A letter to my younger self......

"Put yourself, and your growth and development, first. There are long-term repercussions to what you're doing now. Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that you will hold in your body. It's imprinted on you and affects you in subtle ways—ways you are not always aware of. With that in mind, be very conscious and selective."


— Phylicia Rashad, from a letter to her younger self


What advice would I give to my younger self? It probably wouldn't be nearly as profound as Phylicia's advice, but there are some things that I would definitely tell my childhood self if I could meet her. And yes - I was one awkward middle schooler. :) Here are the pieces of advice I would tell young Elisa:

• Take more photographs with your parents - with my father gone and my mother growing older each year, I really wish I had taken more photos of my parents. I will always have these small memories that I hold in my heart, but I wish that I had captured in a photograph the day my parents and I drove to the Washington coast on a whim. Or the day we attempted to make a tree house. Or even the day I tried to pick a cherry from the highest branch atop my dad's shoulders.

• Your entire future will not be ruined if you can't remember your multiplication tables. Focus on your strengths and don't beat yourself up for your weaknesses. I remember getting so frustrated with myself because I never excelled in math - it was always difficult for me. And rather than celebrating the fact that I was the fastest reader in the class or could write the most moving paper - I would care about the bad grade I got on the math test.

• Don't be embarassed that you're afraid of the dark - a lot of people are. Don't ever be ashamed of your fears - but instead face them. Jump into pool even though your feet only graze the bottom. Sing out even if you have an awful voice. Dance even if you look goofy. Never be afraid to be unique and never think of yourself as weak just because you have fears. Everyone does. No matter what you have a choice in how you deal with those fears.

• Despite what the nuns tell you, sometimes it is worth it to live life on the edge. I don't think of myself as a rule breaker. But I'm certainly not one to follow the rules of life exactly. It's all about finding that fine line. I used to think that unless I earned straight A's my life would be ruined. But sometimes (and not all the time, but sometimes) it's okay to skip class to have coffee with a friend. It's okay to go for a run outside in the sunshine rather than spend 2 hours studying for a test. Your experiences in life aren't graded, but those grades may determine what experiences you get to have. So find the balance, study and work hard, and go to happy hour with your friends too.

• Eat lots of cupcakes and frosting. Life is too short to not revel in the guilty pleasures now and then. Go ahead and sleep in for an extra hour, spend all of Sunday in bed reading, snuggle up to your parents and watch a movie. Do it - you won't regret it.

• Climb a branch higher in the tree, but be safe while you do it. When I was younger I used to love to climb trees. And sometimes the desire still strikes me today at 25. I was obsessed with wanting to see the world from another perspective. That ended up translating into the travel bug I suffer from daily. Rather than keep your feet planted firmly in the ground, seek adventure. Try unchartered territory - who knows what wonders you may stumble upon? You may even run into yourself along the way.