August 25, 2025
I Met My Fifteen-Year-Old Self For Coffee
I would arrive early to allow myself
enough time to find a parking spot,
get inside, and still have
an extra minute to spare.
She would show up hot and sweaty,
five minutes late,
because she rode her bike here,
hit every stoplight on red,
and was still a little hungover
from being out late last night with
her boyfriend.
I would give her a big hug,
look into her beautiful blue-green eyes,
and let her know how grateful I am
that she took the time to
have coffee with me today.
She would make eye contact with me,
then quickly glance away and look up
at the menu,
asking what I was going to get today.
I ordered a dark chocolate mocha,
with oat milk, and yes,
I want to keep the whipped cream on it,
because as I shared with her,
whipped cream brings me joy.
She orders a soymilk latte
with sugar-free raspberry syrup
because everything else upsets her stomach,
and she's trying to watch her weight.
We talk about school
and how difficult things are at home.
With tears in her eyes,
she shares how her family recently visited
the group home where her older brother now lives.
She says she misses him so much it feels
like she’s lost her best friend— like a part of
her is slowly dying.
I lean over and squeeze her shoulders
as she turns away, tears still in her eyes.
I told her I loved her bright purple jeans
and black nail polish.
I assured her that life wouldn’t always be like this,
and I promised that things would change.
I told her how proud I was of her.
How strong and beautiful she is
both inside and out.
She thanked me for the coffee,
tucked her short hair
behind her left ear,
and said she hoped we could meet again soon.
I sat and watched as she pedaled away on her bike,
deeply aware of the grief that awaited her,
but also filled with immense love and joy,
knowing what lay
just around the bend.
-Written in Honor of Janae Cecilia
“I Met My Younger Self for Coffee.”
Why Change is Important for Your Mental Health
Change for Mental Health
Change is Necessary to Improve and Thrive.
It’s how we adapt to our surroundings and grow personally and professionally. It’s not always easy to accept change, but it’s essential if you want to see positive results. Changing your personal habits can be challenging, but it can be healthy to continue striving for improvement in every area of your life. Here are a few reasons why changes are important and why you should embrace them sooner rather than later.
Change Can Make You More Productive.
Even small changes in your daily routine can lead to significant results. If you increase your productivity, you will have more time to focus on the important things in your life. Small changes like prioritizing your to-do list, planning your day in advance, and eliminating distractions can greatly impact your success. When you embrace changes, you open yourself up to new opportunities to improve yourself.
Change Can Help You Grow As A Person.
Change allows you to explore new things and learn from different experiences. This will help you grow as a person as you can now understand more about yourself, your limits, and your desires. What are your passions and interests?
How do you hope to use your skills and abilities? By embracing change and trying new things, you will begin to discover what you really love and excel in. As you learn more about yourself, you’re able to make better decisions about your life and future. This can help you find your true calling and discover the path that you want for your life.
Change Allows You To Try New Things And Learn From Your Mistakes.
We all make mistakes and there is no shame in that. What matters is how you react to them. If you accept that change is a part of life and embrace it, you are more likely to try new things. This will allow you to experiment and learn from your mistakes. When you make a mistake, you’re still growing. You’re just learning through a different method. Mistakes aren’t wrong. They are simply opportunities to improve.
Change Allows You To See What’s Important To You.
By embracing change, you are able to see what is important to you. Change can help you become more focused in your life and know what you want out of it. When you experience changes, it can create a ripple effect. This can affect everything, from your finances to including your relationships.