To My Future Self,

Well, I can only hope by now you have figured your way out a little better. Instead of the "what if's" and "If only's" it turns into "One time I." It has been one hell of a road for you. I can only pray that it has gotten better. I hope by now you have finally done what your favorite quote says, "She survived because the fire inside her burned brighter than the fire around her." I hope you did just that and survived. I hope you have conquered all of your fears, one of them including being happy. Your happiness is what truly matters in this world. If you're no longer happy, what is the point? For years you have put everyone before yourself, you went out of your way for every person you met so I can only hope you started putting yourself first. I hope you still don't let past relationships get in the way. I hope you never bite your tongue before you say how you feel. Let the world know how you feel. Send those texts you have written out in your notes but are too nervous to send. Finally show him what has been written for years but you never got the chance to say. Look yourself in the mirror and practice what you would say if you saw him just one last time, "Two years from now you're going to be chucking down 5 shots of straight vodka to help you get the thought of me out of your head and you're going to try and focus on the random girl whose name you can't remember. And when this happens I hope you run to the toilet and splash your face with cold dirty water and vomit up the words you wish you said to me when you had the chance. If you take her home, I hope the moonlight will keep you awake no matter what time it is and you'll watch it shine across your bedroom floor where we laughed and where I told you I loved you. And I hope the light catches your attention more than the naked girl next to you and I hope when you look at her all you think about is how her eyes don't shine half as bright as mine used to and how her arms don't rest delicately on your chest the way mine did. I hope that you can't escape the moonlight that is a constant reminder of the love you let slip away." Take a deep breathe and smile, be thankful that you are now at the point in your life where you would say something like that if you had the chance too. I hope that you never gave up on your dreams. The one thing you can learn about your past self was that even with all the minor and or major setbacks in life, you never gave up on your dreams. If you accomplished some, I am so proud of you. If you have yet to, don't you dare stop until they're done. Do what makes you happy because at the end of the day YOU are the only one who matters. I hope you have finally let your guard down along with your fears when it comes to relationships. I hope you have finally found someone who sees nothing but the best in you and loves you unconditionally. I hope he's ready for what's to come because there is far, far more ahead, darling. You have a very bright future ahead of you if you stick to the path you're headed. "The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow." Take all the pain you have ever felt and learn from it. Grow into the amazing woman you are going to become. Never lose sight on what you want in life. Your life is a beautiful roller coaster, don't look back, just keep aiming forward. Tomorrow is never promised so live every single day like it's your last and never forget to tell your loved ones you love them. I am so proud of how far you've come and now you have the strength from your past to thank. This is now your time. Go out and conquer the world. "So I close my eyes to old ends and open my heart to new beginnings..."

Sincerely,

Your Future Self