I Met My Younger Self For Coffee, TikTok Viral, Jennae Cecelia

The “I met my younger self for coffee” TikTok viral trend is blowing up on thanks to a poem written by Jennae Cecelia, and honestly, it’s so heartwarming, it almost brought me to tears. People are imagining what it would be like to sit down with their younger selves, share a few laughs, offer some comforting words, or just have a quiet moment over coffee. It’s this beautiful mix of nostalgia, self-love, and healing—a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come and how much we’ve learned along the way. Of course, I had to join in, and I’ll admit, it hit me harder than I expected. It was emotional, but also such a powerful reminder of how far I’ve come. It left me feeling incredibly grateful for everything that’s shaped me into who I am today.

Here’s my take:

I met my younger self for coffee today.

She arrived super early, and I arrived on time. She ordered a black coffee, and I ordered a cappuccino. She looked at me, fidgeting with her jumper sleeve, and asked if it all worked out in the end.

I told her it does, just not in the way she expects, and not exactly in the direction she anticipated.

I told her to enjoy the journey life has in store, rather than focusing solely on working hard and investing for the future. I explained to her that life experiences are just as important as career milestones. She looked at me like I was crazy, but I smiled and told her it’s okay to loosen up a bit, to let go of the pressure, and that changing goals and dreams along the way won’t make her a failure. 

I told her it’s okay to feel different, and that she’ll understand why soon enough. I suggested looking into neurodiversity, and that embracing who she truly is—without apology—will unlock so much more strength and resilience.

I reassured her that it’s okay to struggle, and that anxiety doesn’t define her worth. I reminded her that life will surprise her in ways she can’t predict, and while it may feel overwhelming at times, learning to trust the process will open up new paths for growth and opportunity. And no matter what went wrong, it will all be worth it in the end.

I reminded her again, “Trust the process, and most importantly, trust yourself.”

I know I left her confused and scared, but I also know she’s strong enough to handle the growing pains even if she doesn’t believe it yet.