Dear Future Self,

I would first like to say that I hope you are well. Secondly, I hope you are happy. What are you doing for work? Does it serve you or do you feel out of place? Whatever the answers may be, I wish you the best of luck for the future. But, I have some things on my mind that I want to tell you or ask you.

Did you stay in touch with all the people you said you would? Probably not. So, make an effort, reach out and say hi to those of your not-so-recent past. I hope you did stay in touch with your closest friends, though. They were good to you. I want you to be a good friend, a compassionate one.

Speaking of friends... who are your new buds? Are they friends from college or work or randoms you befriended at the farmers market? I would not be surprised if you chose the latter option; it's a very you thing to do. I expect you are making good decisions about the people you surround yourself with.

Oh, great, now I sound like mom and dad. But, they were right. I don't want you to get hurt because you knowingly choose the wrong crowd to be a part of. I wish that your friends are one of your best attributes and that they bring you joy even when you are disagreeing. I hope they encourage your passions, treat you well, have your back and most of all... go along with our rather random (some might call it "weird") self. You deserve friends that respect your choices but also push you to be your better self.

I must admit I'm really curious as to what you do for a living because right now things are very much undecided. Hopefully you got your shit together in somewhat of a timely manner. I am accepting of whatever you have decided to pursue, I have faith in you to choose the right path or choose the wrong one but recognize that it is not for us.

Did you make it back to Europe like we said we would? If not, please find time to go across the pond. I know how much you love the food, the people and the culture in Eastern Europe. Take some friends, or better yet maybe you went with friends? Either way have a great time and don't forget how much you love to explore and travel, it will help keep you young at heart. Plus, we just love it.

The bigger question on my mind is where are you living? If I had to guess I would say in a city. Suburbia and the countryside really aren't our thing, but hey who knows maybe you found something neat out in the sticks. Do you like where you live or is it too hot? Because that's a serious concern. We don't do well when it gets too toasty out. Do you live in a shamble? If so, that's okay. Do you have roommates? I feel like you would have to live with someone or something (maybe a dog or a pig?) because you like the company. Would I like where you live or will it take some getting used to? Sorry for all my questions I am just intrigued about your life or should I say my life in five years?

I'm oddly calm right now thinking about the future, but I'm going to take that as a good sign that I trust you. So all I can say to you, future me, is I hope you are smarter, wiser and opening to learning what's new. I would hate to see you confined to our own views and being our stubborn self when people we respect try to educate us. Listen. Listen to the people around you, listen to our family, listen to our soul. Don't succumb to the I'm too busy to think about myself lifestyle. Set time to learn who we are, we owe it to ourselves.

Yours Truly,

Sam from 2017