Dear 16 Year Old Micaela...

I was so excited when I got an e-mail from one of my very favourite bloggers - Micaela from Dolce Vita - containing her Dear 16 Year Old Me letter. Micaela writes with such refreshing honesty and emotion, and isn't scared to write about the less shiny things in life that many bloggers choose not to share, as well as the exciting things, like her engagement to her love.

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{16 Year Old Micaela}

{25 Year Old Micaela}

Dear 16 year old Mickey,

(you won't go by Micaela til college) What a learning year this will be for you. Brace yourself for incredible joy you will discover while at the same time losing chunks of yourself in the beautiful mess.

Stop working so hard to try and act "grown up" --- slow down and enjoy being your parent's daughter. You'll miss coming home to a yummy made dinner as only your Momma can cook and watching Oprah. No job to go to-- no responsibility just yet.

Your 25-year-old self aches for that time with our Mom and sisters.

You'll be happy you listened to your journalism teacher Mrs. Lee who refused to let you do yearbook and put you in Newspaper instead. You'll perfect your God given gift of writing. And your Dad will keep each front page article that's published.

Oh your Dad, Mickey. Stop being so dramatic. You're hurting him trying to believe you're so independent already. Listen to him. He could have saved you from slipping into a warped version of yourself when you refused to eat. You'll make your twin sister cry at how little you'll take care of our body.

You're beautiful with curves, trust me Mickey. Men will tell you this and i giggle as i remember those who have.

Men... I know this is the subject you're most curious about. You'll fall in love for the first time this year. That child-like naive love does blossom into the real thing. It'll turn you inside out.

And yet, it will leave you empty. Mickey i wish i could tell you nothing will hurt as much as this first serious boyfriend but this guy was just training wheels for the real ride of your life.

This other guy was your heart's first lesson.

I'll let you live that cos you won't want to miss out on that chapter(s) of our life. But when you're crying and feel that empty pit in your stomach? I'll let you in on this....

All that heartache will lead you to God's blessing for your life (for our life) in the way of a guy with kind eyes. His name is Max, so you'll know when you meet him.

He will love all our glorious faults...

He will love our curves (didn't i tell you?)

He will even help put the broken pieces of ourself together.

And he will ask us a very important question one day.

So enjoy 16 Mickey. Keep the closeness of your family & friends / Keep praying / Keep failing/

Keep Learning.

And like God promises, you'll have all the desires of your heart.

Love & Affection,

your 25-year-old self.

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Thanks so much for taking part Micaela!

xx

ps: Remember, if you want to take part then you can e-mail your letter to me at red.boots{at}hotmail.co.uk