A letter from May 11th, 2020

Dear Future Laura, Hi! This is younger Laura of 2020. I am 19 years old and turning 20 in August (obviously.. you know my birthday). I am currently living at home with mom and dad as classes have moved online due to Corona. And while I am living with mom and dad, I am looking into options of van life and living sustainably. I am trying my hardest to live sustainable and well so you, my future, can have a future. My best friend is Emma Risdon. I am currently talking to Renz and I really enjoy him. He makes me laugh a lot. Mom and dad are good as well as all of the siblings. Michelle and Sheldon are engaged as well as Christopher and Tara. However, we don't know when their weddings will be. Crazy time! I am studying health and exercise science at CSU and I want to be a coach of track. It's something I really think would make me happy. I listen to a lot of Jon Bellion and Harry Styles. I think One Direction will get back together soon and if so, I would DIE. How cool would that be! I drink a lot of coffee, my favorite with a fair amount of vanilla cream. I love essential oils and candles and writing. I play guitar, but not as much as I should be. I also am trying to work out, grow my hair, and grow as much as I can in general right now. The whole world has been in a quarantine state for over a month now. Everything is closed. Mom lost her Fedex job at the beginning of it and immediately picked up a job at Home Depot. Dad is working for the satellite company or something. I am working at Fox Hill for my second summer and am going to pick up some type of night job when things open up a little more. Right now I'm just trying to make as much money as possible. Money is one of my greater worries. My questions for you: Have you moved out of Colorado? I know it can't be as easy as I hope it to be, but if you haven't get it going! The world is huge! Get out of Colorado please. How is everyone? How are you? How's mom and dad? How's Emma? Are you still friends? How many nieces/nephews do you have now? Is Melissa still doing Ironmans? Have you found more people you love? I mean, you give your heart so easily that of course you must have. But like, love. Are you in love? If not, don't rush it! Be happy with or without someone. Love is grand, but so are you. Did you graduate college? If you're 25 that means that you've been out for at least 2 years now. What is your job? Are you happy? Are you passionate about it? Are you changing any lives? \ Do you have a pet? Do you have plants? What's your living situation? How do you like to dress now? I'm trying to figure out a new style for myself as I grow up. I feel like I'm just changing so much. I think I just hope you are still trying to experience life as much as you can. Heartbreak, books, movies, beauty, hiking, traveling. Take the good and the bad with you. Experience EVERYTHING. Try new habits. Cook new foods. Love hard and never take it back when you are hurt. Keep your heart soft and kind. Give love away kindly. I have so many hopes and dreams for you. But most of all, I just hope you're happy. I wish we could talk more than in just letters. I wish we could go out for coffee and see all the beauty of us. My dreams and your actions. But future Laura, I trust you. I trust that you're working hard to make my dreams come true day by day. My last piece of advice is this: if you have to bet on anything, bet on yourself. If nobody is showing up for you, know that you will always show up for yourself. You are your own lottery ticket. Always believe in yourself. I love you so much. Please dream. Stay passionate. Stay joyful. Signed, Laura from the past.