Here is Gabi's video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbZACzTZjww&feature=share
And here is my letter:
I am writing to the Maddi I used to be. To the passive, timid Maddi:
Don't let them push you around. Don't stand there and let someone else set your ideas of who you are. You are not idle in your own decision making, you have choices and you have the final say. Over the next years everyone is going to tell you what you can and can't do - these are not rules, these are the preconceived ideas that people have about your future and they are bullshit. "You're too sweet," "You aren't smart enough," "You're too big." If you want to study medicine, study medicine; if you want to join the circus be the best lion tamer you can be. People are going to tell you a million things about how you should look, how you would feel and who you should be, but they don't matter. Nothing they say matters.
You will be told that you are not skinny enough. Do you know why you aren't skinny? Because you workout, you spend hours working to be stronger but people can't look at you and see that you can bench press your weight, they look at you and see that you can't wear a size 2 dress. But that size 2 dress doesn't make you happy the same way being in the gym makes you happy. So stick to the gym. And potato chips, because you freaking love potato chips!
You will have someone tell you that you will not reach your professional goals. This is strange - how is someone supposed to guess at 14 what you are supposed to do with your life? You are 19 and still trying to figure it out. You are the one that has to wake up everyday and go do that job. Do believe it when someone tells you 'go to a job and it feels like work, you did something wrong.' Fall in love with something and let that passion build, don't let someone else decide what they think your passion is, they might push you in the wrong direction. You'll explore every major there is until you find the one that will make you happy.
You will work somewhere that will make you believe that it is part of your job to be treated like the bottom man. You will be pushed around by everyone and when you try to quit they will offer you more money - no amount of money is worth sticking around and letting them harass you. You can explain to management a million times why you believe you are being treated inappropriately but that's just how they do it. GET OUT! You'll work somewhere with amazing people and get treated like everyone else.
You will meet an amazing man. This man will show you how to stand up for yourself and how to be strong. Listen to what he has to tell you and take it all to heart. As scary as it may seem, ask him for help, ask him questions because he truly does care about you, and the best part is is that he doesn't even know how big of an impact he has had on your life because he was just being a good friend. Thank you!
That man isn't your boyfriend, but you get a good one and everyone will tell you that 'high school sweethearts don't work out,' they work out if you work for it. You have to put the effort in, just because everyone thinks it's going to fail, doesn't mean it is. It's going to be harder than you thought sometimes but stick in there kid. He will push you further than you can push yourself, just when you stop believing you can - he knows you can.
Your family will always be there for you. But take what they say with a little more than a grain of salt. They are trying to do what's best for you, but they don't always know. They don't know how you feel in your heart or in your mind. They haven't experienced everything you have and they don't feel the same about everything that has happened. Don't let your family choose who you are, but always strive to make them proud by showing them that you are making yourself happy.
Maddi. You are strong. Your parents spent years teaching you right from wrong, trust yourself in your own decisions and if you need help reach out. Prove everyone wrong and show them what you can do, because you are the only one that chooses!
Also, call grandpa more often. You're sitting here 3 years after he passed away and you still cry because you miss him so much! He really does love talking to you, even if you only have a couple minutes. Tell him how much you love him every time you talk.
He won't be the only life lost in the next couple years. You have an amazing community and support system around. Use them if you need help or just need someone to talk to. These lives will change you in ways you didn't know you needed to be changed. And always know that they are with you.
Love yourself,
Maddi
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