“I met my younger self for coffee” is one of those Instagram trends that really spoke to me. While I use Instagram for work, I try not to spend all day on there, and I’m not always out there chasing these types of trends. But when I saw this one about talking to the younger version of yourself pop up, I had to jump in. I posted a “I met my younger self for coffee” reel, but I had so much more to say, I knew it needed to be a full blog post.
In fact, the “I met my younger self for coffee” idea is one that everyone can do. It feels very good to look back on where you were and see how far you’ve come. Personally, I never would have envisioned my life to be what it is for many reasons. I hope you enjoy this one, and I encourage you to write your own.
I met my younger self for coffee.
She rushed into the cafe in a pencil skirt and closed-toe pumps with two phones in hand. I was on time, but shivering in sweaty post-workout clothes, because I hadn’t yet had time to shower that day. She was perfectly coiffed. I was casual, flushed and a tid bit disheveled. She was aghast that I left the house that way.
She was a little hungry, but worried about being skinny and staying small. She ordered a small green tea with a splash of 2 percent milk, which she didn’t really want or enjoy. I ordered a huge oat milk latte and a carrot cake muffin, knowing I’d eat again when I got home because food is fuel. And I told her I feel so much better now that I’m always well fed. She had no idea she would be a nicer person when she wasn’t under eating, and she didn’t really believe me on that point.
She was wondering if she’d ever feel fulfilled by her public relations and communications work and was questioning her next career move. Even when she performed well, it felt really empty. And she had a nagging feeling that a 9-to-5 job cramped in a cubicle wasn’t her path, but she had no idea what her path would be. I was excited to tell her she left the corporate world and never looked back. And it took some many twists, turns, self-doubt and nos along the way. But I let her know that I took with me those professional skills she developed and they’d helped me in other areas of my life and career.
She was born, raised and still living in Florida, thinking she’d probably stay forever. I told her I’d moved across the country twice, once to California and then finally to North Carolina. She literally couldn’t believe it, but thought that was so exciting to have those life experiences. And she asked if I’d ever lived in a walkable big city, and I said yes. She was happy and impressed with that.
She had been going to the gym regularly for some time, but knew nothing about fitness or wellness. I flexed a bicep muscle for her and told her I held multiple group fitness certifications, a personal trainer certification and even a nutrition one. She was in awe that I worked at one of the nicest fitness facilities in the Southeast.
She desperately wanted everything to be perfect in her life — to look put together — to feel put together — to seem put together. I explained to her how openly going through true loss, struggle and heartbreak were the things that really made me who I am. And I told her that there can be total happiness in imperfection. That it doesn’t matter if you have it all together, it just matters that you’re happy with where you’re at and who you’re with. She listened intently, once again, a bit skeptical.
She had no idea the transformation that would take place in her 30s. And I showed her pictures of her little family including a handsome husband, an adorable and spunky son and the sweetest little pup who she loved with her whole heart in the most amazing way that she never could have imagined. And I told her that her mom finally lived in her same city only 10-minutes away too.
I explained how it felt every time she taught a group fitness class or connected with a blog reader who was touched by her words and the things she shared. And then I told her that being rigid, strict, disciplined and driven probably weren’t the right signs of success for her. I suggested that she loosen her grip just slightly on her life to see how things would start to unfold. She listened intently.
She didn’t know what was ahead, but she was comforted by the idea of happiness and fulfillment that she hadn’t yet felt in her early 20s, even though she thought she had been doing all the right things.
She unclenched her jaw, rolled her shoulders back, unfurrowed her brow and smiled a sigh of relief. She was eager to see who she would become, and she looked forward to living her life to the fullest, no matter what it looked like.
Thank you for reading my reflections on what I’d tell my younger self if we met for coffee. I’d love to know what you’d tell your younger self too. Have a wonderful (and reflective) day, friend.
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Question of the day
What would you tell your younger self if you met her for coffee?
