

You'll learn early on that life is hard and that you shouldn't take the crap people throw --

Having your heart broken isn't as bad as it seems. You'll cry, you'll get angry, you'll --

Sometimes pain is good --

I'm not very good at writing letters, especially to myself, so, if you're reading this, it's probably the fifth time I've re-written it. You're the same way, writing, then re-writing, and re-writing, and finally giving up and throwing it away. Every scrap of crumpled up paper held your entire soul, the dried ink like your dried tears -- hidden in the darkness.

He

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For Who I Could Be and Who I Have Become

by ~Theos-Kengen, Oct 21, 2012, 12:24:24 AM
Contests / 2012 / Dear Teen Me / Adult

To my Teen Self,

By: Spencer Carter (Theos-Kengen)

There are so many things I want to tell you, but first, I want to let you know I love you, and I am sorry you have not felt that. We have had it rough, and still today, we struggle with it, and I am not sure I can definitively tell you it is worth it yet. We do not carry regret, which is one thing that has kept us going, but there is still so much pain. Despite that, I am so proud of you, we have accomplished so much in your short teenage years. We have lived, laughed, cried, and honestly died before you even reach 15.

Remember when we were three how we wanted to be a paleontologist, dig up some fossils, and work in Jurassic Park … well that did not happen, hope you are not too disappointed. We still love that movie and own the DVD series, it is great to watch, and fun to remember our obsession. The scientists of today managed to clone a sheep, and a few other animals, but it seems dinosaurs are a long way off.

You take things in stride so effortlessly, your transition into middle school, then further, at the time seemed so easy. Math will be easy for only a little while longer at least until college, and you get much better at English thanks to some of the most amazing teachers you have ever had, just wait. You make several hundred off dad's grade intuitive program -- do not spend it on that 13'' TV (better yet, buy it at Wal-Mart) and avoid trading in our video games.

Mom and Dad recently divorced, and oddly, we are just fine with that, but our siblings are going to take it harder. They are both going to remarry soon, and even though you are young, tell them what you honestly think about what they say about their new partners. When you meet them, know it okay to make judgment calls based on how you feel. You are intuitive and discerning; saying nothing or saying what you think your parents want to hear is not healthy or the right thing to do. I feel Mother and Father (especially him) could have done better, but you get along with our current stepparents fairly well despite that you do not like them very much.

The world will not end on December 31, 2000 so do not believe those poor friends of yours who think it might. September 11, 2001 we are going to be in US History class with Mr. Black. This day will not seem real, and there will be a lot of confusion after it is all over. Later there will be controversy and a lot of odd things happen, testimony, film, and other evidence, pay attention to the details and believe what your heart tell you. Spoiler Alert: we do believe in the following: aliens, conspiracy theories, merpeople, ghost/spirits, god and a few other things people might call us crazy for, if they ever knew.

You are so beautiful, bright, and talented it amazes me; you can honestly do anything you set your mind to. You take piano lessons soon and even though you only get a few months, you can still play and learn any song you set out to conquer (not that we have learned very many). We still practice on occasion, but it has not been too important, unless we want it to be. Your computer mishaps will guide you on some epic adventures and we have tons of fun building our own.

I know where we are headed; the inevitable clash between sexual identity and religion will be the most challenging thing we are still facing. The sooner you, accept yourself without fearful denial, and realize God will always love you without reservation, you will have opened our eyes to a new and peaceful place. You should talk to mom about your feelings and experiences sooner; it will save a lot of headache.

Spencer… know that I would not trade dying at 14 for any other experience in the world. You might be wondering if we made it past that, I assure you we did -- through many miracles, prayers, and sheer determination we made it. Although, you will not play any contact sports again (too bad… not), or jump out of a perfectly good airplane to go sky diving (we did want to do that), we made it to 22 (so far).

Do not under any circumstance let mom convince Alesia to buy that stupid Volvo (that eventually becomes your responsibility), and please do not spend so much money fixing a car you knew would die, just buy a new one (even if you have to get a loan). In addition, college is an option if you do not fail even one of your classes your first term (dad will ruin everything). There is little I can see, that we could change, and I am not sure if I would change the past, because we have learned so much through our struggles.

You are not there yet, but you did become an Eagle Scout at 18 (even after moving more times than you can count). You always worked so hard for the little bits you have, and your heart is so big, you try to make everyone happy. You serve others effortlessly, with passion and drive; you are one hell of a deacon quorum leader too. Camping will lose its flare after a few motor vehicle accidences, but you will still love nature. Remember to save for an expensive camera and buy a quality lens instead of a cheap digital.

Just remember, you have to believe in yourself before anyone else will. You do not need to filter or hold all of your thoughts, but it is good to be cautious. Most importantly, I love you. I love your crooked smile, your warm heart, your willingness to help others, your energy, your devotion and passion. You are one awesome kid, stay that way as long as you can, growing up sucks.

See you in a few years, and then we can compare notes.

10/21/2012 SC

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Dear Teen Me

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For Who I Could Be and Who I Have Becomeby ~Theos-Kengen

Contests / 2012 / Dear Teen Me / Adult

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Contest Info: [link]
Dear Teen Me: [link]
Original Date: 10/21/2012
Word Count: 1,030 (Body Only)
Author: =Theos-Kengen
Editor: =Theos-Kengen

Thank you dearest DA friends, watchers, and visitors

If you have questions, you are certainly welcome to ask, just know this is a letter to myself

I was not sure if I would participate in this contest at first, but I am glad I did. Besides being a fun way for you to get to know me, it was also a moving personal journey for me to take. Enjoy I guess