A letter from Jul 1, 2022

Dear future me, Happy early 26th birthday! I am writing this as 22 (almost 23!) year old Macie. I have never liked the number 23. I don't like prime numbers very much, and 23 is especially prime to me. As you probably know, I like 24 (and 26!) better. Well, no need to think about numbers too much. I enjoy writing these emails to my future self and trying to sprinkle them into various milestones and ages. These emails/letters feel especially significant when sent around birthdays. I'll start by giving you a rundown of my current reality and what I am looking forward to in my 23rd year (well technically 24th year since you're 0 for a whole year??). Anyways, I have been working at Guidehouse for about 4 months now. I really like it. I have been working from my childhood bedroom which feels lame and is not a very motivating environment, but it's a free office space! I am looking forward to continuing to develop my career, and I am hoping to get a raise sometime to Senior Consultant during the next year, really aiming for Dec/Jan. Speaking of childhood bedroom, I still live at home (kinda). I have all my stuff at my house, but I sleep at Dennis's house most every night. It can be ****** at times but I think we are making the best of the situation. This has let me save up a whole bunch of money. I guess I can tell you since you already know this, but right now I have about $18,000 saved and it goes up with every paycheck. I have always liked to save money. I hope this next year I can continue to enjoy adult money coming in to my life, and maybe I can pay for a really nice trip somewhere. The money is going to slow down because soon I hope to be paying rent. I hope to be paying rent because I hope to be out of my parents house/Dennis's parents house. I spend probably too much time looking at fancy apartments in Southend Charlotte. I am so excited to have a place that Dennis and I can share, that is close to cool and fun city life, and that I can decorate to really make it my own. That is something that I REALLY hope happens in the next year of life, sooner rather than later. The last thing I'll touch on is Dennis. At this point, I think I could be getting proposed to at any point, but most likely sometime in the mid-fall once were moved into our apartment. I am excited to marry him. I think I am realizing more than ever that I do have some things to work on personally to make our relationship as good as it can be. Slightly off topic but I really want to go back to therapy. Anyways, I am really excited for our future. Moving in together officially soon, after half living with each other for years. Getting engaged. Planning a wedding! Having a wedding. Going on a cool honeymoon. On my current timeline I expect all those things to start happening soon (wedding in spring 2024!). Maybe you have already been married for a year and can reflect on this time when I was looking forward to getting engaged. Heck, maybe there is a kid in the mix or on the way, though that is not really what I have in mind for myself at the time being. I say all these hopes and dreams to you for a few reasons. I am sure I completed some of these, and maybe a few things didn't work out like I had planned. No matter what, I hope you can look back and be proud of yourself. Know that wherever you are right now, 22/23 year old is looking at you and smiling. Thinking about all the potential I have between now (23) and you (26) makes me so excited. I feel like birthdays have always been a little hard for you. High expectations that don't always live up to what you want or envision. Or just as sweet and great experiences that maybe don't feel flashy. Like your 21st birthday, I didn't have any special sign, I didn't go out to any clubs or bars. I just had a really good time with my family and with Dennis. We played drinking games on my back deck and my dad shot off fireworks just for me. I guess this is your reminder (and a reminder to me now) that birthdays have lots of expectations. The only thing that matters is feeling celebrated by the people that matter the most to you. Well this is a long email, and I am sure you have better things to do than sit around and read stuff 22 year old you wrote all day. I have to go listen to the song "22" by Taylor Swift on repeat while I still can. Sending you all my love, hopes, and fears, 22.9918 year old Macie :)