Dear Future:

Two words come to mind when I hear your name: terrifying and exciting. It’s a confusing concept to think about really. I’m terrified because I do not know what you hold, and the unknown can be sometimes scary. Yet, I’m also very excited because I do not know what you hold; it’s like a surprise, and I really do like surprises. I think about you often and hope that you line up with all my boards on Pinterest. I’d like to think I have you all planned out. However, if I’m being honest with myself, I can sit here and imagine what you’ll be like all I want, but I will never truly know you. You’re kind of like the person that I occasionally see walking down the sidewalk that I sometimes choose to acknowledge.

I have so many questions in mind when I think about you. Will I graduate? Will I still have the same friends that I have now? Will I look the same in twenty years that I do now? Will I be married? Will I have children? Will I have a successful career? How many animals will I own? Do I still live in the same state or do I get to travel to new and exciting places? What will I end up regretting? Do I live past seventy-five? The list could go on and on and on. When it comes to the answers to these questions, the possibilities are endless. I look forward to getting these answers though, because I’m almost positive that some questions I have will have surprising answers to go with them.

Right now I’m a junior in college, just trying to take each day one step at a time, yet you always creep up in the back of my mind. The day that I will enter the “real world” gets closer with every second. I do not know what these next few hours holds, let alone next year. So yes, while your many unknowns terrify me and stress me out to no end, I welcome them with anticipation. I welcome you with excitement and optimism because the possibilities could be endless. And no matter what comes into my life, one thing is certain: I will always be surrounded by people who love me unconditionally, and that will always be enough.

So, yes, I’m terrified of you. I’m terrified because I know there’ll be tears, sadness, and painful moments that I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. These moments in life are unavoidable. Life will not always be easy, and it will never be that way for anyone. However, I’m so unbelievably excited for you. Because I know with those moments of sadness, grief, and pain, there’ll be ones of happiness and joy. Life can be a bit of a storm, but my future looks bright. I can’t wait to see what you bring into my life. But until that moment, I’ll just keep pinning, imagining, and questioning, hoping for the best to come.