A letter from the past | Consuming Happiness Spring 2023 Letter to the Future

Dear Future Me, First off, you are a dawg! Now for the real letter my guy. As I wrap up my Consuming Happiness course at 21 years old in the fall of 2023, I’m taking stock of my core relationships - my mom and two siblings. This semester has taught me so much about avoiding the traps of comparison and consumerism in order to nurture genuine bonds with those I love most. The main ideas I want to carry with me center around tuning out social media’s distorted ideals, showing up fully present for quality time with family, and expressing gratitude for our connection as the years pass. Tuning Out Social Media Distortions As a 21-year-old, it’s so easy to fall down internet rabbit holes and compare my behind-the-scenes life to others’ carefully curated highlights reels. Yet when I catch myself feeling envious, I’m learning to lean into gratitude for what I do have instead of what I lack. My social media feeds don’t show my mom’s daily sacrifices for our family or the belly laughs my siblings and I share. No filter can capture the unconditional love we have. Being Truly Present I used to only half-listen as my family told stories over dinner while scrolling on my phone. Now I know how much more I gain by being fully engaged - I learn more about my siblings’ worlds, and forge tighter bonds with my wise mom. By truly listening, laughing, and sharing experiences without distraction, our relationships blossom. Presence matters so much more than material things when it comes to love. Expressing Small Appreciations This course also woke me up to just how often I took my family for granted and failed to express how much they mean to me day-to-day. I don’t need to save affection just for birthdays and holidays. Finding small ways to say “I love you” through hugs, making mom’s morning coffee just how she likes it, or telling my brother I’m proud of him make all the difference. Gratitude glues relationships together. My hope for 2026 is to have guarded sacred time for my family amidst early adulthood busyness. May this letter nudge my future self to live by the Consuming Happiness insights that guide me to nurture bonds with those who matter most. Stay close, Ari Kleiman 11 December, 2023