A letter from Sep 12th, 2021

Dear FutureMe, Happy 40th! Wow, your 30s was a wild ride, wasn't it? I hope that whatever you're doing, you're finding the joy in the every day. Even when things are a little ****. Even when your children (four legged or actual human children) are being little *****. I really hope you're still married (still can't believe we actually got married) as Kay is the absolute best human. If by any chance you're not married, I hope you're absolutely bossing that whole co-parenting malarkey. Oh it's so weird sending a letter so far into the future. Normally we only send a letter year ahead. But today I've challenged myself to go further. 4-and-a-bit years isn't super far away in the scheme of things, but for a woman who NEVER plans ahead, it's pretty mega. I hope you're a person who sets goals. I hope you know your worth. I hope you never lose your childlike spark. I hope you nurture yourself and waste not a single **** on things that don't nurture you back. I hope the world isn't on fire. I hope the Tories aren't still in power. I hope Pepper is still alive. I hope our parents are still alive. I hope for so many things for you, even if you don't feel real to me. You're out there somewhere and you've survived. You're 40 and I heard your 40s are a really great decade. You're powerful. You're strong. You're beautiful. Not in a "she's pretty fit for a 40-year-old" kind of way. Beautiful as in you're full of beauty. Life may have buffed and bruised you and cracked the surface, but inside you're a ******* diamond. Never lose that sparkle. Okay, didn't expect that to turn into a pep talk. Maybe this is more a letter for 35-year-old Laura, who's currently sitting here with a rotten cold feeling anything but a powerful, shiny diamond. Whatever, my final hope is that I've made you smile today. Happy birthday, beautiful.