A letter from Apr 15, 2023

Dear FutureMe, My Dearest, As I write this letter to you, I am filled with both excitement and curiosity about the person I will become in the future. I wonder what adventures you have been on and what obstacles you have overcome since the time I'm writing this letter. Have you achieved your dreams? Have you found your purpose? Have you continued to learn and grow? Remember your favorite poem “The Road Not taken” by Robert Frost? I know there are times that you must choose paths that are difficult for you but at the end of the day, you will be fine. You have chosen a lot of things like if you want to keep people in your life- painful it is. Your mind has always been debating if you still want to contact your father, but you chose not to. I know that you have grew as a wiser and smarter woman, and understand that you can have your own feelings, you can keep away people that has not been so kind to you. Are you still a soft-spoken person? You were raised in a noisy environment, yet you barely speak even if you want to. At some point, I hope you already found your voice. Express yourself freely and boldly, don’t bottle them up. I also hope you've continued to push yourself out of your comfort zone, to try new things and explore different interests. Life is full of opportunities, and it's up to you to seize them. How are your emotions now? Do you still feel sad most of the time? Recall the time you read you read the book “I want to die but I want to eat ttaekbokki” by Baek Sehee. Once again, try recalling your favorite part of the book wherein it stated that you can be sad, but you’re alive and living through it. It’s okay to feel your emotions, and to cry it out. On the side note, it’s also fine to be happy and to feel at peace and to feel other types of emotion. Way back then, you punish yourself for being happy, as you feel like you don’t deserve it. We’re working on it now and I hope you wouldn’t do it again. If you would look back and me today, you would realize how hard we thrived with our program. Are you practicing the teaching profession now? Be kind to your students and think of their greatest good. Help them by imparting real knowledge and serve your purpose as an educator. If not, exploring other fields are fine as well, as long as you’re happy and enjoying the things you do. As long as you have accomplished the simple goals that will make you feel satisfied. If I would also advice you something, that is to tell your mother how much you love and appreciate her hard work. I have no strength to say it to her face now since we didn’t grow as a vocal person but I’m working on it, and I hope it will be easier for you too. Embrace and take care your inner child. If you’re already earning, treat the family outside and make them experience the things that they didn’t experience yet. Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and be brave enough to take risk, if you think it will be the best for you. Above all, be happy and take care of yourself.