This poem came out of a Tik Tok trend based on an original poem by Jennae Cecelia called ‘I Met My Younger Self for Coffee.’ You can find it in her book Deep in my Feels. As per the trend, we all transformed it into our own. This is mine…

I Met My Younger Self for Coffee

I met my younger self for coffee at 10am.
She had a white chocolate hazelnut latte.
I had an herbal tea.

She wore a Blues Brothers t-shirt that hides her body, and green Converse.
I wore an off-the-shoulder sweater that shows off our best geatures, and red Converse.
She wore a nose ring that I remember makes her feel a little rebellious and cool.
I wore a crystal ring she loves but don’t tell her its opal agate or its meaning because Jesus wouldn’t approve.

She tells me she’s taking improve classes at The Groundlings and wants to be on SNL.
I don’t tell her that story doesn’t end well but instead I remind her that no matter what she pursues in life, if she always makes it about the fun, she’ll never be sorry.

She tells me about a boy she’s deserpately in love with but is confused because she doesn’t know where she stands.
I take a deep breath and for a moment because I’ve been waiting for this one.
I take her hands in mine and tel her to enjoy the good parts because those are memories we’ll truly always cherish.
But I plead with her that real love isn’t confusing, real love will never ghost you or make you question your worth.
That instead, real love cares about how you feel and will only ever make you feel valued, safe and seen.
She takes it in the best that she can at 23… but he’s really cute and I know she won’t listen.

As we walk to our cars, I can’t help but want to shield her from everything—
To shake her by the shoulders and warn her about health stuff, marriage, divorce, motherhood.
But I know she’ll only learn her strength and value from her biggest failures.
Instead I remind myself she’s the strongest and bravest person I know.
And that she’s got this.

As I see her drive down Ventura Boulevard, I take another deep breath, so grateful for this opportunity.
Because she doesn’t know it yet but many years from now she’ll reach out a completely different person.

And the next time we meet for coffee? We’ll become the very best of friends.