Dear Future Me,

First of all, I’m going to expect your life is really cool right now, because if it isn’t, all of this college crap wasn’t worth it. I’m going to hope you have a job, because if not, again: college=crap.

I hope you are happy. I hope you choose happiness every day. I hope you are eliminating people and things that make you unhappy from your life. Because it’s not worth your time if it’s not making you happy. I hope you’re not at some job you hate. I hope you’re not miserable waking up every morning. And if you are, do me a favor: change something. Change whatever is making you unhappy. Choose happiness.

I hope you have traveled. If not, I am extremely disappointed in you. I hope you have been to Ireland, and to Italy, and to Greece. I hope you have been to California, and South Carolina, and all over the U.S. by now. If you haven’t, what are you doing with your life? (I’m going to guess you’re still poor).

I hope you still know how amazing our family is. I hope that you still know that family comes before everything else. I hope you still know that family will always be there for you, every single time. I hope you call mom every day or visit if you still live in Syracuse. I hope you visit our siblings as much as possible. Don’t let being busy be an excuse, make time. I hope you tell them we love them every chance you get.

I hope you’re living every day like it’s your last. I hope you remember that life is short, really short. I hope you don’t take it for granted. I hope you don’t wish away your days like I am now. I hope you embrace every moment. I hope you remember that life is precious.

Depending on when you’re seeing this, future me, you’ve probably lost a lot of important people in your life. You’ve probably lost your grandparents, who are almost 92 at the time I’m writing this. I hope you saw them every chance you got before they were gone. I hope you asked them to tell you stories about their life, and your life with them. I hope you asked them stories about the people you’ve never met. I hope you asked them for their best advice before you couldn’t anymore. I hope you told them you loved them, a million times over. I hope you still think of them often.

I hope you are still learning lessons, and still making mistakes. Because if you’re not, life is probably pretty boring. If you’re not learning lessons and making mistakes it’s probably because you’re not taking risks. If that’s the case, take more risks. Please. I don’t want you (well, me) to regret it down the line when it’s too late.

I’ll be seeing you.

Love,

Me