A Letter to My 2035

Dear Future Me,

As I sit here in 2024, writing this letter to you in 2035, I can't help but feel a swirl of emotions—hope, fear, excitement, and curiosity. I wonder what life is like for you now. Are you happy? Did you achieve all the dreams we once spoke of? Do you remember me—this version of you from eleven years ago—filled with so many uncertainties but also so much potential?

Today, it seems like the world is simultaneously very fast and very slow. Technology is zooming ahead at lightning speed; the world is changing by the day, but for me, my journey feels only just begun. I still don't know who I am, what I want, or where I am going. I envision you in 2035, having some of those answers. Or perhaps, like me, still searching. And that is okay too.

The Dreams We Once Had

Do you remember the dreams we had? Maybe we did not pursue each of them, but hopefully you remained faithful to what was real. Do you recall the time when we told each other we were going to see the world? See places way beyond our imaginations? By now, I should have taken you through ancient streets in Rome, let you see the Northern Lights of Norway, and placed you before the pyramids of Egypt. I hope you should have felt the excitement of adventure, the one that gives you the feel of living.

But more than the places, I hope you've learned to find joy in the simple things—the quiet moments, the small victories, the connections with people. I hope you've lived a life that's full of meaning, not just filled with milestones. Remember, we always said that happiness isn't about ticking off a checklist but about savoring every moment, even the mundane ones.

The Challenges We Overcame

I know life hasn't been easy. It never is. Yet, for all its harsh demands and the heavy liftings, I want you to remember that those hard times do not define us; they shape us. There were moments I didn't think I'd make it. Times when the weight of the world felt unbearable, and the path forward seemed impossible to see. But we got through it, didn't we?

I pray you glance back and see that each and every one of the struggles was worth it. That every tear, every sleepless night, every doubt led us to where you are now. I pray you have learned to forgive yourself for the mistakes, for the moments of weakness, and for the times when you didn't live up to your own expectations. We are human, after all.

The People We Loved

How are they, the people we hold so dear? Are they still by your side, or have some drifted away, as life often takes us in different directions? I hope you’ve loved fiercely, without holding back. I hope you’ve stayed close to family, cherished your friends, and found someone who loves you for exactly who you are, flaws and all.

Remember when we said we wouldn’t take anyone for granted? Hope you can at least say that's something you maintained: how quick life is and forgetting at one point or another to speak to people how much they mean to you. By the time 2035 gets here, I hope it's been lived in regard to love and relationships; if anyone's passed away, I hope it is so the memory is peaceful and maybe new people have entered to bring joy and light to their lives.

The Future That Awaits

As I write this, I don't know what the world will look like in 2035. Will technology have taken over more than we imagined? Will we have solved some of the problems we face today, or will new challenges have emerged? Whatever the case, I hope you face the future with the same optimism and courage we've always had.

I know things won't always be easy, but if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that you've become a stronger, wiser, and more compassionate person than I am today. So keep believing in yourself, keep dreaming, and keep fighting for the life we always wanted.

With love and hope,

Your 2024 Self