My ‘Inner Child’: meeting your younger self for a coffee

A recent trend has been making its way around social media about taking your younger self to a café and having a discussion with them, whether it is to talk about hobbies, interests and worries, or looking back at the lessons learnt, memories and opportunities to reflect on our growth. Here is mine.

I went for a coffee with my younger self the other day, I got a hot hazelnut latte and she got a smoothie.

I arrived 5 minutes late but she was already there, and we argued about who got the comfy sofa seat. We both didn’t know how to start the conversation, so we just smiled at each other.

I asked her what she is interested in outside of school, and she said she is playing her instruments and writing. I told her I love music and writing too, but don’t get much time to play anymore. We talked about how she loves writing fiction stories and I love to write articles. She thought that was weird.

She asked me how my A-levels went, and I told her that I didn’t do them because of a global pandemic, which meant I spent weeks at a time in the house. Younger Grace said that sounded nice and I agreed that it was. I said that I turned 18 during the lockdown, which was tough, but when I went to uni, my 20^th and 21^st made up for it.

She told me she was freaking out about her GCSE’s and doesn’t think she will get through it. I told her that as hard as it is, believe she will get through it- it will be one of your biggest life achievements. I told her that in my degree I don’t have to do any exams and that I am writing my dissertation. She said she is jealous and wishes me the best of luck.

I told Grace that I went on long drives with Dad during the lockdown and we would blast music with the roof down and sing our hearts out. She was shocked but glad that my relationship with my dad is better than hers was- they kept arguing all the time.

She is going through a really rough time with not feeling like her close group of friends like her and are pushing her away. I said that you don’t need to protect your one group of friends- there are other people who care about you. There are friendships that come and go- but the most important friends will stick around and check in. I tell her about all the amazing people I have met at uni. She wanted to hear more stories- I laughed to myself and started yapping.

She has a turbulent home life and feels like she cannot rely on anyone. I told her that is really rough and I know exactly how she is feeling. I told her that now I’m at university, I  really like my independence and don’t see myself moving back to the small village. She said she can’t wait to live by herself one day, and I agreed. I told her I wanted to be a journalist, and she said she wanted to publish books.

She is really looking forward to driving and is excited about more freedom- she is fed up with travelling on the bus every day for 3 hours to get to school. I told her I still don’t drive, but feel a lot of freedom whilst at uni.

I tell her I can’t remember the last time I woke up at 6am, she giggled. I told her I don’t have a 9-5 schedule anymore but fill my time with creating a newspaper with some of the best people I have ever met and get to hang out with all the time. She asked me about my work-life balance and told me to tell her more…

She couldn’t picture being 20; she thinks any age over 18 means you are a fully grown adult. She said she can’t imagine being away from her mum for too long. I told her that I am 22 but still feel like a teenager and that I live on the other side of the country to my mum, but I still call her every day.