From Future Me:

Dear ‘Past Me’,

Think of this as a safety blanket. Comforting words to keep in mind while you venture out into the world- and trust me. You will venture.

You will see the world, invest in it. You will make small change, effective change. You will retain your passion for your craft and some people will love you for it. So do not be afraid. Remember that thing you wanted to do when you were 25? Do it. It will change you.

You will not miss the static routine of your daily life. I know you cling to it now, but I know you don’t enjoy it. You don’t enjoy the daily grind, being bossed around, the same thing day in and day out. You will not miss bending over backwards for people who do not put in as much you do.  You will not miss the people who told you to stay because of their own insecurities. You stay in touch, naturally- but you do not miss their pessimism and paranoia. Revel in the fact that you are now the one they are jealous of and not the other way around.

You will miss the smell of Mom’s baking, and sitting next to your brother during snowy days playing video games. You will miss being close to them and even miss arguing with them in person. Virtual holographs just aren’t the same. The smell of clean laundry you will also miss. That’s not to say there isn’t clean laundry now, of course there is silly– but it doesn’t smell the same. You will also miss your cat, we both know he wasn’t going to live forever– but he was every definition of the work ‘yours’. You will miss him sleeping on your chest every night and you will miss how he sat on the desk next to you. You will even miss the way he chewed on plastic to let you know he was hungry. Yes, you will even miss that.

You will not miss any of the things you think are important, because the things you think are important now aren’t quite as important as they should be. You will not miss being kept down.

You will not miss them because one day you are going to wake up, and open your eyes to the ceiling. It’s white- and the sunlight and fresh breeze are coming through the open window. You will smell eggs in a basket being cooked in the kitchen- and you will walk into it, through your small, but incredibly cozy apartment and see him there. That moment, every morning, will be so amazing. Breakfast is normally quiet, as you check your email from work and read the news. He’s sitting across from you- probably on his own laptop reading the latest news. It’s that comfortable quiet, neither of you have to say anything at all.

Your commute to work isn’t terribly long, and always worth it. Headphones delivering music to your ears as you watch the city. The building always stay the same, but it’s the people that are interesting to watch. Jotting notes down on your phone- you may use something for a character design later on. Work is always work, but you will enjoy every minute of it. Collaborating with others, creating, writing- designing. You found a job that appreciates your talents and unique view, and then you get to share your passion with the world. No one makes fun of you for it, which I can honestly say is one of the best things- and then you get to share your vision with the world.

Home is back to that small little apartment. He’s sitting at his computer desk- and after a moment gets up to greet you.

It is, for lack of a better term- simply perfect.