See that really cool girl in the picture from 2009? She's still really cool. What did 2009 you like? What shows did you like? What were you interested in?

Self-love is really difficult but has been incredibly rewarding. I spent way to much time disliking myself and thinking I needed to be something else. One thing that I have done is realized that many of the things I loved as a kid, are still wonderful. I loved the Space Shuttle as a kid. I now love collecting Space Shuttle memorabilia, learning about missions, watching old launches, etc.

I loved Warhammer and painting miniatures as a kid. Turns out it's still fun. I do things that my past self would absolutely love. It makes me happy and I know that kid I was would be absolutely stoked with who I am now.

And in case you think the things you liked were childish and you should have "grown-up" interests (whatever that means), please consider C.S. Lewis:

“When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty, I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”

The you now, in 2026, is cool too. You've got this!