Fritz Frankly, A Letter to My Younger Self
Dear Fritz,
You're currently feeling melancholy with no clue where you want to go in life, except for the fact that you know you want to be an artist and move away. You just turned 24, and your life is simple and comfortable and being an artist makes no sense. You love to read novels while at work, take portraits of your friends and boyfriend, write stories and poems, and create art. You are a dreamer, but you question if you're a do-er.
I'm pleased to let you know you are a do-er.
You won't be trapped in Houston much longer, as you'll finally say “carpe diem” and give up your comfortable desk job to pursue “artistic endeavors” in LA. While this sounds wildly exciting, things won't go exactly as you planned. But, you'll make it through.
You won't like this, but your love affair with a stoner painter boy won't last. He will cheat on you at least five more times before you give up. But, you will find love a few more times. And unfortunately, you will break hearts and have your heart broken a few more times, too.
Photographed by Caleb Hamernick
You are worried that your family will run your life. As the oldest sibling, you feel you must bail everyone out of trouble and that if you were ever to go away, things would get worse for them. But everyone will be okay, and they will adjust to you being away. More than anything, your family will be proud of you. And when you go back for the holidays, they even dub you “the coolest cousin on Instagram.”
Right now, you think something is clinically wrong with you, because you're never satisfied in focusing on one thing and instead want to do everything. But, you'll learn to accept it is one of your biggest strengths.
You will get slightly better at being on time for things (there are no promises, as you are a busy man). You will make friends with people that will push you to grow and nurture you when you need it most. Your creativity will expand past all the things you think you're capable of doing, and you will discover parts of yourself you didn't even know existed. Your thing will be art, culture, and wellness. You will cultivate yourself in the same way that you care for the radishes growing on the balcony—that is, with love.
All in all, you will learn more about me in the next five years than you ever have. You will grow as a person, take risks, make many mistakes, and start to get more comfortable putting yourself out there (hence, why I am writing you this letter). You will grow to love and accept yourself just the way you are, and you will learn that it's hard to love others if you don't love yourself first.
I'm excited for what we have in store next. In the words of Jewel's 2003 hit, "Follow your heart / Your intuition / It will lead you in the right direction.”
Cheers,