A letter from September 25th, 2020

Dear FutureMe, The name of your first pet was Bonnie. Your first crush was Rachel. Your favourite car back in the day was a Subaru BRZ. And finally, you can $&%# off on Geneva. Now that you know for certain that it is me writing this and not some spam in your inbox (since you very likely won't remember writing this letter 5 years ago), let's continue; I am writing this letter today after receiving a letter I had written to myself 5 years ago to this date. At the time I must have thought that it would be interesting to hear from myself from the past and get a good laugh from it, but little did I know that that letter would come to me at the exact point in time I needed it. As I expected, a lot had changed between those five years, yet I was nearly brought to tears when I read the ending of the letter. While the first part was nothing short of a series of crude jokes (thankfully I have developed a much better sense of dignity at this current point in time... well, when it comes to acquaintances and co-workers anyways...), the ending revealed something to me that I was not able to realize by myself... I was right where I needed to be, and I needed to hear that the most on that day after praying yesterday for God to send someone that could relate to me and help me on my continuing journey. That's why I am writing this letter now; in hopes that maybe it will accomplish for you what the letter I received today accomplished for myself. So let's begin. The date is September 25, 2020. I am currently a graduate of Brock University in two degrees; Film Studies, and Bachelor's of Education. However, this year has also been one of the most challenging years of my life. Not only because I am finally finished with school (as far as I know), but also because I graduated at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The early months of the pandemic went by like a blur. I spent the time mostly watching movies and anime, playing games, doing chores, and looking up the "recent" statistics of the spread of the virus. In early May, however, I was able to get referred by my friend Emmanuel Russell to a job at Home Depot. I got the job the same day of the interview, and was trained to become a Lot Associate. The first month was nothing short of pain, but thankfully it was pain that is long forgotten by now. Breaking into new steel-toe boots and losing two big toe nails from the pressure and stress my feet were under from walking 30,000+ steps a day was torturous. That, and that year would just so happen to be the hottest summer our city of St. Catharines had ever had. I definitely never saw myself as someone who would work at Home Depot. I truly thought that straight out of University that I would be able to find a fulfilling, full-time job that paid living wage with benefits, and be able to move out of my father's house in a few years. Yet for what it is right now, it is exactly what I need. While the job at its base is minimum wage shift work, it is still very fulfilling as it allows me to help others, I have wonderful co-workers that I get along with very well (even others my age that I can interact with as if I'm back in University), and at the end of every day I come home fulfilled knowing that I did my part to earn my free time off and enjoy my leisurely time. By the way, one of the things I still enjoy to do in my leisurely time after work is watch the latest episodes of the day for the anime that I'm following. Just yesterday I finished watching the final episode of My Teen Rom-Com SNAFU, and today after writing this letter I plan on watching the final episode of Rent-A-Girlfriend. Feeling nostalgic yet? Maybe I no longer continue to watch anime, and very likely have forgotten the names of these shows by now. But that is fine. Much can change in 5 years, after all. Now, with that being said, back to my current position; While this path in life was for certain not my first choice, I can say with absolute confidence (especially after much prayer, guidance, and reading the letter from 5 years ago today), that I am exactly where I need to be right now. I have everything I ever wanted; including the many things I never knew I wanted. So what have I become in the future? What kind of man did I turn out to be? Do I still continue to place my faith in God and come to a deeper understanding of how much He loves me? Do I still continue to think too much about the past and future? Do I still have friendships that I would never want to lose for as long as I live? Have I fallen in love with a wonderful person and treat them well every day? Have I found work elsewhere that allows me to enjoy my life to the fullest and fulfills me? What I want to tell you the most is that no matter where you are now in this point in life, that everything is okay. You have done very well to make it this far in your life and to continue striving towards the ideals and truths you hold dear to your heart. I know that I have done this without even knowing what happens 5 years from now is because it is me, and because no matter who you are or what you have done, God has not given up on you or forgotten about you. Our lives on this Earth are short, after all, and will feel like the blink of an eye when our time to leave has come. So no matter what has happened, or what will come ahead, you will have everything you will need to make it through. I have so much faith in this truth. With that, there is nothing more for me to say. I know that while reading this I will know that I sound nothing like this when speaking in person (maybe even now this is the truth), but I know that I was able to still pour out the deepest thoughts and desires of my heart and soul into this letter regardless. Godspeed, future me. Viktor Kyrylo Szpika