Jane Fonda Once Wrote Inspiring Note to Her Younger Self That Highlighted Her Life's Achievements and Tragedies

Academy Award winner Jane Fonda, best known for “Klute” and “Coming Home,” opened up about her life on the “CBS This Morning” series “Note to Self.”

In the activity, the actress was asked to write her younger self a letter telling her whatever she wanted.

She learned to remember her parents with compassion, love, and forgiveness.

JANE FONDA’S NOTE TO SELF

In it, Jane revealed that her life was a circle wherein she went through “dark periods” in which she thought no future was on the horizon.

Apart from that, she admitted that a young Jane didn’t know who she was, and even felt that nobody could love her. Jane wrote that she was sexually molested at seven and that her mother died by suicide at 12 years old.

The award-winning actress admitted to feeling that to be loved, she needed to be perfect. Jane added:

“You'll have to be a ‘good girl’ to be loved. Living in-authentically like this will lead you to various addictions that will dominate much of your life and energy.”

ADDRESSING HER PARENTS

She also pointed out that her younger self grew up without knowing what love really felt like due to having “self-involved” parents. However, as she got older, she learned to remember them with compassion, love, and forgiveness.

Jane wished that her present version could teach her younger self that the painful and challenging situations throughout her life would make her “strong and compassionate.”

The “Klute” star said that her biggest strength was being an activist and that, through that activity, she gave her life a meaning unknown to her younger version. She even labeled activism as the rest she pays for life.

After writing that she was a late bloomer and that learning from her mistakes made her a woman with courage, imagination, and resilience, Jane admitted:

IT WAS ALL WORTH IT

“As I read this, I am about to turn 78. And though I know you'll find this impossible to believe, this is the happiest I have ever been. It was all worth it, the good and the bad.”

Finally, the actress encouraged herself not to give up, pointing out to being proud of her younger self because she never settled for less than what she considered she could attain.

Unfortunately, Jane Fonda has gone through several tragedies, some of which she mentioned in her letter. Her relationship with her father, Henry Fonda, for example, was not as good as one might expect.

The actress admitted that Henry would use acting to hide his genuine emotions and that he was the reason why she became an activist.