Tuesday 3 November 2009

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NEWS: Dear Me: A Letter To My Sixteen-Year-Old Self Promo Website and My Letter

I received an email today about a wonderful book and promo website for it!

DEAR ME: A LETTER TO MY SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD SELFDEAR ME: A LETTER TO MY SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF is a book released by Simon and Schuster UK, with letters from several different celebs to their younger selves, such as Stephen Fry, Annie Lennox, Paul O'Grady, Jackie Collins, Fay Weldon, Alan Carr, Peter Kay, Debbie Harry, Brenda Blethyn , Jonathan Ross, Liz Smith, Will Young, Alison Moyet, Rosanne Cash, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Yoko Ono, and Emma Thompson. As a YA book blog, I'm thinking this is pretty relevant. Here's what the email says:

If you had a chance to speak to your 16-year-old self, what would you say? What words of encouragement or warning? What tough love and wisdom would you impart? To celebrate the release of DEAR ME: A LETTER TO MY SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF (out in all good bookshops now), Simon & Schuster UK have launched a unique website where you have the chance to do just that: http://www.dearmebooks.com/

We’re calling for submissions of your own letters and, if you have them, any incriminating photos of you at that tender age to dearme@simonandschuster.co.uk in order to build up a fantastic collection. Please also publish your letter in your own blog and spread the word!


So head over to the site to see what people have written, or get writing yourself – and let your 16-year-old self know exactly what you think of them!


I think this is such an awesome idea! And how about getting to know me a little better? Here is my letter:

Dear Jo,

Thought you might want some advice from your 22-year-old self.

There are a lot of people around right now who have a problem with who you are, and some rudely tell you to change. Ignore them. You're perfectly fine being you, they're the ones with the issues. They'll just make you more determined not to become one of them. You really don't need to be popular, stick with the books.

When Busted are selling tickets for their tour A Ticket For Everyone Else, get tickets! Even though Dad tells you it'll just be the same as the A Ticket For Everyone Tour, make sure you go; you won't get another chance to see them live. Don't miss their final tour, or you'll regret it. Believe me.

You meet two guys when you're 18. The first guy; you don't like him, not really, so don't bother. He'll just end up creeping you out. The second guy; don't even think about it. Sure, he's involved in some good times you have, so enjoy yourself, and make lots of friends because they'll be with you for a long time coming. Just don't even think about the guy. Some mistakes aren't worth making, and some memories aren't worth remembering. Seriously, you can do so much better, and can do without the hurt and humiliation. On top of that, the dude can't kiss. Single is the way to go!

Another point, but on a related note; stick to your guns, you know yourself, you know what's right for you. You have your morals and they work for you. Keep a hold of them, things could end up a lot worse if you waver. "No" is not a dirty word.

Don't bother trying to get into make-up afte sixth form. You won't like it. Try writing instead. Journalism is a good idea. But keep the reading up, you're love will grow.

Get off your backside, and get a part time job! You have NO idea how hard it will be to get a job once you graduate (oh yeah, sorry, you do enf up in uni, no matter how much you didn't want to go), so just get out there. Voluntary work is good too, get some experience in a charity shop. You need SOMETHING on that damn CV. Seriously, you don't want to end up not being able to buy Christmas presents.

Let go of the fear. Nothing bad happens in the next six years, so let it go. What happened five years ago is in the past, and you can't be ruled by it. You need to learn to trust, and you can't do that while you're waiting for someone to let you down. Just let go, and let yourself breath.

Two words: Jackson Rathbone. Look him up. Right now. You'll thank me for it.

Learn to love who you see in the mirror. No matter what people make you think, you're not terrible really, you quite pretty. Just accept yourself as you are, and you'll see things aren't so bad. Don't listen to others, they're talking out of their backside.

Finally, keep smiling, keep laughing, and keep doing what you're doing. You're not doing bad, kid.

Jo
xx

What would your letter say?

You can buy DEAR ME: A LETTER TO MY SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF from Amazon UK or The Book Depository with free international shipping

2 comments:

  1. Wow. What interesting idea. You know what's even more interesting? Imagine how the letter might change if you wrote a new one every ten years? My 22 year old self would give different advice than my 33 year old self.

    Thanks for sharing Jo!

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  2. No problem! I think it's such a cool idea! The letters would change, it would be pretty awesome to do one every ten years and keep them, and read them back years later. Cool idea, I love it!

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