a letter to my sixteen year old self
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ต.ค. 2024
- Read the handwritten letter on my website: rubygranger.co...
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instagram: @_rubygranger
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goodreads: Ruby Granger
My Stationery Company: bit.ly/3wgsR85
Frequently Asked Questions:
😇 How old are you? 23
📝 What are you studying? I am set to start my masters in English Literature at Oxford University this autumn. Last year, I finished my English Literature degree at Exeter and am currently on a gap year.
📚What are your favourite books? • 200 book recommendatio...
📚 Do you have a book club? Yes! You can join it here for free: fable.co/club/...
📝 Have you written a book? My life goal is to be a published author and make a living from writing and I am using this year to gain experience, build up a portfolio and work on a book with my agent. I have just finished the final draft of that book, as you can see in this video. I did self-publish a book about bullying when I was seventeen which is available on Amazon (amzn.to/3mdJKLm), but I'm slightly embarrassed by it now!
🎃 Do you have merch? I don't have merch in the traditional sense (I can't imagine selling something with my face or name on haha!), but I do have a stationery company where I sell planners for students. These are all designed with students in mind and follow models which I've used when planning my studying. Our products are printed in pastel colours on recycled paper: bit.ly/3wgsR85
🍵 What's your favourite tea? That's a REALLY hard one, but I think I'd have to say the B&B Chocolate Digestive Tea: bird-and-blend.... (affiliate link)
"I have failed in the distance between then and now--the space between me and you" Ruby that was so stunning!
NGL took me a sec to understand it. Stunning
@@nuclearwinter6231 Hilarious on both counts.
I come back to this video again and again and cry every time, its my comfort video now, your writing is so effortlessly moving and relatable and consoling with your mellow voice and soft tone and kind of therapeutic to the inner child just reiterating that everything will be okay no matter what happens
16 years old Ruby was anxious, 23 years old Ruby is mature and wiser, both are innocent and kind ⚘️
I can’t stop crying at this.
This made me emotional. I was so scared of failure when I was 16-17 and then ended up failing at law school and "failing" at loving my Korean Language degree. And after all this, I ended up studying English at university and I could not be happier. I just love my life now because I found my passion. Life does not end after we failed an exam or a job interview. It is not failure, it is just us going through life and living.
I think many of us experienced something similar, at the moment it feels catastrophic and then we realized it's not the end of the world. Once we give ourselves permission to "fail" (loved that you put it like that) we are free to explore, search ane hopefully find that thing that make us happy enough to push through.
This is inspirational
@@smartypants1804INSPIRATIONAL
As a 16 year old one exam away from finishing her GCSES, I needed to hear this. Thank you Ruby
Best wishes for your success, we're all rooting for you!
Good luck!! I just got 2 left:))
Why organizer reminder to me about attitude often, I understand what and where need to do
Good luck!!
Same, but I have 3 left :)
Even at sixteen you were wise beyond your years. This was a beautiful letter filled with insight and self awareness.
Hi Ruby. I'm 28 years old and an American medical student. I just found out this morning that I passed my first major board exam (Step 1) which signifies the end of my didactic education. This video reminded me to take a step back and look at how far I've come. Just wanted to say that your words here contain wisdom for all ages. I think I'll take the afternoon off and have some tea. Go for a walk. Read a little. Thank you
Congratulations 🎉🎉. I found out I pass my dissertation and I so happy. Good luck for your future
Congratulations! ❤
2 minutes in and I'm crying because fear of failure is real and it's held me back so so much as a teen. no more.
This made me tear up. I wish we could actually send letters to our younger selves
It's beautiful how we fall..learn..and grow..it all matters♡
As a 16 year old myself sitting exams right now this is excellent. I like you Ruby have a fear of failure. I’m not the most academic but I try my best in everything. I’m anxiously awaiting getting into college or sixth form depending on grades and the part of the video talking about pathways is very true. My mum always says ”I didn’t know a single person who is doing what they said they would do in school now" and she’s right and your right. Plans change. Great and thoughtful video as usual. Keep up the good work.
Truely beautiful to see the changes in mind
This is beautiful and really reminds me of myself. I'm 15 and I have 3 more GCSE exams left. In the whole exam period I was always saying that after the exams I would go outside, visit museums and read books that I want to read for fun and not for school. And now that I'm near the end of exams I realise how much better it would have been if I had done all these things during exam period and not afterwards. The white roses in my garden have stopped blooming and summer is starting. So thank you for this letter that I can relate to so much :)
Dear Ruby now, As your long time subscriber, I am so fond of your stories and proud of your achievements . A Korean poet Yi Sang once said, “Some might say they grow through their struggles and wounds, but I think they would have grown just fine without them. I want you to be protected. It does not matter even if you don’t grow at all” My spiritual friend, I only hope your future is just as lovely as who you are from now on. Well done. We’re still here. sincerely, Emmy
Perhaps this is what I needed today ❤. Although the letter was addressed to your younger self, I am certain it spoke to so many watching it. Your thoughts and insight into life are always a pleasure to hear. 💐
Thank You for talking about failure 🌸
Hi Ruby, thank you so much for taking the time to write this beautiful letter. I really really needed to hear those words. I'm 15 years old right now and I'm in my second last year of IB. Your letter made me realise how I've based so much of my self-worth on a numerical grade. The line "there is, of course, nothing scarier than failure" really resonated with me because this is precisely how I feel right now. I've poured my heart and soul into studying just to ensure that I'll get the grades I want. Memorizing flashcards, completing past papers, writing practice essays, just to meet my own standards so that I won't "fail". Your letter made me realise how much of my life I'm missing out on. I've stopped swimming, stopped playing the piano, stopped writing stories, stopped reading books for fun, stopped painting, and stopped going on walks in the woods with my sister. This video helped me question my priorities in life right now. Is it really worth it to finish that extra practice essay if that means saying "no" to spending time with my family? Is it worth it to do another chemistry past paper if that means I won't have time to read the book I've been wanting to read? The problem is, I always feel like there is something more productive to be doing with my time. This mentality of "every minute not studying is a minute wasted" is ingrained in my mind. I absolutely hate this mentality because I've become a much less happier person because of it. Your video was like a wake-up call for me. A reminder to take a step back, to stop imagining all the "worst-case scenarios" and to look, instead, at the big picture. I really hope that one day, I'll finally be proud of myself and the work that I've put in. I hope that when I'm older, I won't be discouraged by one bad mark on a test/exam, and that I'll see it as a learning experience instead. I aspire to be as self-aware and wise as you are today.
When you starting reading aloud the letter, and when i heard that 'one more flashcards' it triggered me to start crying because the stress of a levels right now is taking a toll on me. i keep thinking about the future and how i feel my life is ruined if i don't get my grades, but hearing your words about failure hit me like you were speaking to me as well. thank you for uploading this, it really feels so comforting to hear, like a warm hug :)
Dear Ruby, I want to thank you for sharing this letter. I resonate so deeply with the part about fear of failure instilled in me as a teen. Your channel has inspired me to write a short story and take slower steps on walks. Today I release the idea that failure is objectively bad and instead a wind blowing us into a different path
I just had my a level results a few days ago and I was devastated - I lost my place at both Cambridge and edinburgh and felt like a complete failure. I thought to myself I wish I had worked 10x harder and why didn’t I spend every minute studying which reminded me of your channel. Then I remembered that you had a similar experience despite all of your hard work and that eventually you reached your dream of going to Oxford and that gave me hope. This video is truly moving and hits home - thank you
You have no Idea how much I needed this.
I almost cried.. thank you for this💙
Loved this Ruby, what a lovely note to yourself. We all should do this.
This is your most touching video, I have tears in my eyes - thank you!
I'm looking forward to 30 year old Ruby writing to your present self, if you'll continue with TH-cam then ❤
Thankyou. I'm 7 exams away from finishing my GCSEs and I'm so unbelievably stressed. This has changed my mindset. I appreciate you. ❤
That was so beautifully written Ruby; i love your writing style !
We should all wrote letters to our younger selves, as an act of kindness
The young woman wrote her first piece of writing since she was 16 years old and now at 23 years old, she is still continuing her hobby, writing. Hand scratches on a piece of paper, stirred my heart to want to see it. Whatever comes to mind, she pours out in writing. I was impressed with the contents of the writing until it was published. Cheers to you and don't get discouraged, Ruby.
Such a beautiful letter, thank you for sharing with us! I'm inspired to write my own now, I think it must be very therapeutic - wishing you a lovely day, Ruby 😊
I can't believe how relatable your letter is! So beautifully written. So glad you've come to see failure as a means to growth, Ruby!
This made me tear up - just beautiful, Ruby! 💌
Well this absolutely brought me to tears. What a moving letter you've written, really beautiful Ruby. I have been a fan of your channel from the very earliest of days, I must have been 15 when I started watching your channel (I am now early 20s for context). I have grown up just as you have, and it is so lovely to see how your channel and videography have progressed. Thank you. I hope you are well and healthy :)
Absolutely loved the serenity of this video 💛 (and the letter of course)
This is so moving and special and emotional. I am standing at a crossroads in my life and I feel inspired and given courage by this letter that shows so much vulnerability. I appreciate this, and I want to say to myself that no matter what path I take, it is the scenery along the way that matters. Thank you, Ruby!!
Absolutely beautiful, Ruby, these thoughts you wrote on life, living, growing, and knowing.
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
-Langston Hughes
my family friend wrote this to me in my 11th birthday card and it made my face tics so bad i could barelyu talk LLOL
That was truly beautiful Ruby. With one more gcse to go I am feeling so grateful for the people I have had around me for support in a time that has been so tiring and overwhelming. The true fear of disappointing myself is a fear that seems to grip me in times of struggle but little by little I am learning that believing in yourself and trusting that things will turn out okay is a mindset that will get you through anything. Thank you for this xxx
I've followed you for a long time and can't help but feel like I've gone along the journey with you! I used to be obsessed with productivity and maximizing my time and "succeeding". I've since had life experiences that have put things into perspective, I've failed a lot, and I've certainly grown as a person. It's been amazing to see you grow as well, while maintaining your passions and prioritizations in life. Much love!
A Ruby video always makes the day 💚 I love writing too and I think writing a letter to a past or future self is a beautiful, therapeutic exercise. During the day, we often write to others. So why not try to write something beautiful to ourselves too? 💚 I love the way you speak about the fear of failure. I think that in our society is so important speaking about failure and a lot of people need to hear this. Thanks Ruby, you are always an inspiration ✨
I'm 18 yrs old and I feel that growing is really hard as we face lot of new challenges and problems that don't know how to solve but u really inspire and give strength to me ❤
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing, Ruby! I wasn't really aware atychiphobia had a name, but of course it does. ❤
this made me reflect on my sixteen year old self when i was pretty much going through the same thing and it made me so emotional. I'm so so proud of how far you've come Ruby🫶
Fear of failure is what drive us forward, but there is no growth without failure.
“And I’m sorry that you didn’t go outside to read” ugh this is beautiful
Beautiful, insightful and touching ❤️ I'll recommend this video to my students. I've told them not to stress too much (easier said than done, I know), that if they do their best they've already succeeded, but it might be more convincing coming from a person just a few years older than from their teacher ☺️
“ keep life in perspective. ” this letter got to me! Thanks for sharing, Ruby!
This advice is timelessly valuable, no matter what age the listener, thank you for the reminder about the importance of the little things in life, like reading a book on a sunny day and being in the moment
I think you are much more mature and know yourself better and will do better in Oxford this time than the first time you wanted to get it, maybe it just wasn't the right time but now is. You can't go through life without failure, that is how you grow and get life experience. Life is not supposed to be easy or perfect.
congratulations sebastian, you're grounded for a million billion bajillion years!!
It made me cry. Although it's not so difficult to enter a university in Russia (and I am from Russia), as it is in Britain, I've always felt that I'm not good enough. And now I've realised that pressure was so hard that I didn't pay attention to it. It was easier just to do what had to be done. Now here I am, crying...
Beautifully written
I loved this letter Ruby, I love how much you've grown and changed!
This was so incredibly beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.
I've been thinking about what I would say to 14 year old me , at the time where my mental health was worse and when everything seemed horrible and i had no hope for the future. Thank you for this :)
Love this letter! Poignant words for all ages!
Hearing this as a sixteen year old struggling with pressure from seeking academic validation was really emotional. It kind of felt as if your letter was also directed to me and others out there, who feel the same way. Wether that was your intention or not I want to thank you. I really needed to hear this.
It feels a bit bizarre to know that I'm in the same situation you once were in. Though at the same time I feel like I don't deserve to feel this bad because even though I'm really ambitious I'm probably not spending half the amount of time studying compared to you back then. But thats another problem that I have. Always being too harsh with myself.
Hearing your words about being afraid of failure and that it's ok to fail was just what I needed.
Thank you again for letting people hear what you back then needed to be told. I'm aspiring to be like you one day.
I'm planning on printing your letter out and putting it in the front of my planner for the new school year. That way I can hopefully be reminded that everything is going to be alright.
And I do want to apologise for any mistakes that I made while writing this comment. English isn't my first language.
I hope that you have a wonderful day.
So very nurturing and powerful ❤❤
Beautiful letter 💖Ruby. I do believe you will become a well published author, you already are. You are a very special and beautiful soul 🌷
Peaceful calming and beautifully depicted each and every emotions in your letter to your younger self. ❤
I love this video. Currently just finished my last year of university and doing my final bits. If 16-year-old me see me where I'm, after failing my English gcse and thinking it was the end of the world, I think she would be extremely proud. Just have to redo one of my exams, as I failed it, but for once I took it well.
Good luck for anyone doing your exams, failing is not the end of the journey, just another step closer to success.
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing this Ruby x
This is so beautiful Ruby. Even as a 39y old with a busy job and 2 small children there are lessons here to remember x I will keep this for my daughter when she is that age 😊
One of my favourite quotes (from Oprah) is that failure is just a red flag saying "turn around, wrong way" x
i love writing letters. it is so fun. i do it all the time
you write so beautifully!
I wish I knew your channel earlier. I experienced fail after fail and even if I succeed, my happiness was short but my sadness was so long. even now, I feel dumb that you're younger than me and I'm the emotionaly immuture one. But I guess eveybody's in different timeline and different path. I'm getting better now, just needsome more time to get used to be myself. Thankyou for calmming videos.
This is lovely. I think I started watching your videos in your A-level days (so around when you were 17 or so) and it's been amazing to see how you've grown as a person. It's come across in your videos but also the content your produce - I remember you used to upload study vlogs which were like x number of hour study days but now your content is much more holistic (e.g videos like this) and even your more "study/academic" videos are less productivity focused and more well-rounded. And I love how you changed your outro to "more than just a productive week". Thank you for sharing your journey and your growth with us x
Ruby, your words when scribbled on an expanse white spilling into what ink so grey from left to right and left to right painting paper on the yarns of bamboo under the weight of your elbows - just like that when you write "How we had wanted to learn about the world from World itself", I think I believe; yes, I think I just believe you.
Funny you mention this- I’m writing my memoir for ages 14-24. It’s a long job but it’s fabulous 🙂
Wow. This blew me away. Thank you so much for sharing. Everything you said is so true and definitely something that we all will resonate with in some way, I’m sure. Your letter to your past self shows the paramount of wisdom you have gained, which is applaudable beyond belief ❤ human beings are worth so much more than what we are graded in exams or what job we keep/salary we earn
I loved this Ruby! It was also so powerful, a lot of what you said really resonates with me x
I was in the same journey as u from the start and I feel like we are friends for years and uts scary how time goes by really fast I'm happy I find your channel
This is BEAUTIFUL. I’m sixteen and you are such a massive inspiration to me. I re@lot needed to hear this as you are literally my idol. Ily
Really***
I think we ALL needed to hear this.
I am 16 and I needed to hear this, thank you so much Ruby❤ Just like you I’m really scared of failure.
Oh Ruby, this was lovely!!!💛
Also, pathways you need will present themselves perhaps not when you want them but when you really need them. You can call it mere coincidence and confirmation bias but there will inevitably be instances where it seems like the universe is listening to your thoughts
Wow Ruby. This was 16 me. I cried listening to this because it resonated so much with me. And this sob session feels liberating
Thank you so much for this❤
It was a really stressful day and i was so worried about my exams. Your video really helped me calm down. I cryed a little.
That shows some beautiful piece of You, this letter. Wonderfully written, Ruby. I'd very much enjoy a video about the joy of curiosity. My therapist mentioned it once and now it is one of my fav feelings on earth.
Beautiful
I think I needed this. Thank you Ruby.
Good luck 🤞🍀🍀🍀 Ruby
I’m 36, my goodness what wouldn’t I say to my 16 year old self?!
That’s really beautiful it’s like you’re in cheer 16-year-old self, but in the butt in a poetic way that is very very beautiful
I really needed this before exams, thank you Ruby
This is so moving and beautiful Ruby! You've definitely have come a long way!
This Is a gem
I wached this in my 16th birthday because i saw it in youtube recommendation. what a beautiful coincidence. 🥰 this video was just like a birthday gift for me at that time, Thanks Ruby. I love this video soooooooo muchhhhhhhh 😍😇
Ah happy birthday!
thank you very much♥️ Ruby Im happy to hear that .hope you will have a great day
Ruby you look so radiant in red & navy
Beautiful words xxx
16 years old Ruby is a godness
This is beautiful ❤
Song: "Solva Saal"
by artist: "Sukhdev",
Released in 1999
and i am since 1983!
This song is also about the sixteenth year and more
Such a moving letter you wrote for your 16 year old self :-). Extremely emotionally moving and extremely emotionally interesting as I could feel this big sense of emotionality listening to it :-). Brilliant video I have to say :-). I enjoy watching this most thoroughly every step of the way as each moment of this video passed :-). Many thanks for your wonderful video :-). Take care and many best wishes Ruby my lovely new friend :-).
From your new friend Foxy in Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK xoxoxox :-D :-D :-).
Of what is that table made? It looks like iron that could scratch you mahogany box. May I suggest a table cloth or an inexpensive fir board underneath it. As to the video: Good point Ruby. Take time to enjoy the simple things. They ward off depression.
Wonderful!
this was so purely beautiful
Wonderful! Sage advice.
My letter would consist of the single phrase "You blew it"...
For some young people now, the first time they confront failure is on some awful T.V "talent" show. For too long as a society we have denied failure, with ridiculous "participation" trophies and fatuous "equality" laws and policies.
So many don't experience the seasoning that failure brings; unti it is too late and it shatters them and their so-called "dreams" we seem to be so obsessed with in society.