February 21, 2025/Midnight
Erie, PA– Do you need a place for healing and reflection? Welcome to the trend: “Meeting your younger self for coffee.”
Beginning in early February, this trend has taken TikTok by storm. According to NBC News, now there are more than 16 million posts on TikTok starting with the quote “I met my younger self for coffee today.” In these posts, people typically post an updated photo or short clip about themselves in the present, with an overlayed text reflecting on their journey.
The core concept of this trend is to imagine that you are having a coffee date, where you have a conversation with your past self, and reflect on your growth. The background music is often set to the song “Sweet Heat Lining” by Gregory Alan Isakov, which adds a nostalgic and emotional tone to the reflections.
The trend was inspired by a poem with the same title, by poet Jennae Cecelia in her upcoming book called “Deep in My Feels”. She shared her poem on Instagram and to her surprise, it gained popularity quickly, with many individuals creating their own versions and spreading them on many platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and Threads.
What makes this trend special and attracts so many people is that it provides an opportunity to look back at the past and see how they’ve changed in terms of personality, lifestyle, and mindset. Through this imagined conversation, people can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges they’ve overcome, the successes they’ve achieved and what they still need to improve upon.
The trend not only offers participants a chance to reflect on themselves, but it is also a platform for individuals to share their stories to inspire and offer to those currently facing challenges like those they’ve overcome.
On TikTok, creator @spencer.barbosa shared how, in her youth, she was consumed by thoughts about her weight, pushing herself to maintain a size 4. Today, she is confident in her body, wearing a size 8, and hasn’t weighed herself on a scale for 5 years.
For some, this is not a trend for sharing the present moment or changes, but it is an opportunity for them to change their behavior in the past. User @masongj1 commented on a post that, “If I met my younger self, I wouldn’t tell him mom dies when we are 24, but remind him to call her weekly, that it’s the thing that she holds dearest as I travel.”
In today’s fast-paced society, “I met my younger self for coffee today” provides a moment of reflection. It allow individuals to look back on the past, acknowledge their personal growth, and learn to love themselves more. More than just entertainment, this trend is a reminder that each person is on a journey of learning and personal growth.
How about you?
If you could have a conversation with your younger self, what would you say? Did you achieve your goals? Or did you change in a better way?
