Read the handwritten letter on my website: https://rubygranger.com/blogs/news/a-letter-to-my-sixteen-year-old-self
Follow Me Elsewhere:
instagram: @_rubygranger
tiktok: @rubygranger8
goodreads: Ruby Granger
My Stationery Company: https://bit.ly/3wgsR85
Frequently Asked Questions:
š How old are you? 23
š 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.
šWhat are your favourite books? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZapNx5nCszc&t=694s
š Do you have a book club? Yes! You can join it here for free: https://fable.co/club/reading-with-the-seasons-with-rubygranger-885519058153
š 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 (https://amzn.to/3mdJKLm), but Iām slightly embarrassed by it now!
š Do you have merch? I donāt have merch in the traditional sense (I canāt 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 Iāve used when planning my studying. Our products are printed in pastel colours on recycled paper: https://bit.ly/3wgsR85
šµ Whatās your favourite tea? Thatās a REALLY hard one, but I think Iād have to say the B&B Chocolate Digestive Tea: https://bird-and-blend-tea-co.sjv.io/ā¦ (affiliate link)
source
Loved this Ruby, what a lovely note to yourself. We all should do this.
Good luck š¤ššš Ruby
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.
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 š
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.
Utterly self-indulgent video. Just another chance for Ruby to continue the unhealthy obsession with childhood under the guise of 'maturity' and 'wisdom.' Most people write letters to their younger self, when they've experienced some sort of serious trauma, not just to waffle on about exam stress, as if that's the worst thing she's experienced in her life of upper-middle privilege
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
Arent you supposed to write to your future self??
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.
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.
I almost cried.. thank you for thisš
Oh Ruby, this was lovely!!!š
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, āSome 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 donāt grow at allā My spiritual friend, I only hope your future is just as lovely as who you are from now on. Well done. Weāre still here. sincerely, Emmy
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 <3
I canāt stop crying at this.
So very nurturing and powerful ā¤ā¤
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 š š :-).
āAnd Iām sorry that you didnāt go outside to readā ugh this is beautiful
I am 16 and I needed to hear this, thank you so much Rubyā¤ Just like you Iām really scared of failure.
Wonderful!
This was so incredibly beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.
i love writing letters. it is so fun. i do it all the time
Beautiful
Thanks Ruby, this is really inspiring since Iāve just finished GCSEs š¤
I don't usually comment on videos like this, but I am sixteen and these are the words I feel I needed to hear. It seems that all of us have that older voice within us telling us to seek out new opportunities and look beyond our bedroom walls, but it's not until you hear it from someone else that you truly believe it. These words have a sort of magically transcendent power and I am in awe- seeing the strength and the care that you have so carefully nurtured over these years has empowered me and helped me to realise that each and every path available to us has the potential for growth… Thank you Ruby!
I loved this Ruby! It was also so powerful, a lot of what you said really resonates with me x
Beautiful ā¤
Beautifully written
Still so self concentratedā¦
You really inspiring me .I am gonnāa make a Chanel that represent me and my expression
Are you coming out with another academic planner for 23-24??