There are many ways and reasons for missing someone. The past is a place that everyone fosters and tries to hold onto. People, of course, come with that too. Even today, there are those far off that we long to be with. To any number of those people, you are missed.

1. To family back home...

I miss you all more than I thought I would. I miss sitting at the dinner table, watching our shows, and driving in the car together. I miss having you two doors down. Now hours away, I miss that luxury of being able to yell down the stairs to ask one of you a question, which I thought was a downside because you guys could yell up at me too. I miss the support. How someone was always there, whether you liked it or not. I miss the familiarity. The feeling of home and comfort. I miss the routine of things. The monotonous day-in and day-out functionality of a busy family schedule. I miss driving up to the house after school and seeing my dogs through the windows. Because it's so nice when I'm there, I miss home and the ones I love in it.

2. To old friends...

I miss our laughs. The inside jokes, sleepovers, and cliché fights. I miss the Barbie days. When we shared everything from dolls to clothes to catch phrases. I miss the friendship bracelets. The things we made or drew on each other to prove that we were closer than everyone else. I miss your mom. The fact that she was like a second one to me. I miss doing absolutely everything together. How sometimes we'd stay at my house then go to yours the next night. I miss our synchronized dance routines. The times we pretended we were pop stars or princesses or principals. I miss the drama. While petty and so yesterday, I'd do it all again if it meant being your best friend again. To the girls that used to be like sisters, I miss you and our friendship.

3. To exes...

I miss the closeness. How you knew me, and I knew you. I miss our fun. The places we always went and the adventures that came about getting there. I miss the longevity. The idea that things could work out longer than expected and that we'd have many more years to come. I miss the feeling of being so loved. That someone out there could look to me and be so accepting, so open. I miss the confidence you gave me. How I could stand tall, feeling beautiful in each way at any time of the day. The way all my insecurities washed away when I was yours. I even miss the bad times. Even if we disagreed, at least we were still together disagreeing. To the guys that used to hold my hand, I'm glad I learned from you and a piece of me still misses us.

4. To my people in heaven...

I miss your presence. Your voice, face, and actions. How I felt when I was around you. I miss our times that are now blurring memories. I wish only that we could recall them together and make many more. I miss the time. How it felt like it would never come to an end. I miss you when good times happen. When family is together and happy moments spring up. On the big occasions that you wouldn't have missed for the world. At the events that you enjoyed or found comfort in. I miss you in the bad times. When I seek your advice or want to look to you for strength. I miss you when I forget that you're gone. Those times I walk into a room or house and expect to see you going about your business as you would. I miss you when I'm with the people you loved. The ones that knew you like I did. To my loved ones in heaven, I think of you often and miss you more than you know.

5. To my younger self...

I miss your innocence. The way you looked at the world with your eyes open wide and imagination running at all hours. I miss the simplicity of your life. That worry-free attitude and naivety. I miss your ability to forgive. The way that a hug and an "I'm sorry" could make everything instantly better. I miss your outlook. The idea you had that each day would be better than the last. That you always wanted to have fun. I wish I could rewind and be seven again because I miss the openness, the stress-free times, and the ease of things. To the little girl I used to be, I thank you and miss you dearly.

There is no harm in missing someone. Holding onto the memories and people who make us who we are is an element of human nature. If the people you miss are still in your reach, let them know.

To all those I write about, I miss you.