Dear Future Me,

I am writing you today as a 20-year-old at the tail-end of November. Aside from the stress and restless nights, life is treating me fairly. My internship at the Writing Center is wrapping up, Taekwondo Club is growing in membership and finals are just around the corner. If you have followed my directions, you will be reading this at the ripe age of 50. I am excited to find out about all you have accomplished and the impact you have made on the world thus far. The main purpose for this letter, however, is to remind you about the importance of your health.

The beard I grew out for Movember wasn't just to impress the ladies and make me look a couple inches taller. I did it to help raise awareness for men's health issues. Men in my age group (20-39) are at a high risk for testicular cancer, with the American Cancer Society estimating 8,850 new cases of testicular cancer to be diagnosed and about 410 deaths in 2017. If you're reading this right now, it means that you have made it, but you're not in the clear yet. The American Cancer Society also states that 7% of cases occur in men over 55.

The main concern that I would like to stress to you is prostate cancer. If you have not gotten a rectal examination yet, please schedule an appointment for one right now! You can finish reading this letter afterwards. If you have done so, great! Just to emphasize the importance of these screenings, prostate cancer is the third leading cause of death in American men, behind lung cancer and colorectal cancer. While examinations are important for catching prostate cancer early, there are many steps that you should take to prevent it in the first place. The most important factors to consider are your diet, exercise, and stress levels. That means no more eating 4-8 Oreos a day like I am now. Trust me, I am striving to break my junk food habit for you.

Also, I hope you are still doing martial arts. Taekwondo has always been a huge part of my life and has kept me physically and mentally fit. As long as you stick with it, not only will you be a badass old man, but you'll be a healthy old man as well. And finally, please, PLEASE tell me you are not completely stressed out of your mind! I figure that you are writing a lot of screenplays, or working on the next New York Times best selling novel, but don't forget to make time for yourself. Take your dog for a walk, play guitar or learn Korean (if you haven't done so already, I don't know what you're waiting for).

Being alert and taking the necessary precautions will keep you happy and healthy for a long time to come. While I know that you have done so much already in 50 years, I know that you still have a lot more to offer in the next 50.

With all the love in the world,

Your Past Self