A letter from Oct 17th, 2021

Dear FutureMe, I wonder why everyone always expects so highly of the future. We all think that our problems, our issues, our own evils, will all disappear with the passage of time. Is it hopefulness to cope with the harsh realities of today? Or is it just wishful thinking? Maybe this is overly optimistic for us to think that after these struggles of today, we all emerge to be stronger, better and happier. That maybe, all of this is for the ultimate good. Maybe we want to believe that all our problems would fix themselves with the passage of time, which is by nature, involuntary and does not require any intiative from our side, like taking the easy way out? But we often seem to not take into consideration, the fact that today, was yesterday's tomorrow. And well, news flash, it isn't remotely better than yesterday was. Then why do we expect everything to flip over all of a sudden when we think about tomorrow? Or maybe, the future is indeed better than the past but the expectations we set for the future, make us forget to count our blessings? So we keep comparing the plans we had for the future to the realities we live in, and thus we become more dissatisfied? Maybe its true that nostalgia is a liar, and things often appear more rosy when the storm has passed. Sometimes, I don't mind nostalgia lying to me. I get refuge in knowing that, well, at least sometime in life I was okay, I was safe and happy. But again, that realisation is quickly coupled with a bunch of other thoughts that are not so positive. So today, when I'm writing to you, I don't want to place any expectations on you. I don't want to know whether you've accomplished x or y, I just want to know that you're existing, and willingly existing. I don't want you to feel miserable when you realise you have/haven't accomplished everything 2021 me wanted you to have. Because 2021 me was probably using these expectations to cope with the harsh today. But yes, 2021 me also realises that for things to change for the better, there's much more than just passage of time that is needed. More variables in the picture. One thing I do expect from you, is that you're alive. That you've not given up on life itself. That you're willing to see the wonders that life holds, even if you don't get to experience them today. Infact, I actually do want you to be hopeful of the future, and confident in yourself. Whenever life kicks you in the ***, I hope you still get up and, purely out of spite, kick life back in the ***. I hope you're not attaching your reason to live to a person or a profession. I hope its just something within you. I hope you don't see your rational self always in conflict with your emotional self. That you're in harmony with all the aspects of your being. I just hope, that you're there. Just you, being yourself everyday, and unapologetically so. I wish you all the happiness, knowledge and contentment of this world. I'm fighting hard for you each day and I will never stop doing so. Because, I know you're worth it, and I know you're deserving of all the love there is. P.S. write an 'epilogue' to this maybe? and forward this for more 5 years ahead.