Dear Kathryn,
Seriously, stop introducing yourself as “Kathryn” – it’s not you, and within the next four years, everyone will know you as “Kat” anyway, so you might as well just start doing it now – you’ll thank me later ;) Also, this big fantastical dream that you have of working in Publishing? Yeah, it’s not going to happen. Yes, your work placement at Bloomsbury was an amazing experience (even eight years on, you do genuinely think fondly of your time there!) but, do you really want to live in London? Do you really think that working there would be all it’s cracked up to be? Trust me, you’d hate it! It would suck. It would drain the life out of you, and you’d realize very quickly that you’re a small-town gal and you’re happy with that! Stop applying for jobs in Publishing. Right now, stop it.
Start a blog. About anything. Honestly, I think a beauty blog would be lots of fun, and they are really going to take off over the next few years ;) Just a little tip there for you! But whatever, just blog about anything, you’re a writer, you should be writing to your hearts content, because that’s what you do. Why do you keep pushing it to the side, like a pathetic hobby? Is it because you’ve spent your entire life being told that’s all it will ever be? Well, it doesn’t have to be! You can make your writing into so much more! And you will, trust me, writing is what you were born to do, so just do it. No more excuses.
So, you’ve been with Chris for over two weeks now huh? How’s that going? Well, the bugger is still going to be around in eight years time, so that’s good news right? You’re going to go through a lot together – and I mean, A LOT! But he is going to be your rock, and yeah, things are going to get tough, but the fight is worth it in the end, and things are going to be okay on that front, so don’t waste your time worrying about it.
Stop thinking about the past. Some people are only meant to be a part of your life for a brief whisper of a moment. Yes, they were a major part of it, but they were only tiny fragment of a part of it, and they are not worth wasting your time thinking about. Move on, because they are not important anymore. What they think doesn’t matter. There are more important people in your life, who will play a much bigger role in the years to come – some you already know, and some you’re going to meet along the way.
Also, don’t be afraid to take risks. Taking risks is the reason that I’m where I am today, and you need to learn to take them, so that you can get here too.
Last but not least – don’t be afraid to be who you are. If people think that you’re weird, that’s okay. If they have a problem with it, that’s their problem and not yours. Be confident in yourself. You are an amazing writer, and I believe in you.
Love,
30-year-old you (Freelance Writer and Blogger)