A letter from Dec 24th, 2021

dear future me... i love you. i always have even though at times i would beat myself up about how i looked or the reflection in the mirror. i've always loved the way you laugh differently every single time, the way you smile when something funny happens, the way your freckles appear in the summer and your hair gets natural highlights, and in the winter when your freckles slowly disappear or your hair becomes darker. i love the way you would overshare with everyone, how you'd tell people you just met all about yourself and what happened during your day, and how you'd always be open and happy to make new friends. i love the way you would stay up extra late to talk to your best friend lauren who's two hours behind, how you'd answer almost every single facetime call no matter what, and how you'd send groupchats or people random tiktoks you laugh/cry at or think relate to them. i love the way you are perfectly yourself, and even though you couldn't see it, the little part inside of me always told me that. the little part inside of the me that always gave me self confidence on a bad hair day, the little part in me that gave me laughter when all i wanted to do was cry, the little part of me that made me get out of bed or clean when all i wanted to do was stay in my bed in 3 day old pajama. the little part that kept me going even when i didn't feel like i could anymore. i love you, and all the flaws that make you beautiful. after reading this, i hope you write a new one, but not about how present you was going through so much with so little confidence. i want it to thank everyone in your life that helped you through this, but most importantly, i want it to be a thank you letter to yourself. thank yourself for pushing yourself through your tough times. God loves you.