42.

I love reading advice columns. I’m not sure what this says about me, but hey, there’s a lot of emotionally grey goo bottled up inside me and one of the ways I deal with it is by reading these kinds of columns.

My very favorite advice columnist is Dear CokeTalk. As you can gleam from the title of her blog, it’s not exactly words of wisdom from a puritan. But that’s exactly the point. Start here for some of her good stuff (but who am I kidding? It’s all good).

I’ve never asked her for advice although I’ve often thought about it.

But the thing is I’m pretty clever. And I know that the answer to whatever question I ask lies in the question itself.

And I guess I haven’t been able to find the right question yet.

The answer is 42. But what is the question?

A Letter to Myself

It’s okay you know.

It’s okay to feel like crap sometimes. It’s okay to be stressed and sad. It’s okay that you don’t have everything figured out.

You haven’t done the dishes in a week? - It’s okay.

You get annoyed with you boyfriend over the slightest things? - Really. It’s okay. Just breathe.

You haven’t bought any Christmas-presents yet? - Still okay.

You’re afraid you’ll fail your exams? - So what if you do? It’ll be okay.

You feel like crying for no particular reason? - It’s okay. Go ahead. I understand.

You feel like a failure? - I promise you’re not.

You are wonderful.

I like you. I like you a lot.