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Labour MP, Dawn Butler, is Member of Parliament for Brent, London. She became the first black female MP to be a Minister in the U.K and the first to speak in the dispatch box in the House of Commons in 2009. Her political career spans over 15 years.
To a younger Dawn,
I would advise you to not waste your skinny years thinking you are fat. You are perfect in more ways than you can ever even know. Your commitment to your family and others will dominate absolutely everything that you do. The Black men currently in your life make it almost impossible for you to find your life partner, as no one matches up to your Dad or your Brothers.
Your search for truth and justice will drive everything you do. The pride you feel as a Black person, the fights at school won’t stop when you get older, you will just fight with words rather than your fists. Racism doesn’t end, and where it exists it does not change very much, never underestimate some people’s commitment to ignorance, however you change. The exhaustion from years of abuse takes its toll, but you continue to find the energy to raise your voice at every turn and the positive people you meet on your journey drive you. You become a bit of a role model and you reluctantly accept that, embrace it and be proud, you will make a difference and amplify the voices of the unheard. Oh, and the advice your brothers gave you about looking in the rear-view mirror will still come in handy.
Your 5-year plan is a good exercise in thinking ahead – but don’t be surprised when things change.
Friendships.
You will essentially keep the same friends as you get older. You have always liked your own company this really comes in handy because you end up being a politician!
You could take a few more risks.
Happiness.
Although a lot of your happiness derives from making other people happy, you didn’t become the wedding planner or launch any of the business ideas you had. Eventually you appreciate that it is fine to take time to invest in your own personal happiness, and just to let you know that it is okay to do that, and you probably should have done it sooner - the fun times would have been even more fun! You will inherit your shopping habit from your Mother and will have far too many clothes and shoes! You decide that you will grow old fighting the good fight. The situation when you were in primary school where you refused to allow the teacher to call you a liar will come in handy, you will gain the reputation that you will stick up for yourself, no matter what.
Your Dad's passing will be the hardest thing you will ever have to live with, even harder than when your friend died, but you live with passion and drive and you will survive all of the bad days.
The stubbornness and drive to make everything perfect is a star quality. It still annoys people but it is appreciated.
Know that you are special, really special and you should embrace that, smile more and take more photos because eventually you will be in a job where you will have your picture taken all the time and your family will find it hilarious.
No matter what you do, your friends and family are centre, where you will gravitate and find comfort, laughs, good food and drink, enjoy the ride!