Dear Future Self,

Do you remember when you wrote this? You were sitting at the desk in your bedroom, listening to the rain patter down outside. You were a junior in high school, dreaming of your future.

That's where I am right now.

Where are you now?

I hope you're somewhere really great.

Did you go to college where I want to go?

I hope you did.

I hope you had the time of your life in college, but I hope you worked hard too.

Did law school work out?

Where are you working?

What are you doing?

Do you still talk to your high school friends?

You know everything about me, and I know nothing about you. I know what I want you to be and who I want you to be, but we don't always get what we want.

And, you know what...that's okay.

Maybe you found a different path.

Maybe you're in victim services or law, like you wanted when you were me. Or maybe you suddenly had the realization that you love math and want to spend the rest of your life solving equations. But if that happens, please send some skills back to me, your past self, because come on you remember the struggles of math tests. (And to be fair, you wouldn't be you without being me first.)

I hope you're happy. I hope you're in a city, doing the job you love. I hope you go home at night to a cozy apartment. And I hope that somehow in the midst of a crazy city, you find a way to ride, because I never want to give that up.

Or maybe, you're sitting in the exact spot I am sitting in now. Maybe you're at home, where you grew up as me. Maybe you're sitting in the same desk chair I'm sitting in right now. The chair you've had forever, that you sat in every day to tackle your mountain of homework.

Are you back for a visit, or are you back home to stay?

Wherever you are, that's where you belong. (I hope the road there wasn't too taxing.)

Love,

Your High School Self.