Alex (Lee) Miles is a Melbourne-based author who has worked across theatre, television and advertising, including as a scriptwriter and storyliner for Neighbours. She has published eight books in the Zac Power series. Her book Sixty Secrets for a Happy Bride was published by Affirm Press in 2015, and she is working on Starring Olive Black, a children’s fiction series to be published by Affirm in 2017.

Dearest ALpal,

I’m writing you this letter twenty years in the future, while sunbaking on the moon in my tinfoil bikini – everyone’s doing it. Writing letters and lists has become a bit of a pastime for us. Keep it up! They’ll help you feel grateful for all you have, drive you to reach your goals and provide a hearty giggle when you read them back years later.

Things are bad, I know, with Mum’s illness just being diagnosed. You’ll swing between feeling lost, sad, thankful, angry, alone, hopeful, defeated and wondering, ‘Why me?’ All of these feelings are valid. And it’s mighty important that you share them. It might be with Kelly, or the girls, or Ms Illesca at school, or Dad. Or write yourself a letter. Heck, talk to Teddy too. He may only have one ear but he’ll listen. There is always someone who will listen.

You can’t undo what’s happened to Mum, but the most marvellous consolation prize is working out from a young age the importance of grabbing life with both hands. You never know what’s around the corner, so do things that make your knees wobble or your heart pound. Laugh – always laugh. And make sure the people you love are reminded of it every day, with both words and actions. Yes, you read these sentiments on fortune cookies and T-shirts from Bali – but they’re so true.

When it comes to friendships, you can’t get everything you need in life from just one person. It’s okay, healthy even, to have different types of friends. There’ll be ones that challenge you. Ones that understand your chocolate obsession. Ones to dance with. Ones to be still with. Ones from school and ones that aren’t. Ones that you see all the time. Others rarely, but it’s like no time has passed. True friends adore the real you no matter what. Work out who these ones are, and which friends give you the best advice, even the stuff you’d rather not hear. The others might not be keepers, but they’ll colour your life as they move in and out of it.

Spoiler alert – you’re a worrier. You worry so much that you need lists to keep track of them. Just remember there’s a finite amount of space in your life for worry, so be selective. Leave out the ones that are not in your control, or really far in the future. Writing them down will help manage it some days. Having a good sleep helps too. And try asking yourself, ‘Why am I worried?’ Is it because you’re scared of letting someone down? Or because you’ve set yourself a challenge? When you can’t work out why, it’s a good time to chat to someone. Worrying is both your best and worst trait – you can’t switch it off completely, but you can learn which ones are worth the energy.

For someone who’s a terrible reader and terrible speller with terrible handwriting, you’ll laugh when you learn what career path you take. Don’t overthink it at school. Say yes to every opportunity and do what you love. You never know where it’ll lead you. Speaking of which, I loved reading back over your Year 7 Time Capsule. You were spot on with some predictions and rubbish at others, but there’s no way I’m telling you which were which. Working it out and all the mistakes along the way are what make life so super.

I’ll leave you with some bad news I heard recently: ‘time flies’. The good news, though, is that you’re the pilot. Travel safe and have fun!

Lots of love,

Alex