Suzie Miller is a playwright who graduated from the Playwrights Studio at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Arts in 2000 and has a Masters in Theatre & Film. Suzie received the 2008 national Kit Denton Fellowship for writing, won the 2006 and 2009 Inscription Award, received the 2008 New York Fringe Festival Overall Excellence Award for Outstanding Playwriting and won the 2005 Theatrelab Award. Her works include Cross Sections and Sold.

Dear Me,

You just turned 13 in October and you started to write on Mum’s old manual typewriter. On the first day of January you spent the day typing a diary entry describing what your dreams are and what you want to achieve in the year ahead. It will be a characteristic of the years to come that you keep a diary and write down what your aims are – and I promise you in doing this, those very things will come about.

You have a great courage and capacity to drive yourself forward. Don’t feel knocked about when people criticise that and try to bring you down – it is that very strength and love of life that will create your path. While other people seem to have all the contacts and understand how the world works, the struggle to get there alone will make the successes much more interesting for you. And don’t forget to help others when you reach your career and life targets.

I want you to know that you will have more than one exciting career; that you should keep writing down all of your feelings as you did on the first day of the year – your writing will keep you from falling into melancholy when it threatens. Most importantly I want you to know that despite not having access to everything everyone else seems to have, you will be the first person in your extended family to have a university degree, you will travel the world, meet and create the most beautiful friendships, and go on to be an adult who loves her husband and children ferociously.

What you should know as you forge ahead in relationships are:

1. That at 13 you have just met a wonderful friend called Helen. Hang on to her, stay loyal to her – even though you met in Year 7, she will be in your life for the rest of it.

2. You will meet some of the most extraordinary people who will be loyal and loving, and who will be by your side through some challenging times. Do not let go of those who are authentic and kind.

3. You will also have friends and meet people who will let you down and make you cry. Let yourself cry at their loss but be open to what comes about after they are gone.

I tell you now – do not be afraid to love hard, do not feel anxious about speaking out wherever you see injustice, do not judge others harshly and indeed allow yourself to make some mistakes. Some of those mistakes will in retrospect be ones that are your greatest gains.

While your primary family can drive you nuts right now, know that in the future they are there for you and your love for them will grow and grow – they are very precious, they have shared your childhood years with you and watched you bloom. They will also love and care for your children, delight in their successes and be supportive during their challenges. Oh yes and by the way – just so as you know – those names you chose for your future son and daughter at 12 are the names they now have! Yes, really, your lovely children have taken those names and given them life.

You will find the relationships that are right for you – do not be in a hurry, do not panic about where they are – they will emerge when you are ready for them. Relish the women in your life – they will show you the path to motherhood and nod knowingly as you discover what it means. Embrace friends in your careers of law, theatre and writing as they will surround you with an intelligent and creative community. You will feel less alone.

Never lose empathy and always treat people with respect and dignity, especially those who have the least power in society. Very importantly, also respect and be kind to yourself. The only things you will regret in the life I have lived for you is not taking action or holding back for fear of being embarrassed or for fear of standing out. Because you are still 13 you can change all of that, and indeed overcome that barrier. Be wary of shame – it will paralyse you and make you withdraw.

There will be some truths that you know deep in your soul already. You should listen to these and act on them when you know the time is right. Everyone might think you are crazy, and it might mean starting again, but you will find great satisfaction and joy in doing so.

Know you will live in many cities and countries; you will find some lifelong friends in those places who will change your life in surprising ways. Your life will be rich and filled with great joys and sadness. It is a big life ahead for you, do not be afraid.

The teenage years ahead will have you starting to feel ‘different’ to your family and everyone else – you have the soul of an artist and a sharp, clever mind. Do not hold it back because others can’t cope with it. When you find those people who try to hold you back, be brave and go forward anyway. There will be times when you struggle with depression, when you again feel lonely in life. Know there are things you can do to take yourself back to your own energy and life. Talk to those people who you feel really comfortable with, take some time with nature and continue to reach out to the less fortunate in your community. Each of these things will make you feel more connected and will allow you to regain the sense of a warm and loving world.

Some things I wish I had discovered earlier in my life that I can give you the heads up on now:

1. Our parents are not always right. Yes, they made mistakes but all parents do – let them off the hook and enjoy them, as they won’t be with you forever;

2. Writing is not something only privileged people can do. Don’t just do it in secret, show the world your passion;

3. Celebrate that love of Maths. Don’t be ashamed of it, it is not as uncool as you think;

4. Don’t stop learning French. It will be something you will want to have later in life. Oh, and pick up another language for me, will you?

One more thing. I know that typewriter of Mum’s you are using jams keys whenever you type quickly. Do not worry: by the time you are writing for your living, there will be a thing called a personal computer that will have you typing as quickly as you think!!!

Love,

Suzie