A letter from Dec 29, 2025

Dear FutureMe, You may feel unlovable, but you're not. Maybe romantic love isn't for you, but you have friends who love you, family who love you, and so many other people who love you. I know it doesn't feel good not to be chosen, but what's worse is settling for someone who doesn't treat you the way you deserve. Think of how much you love your apartment, your cats, eating chinese food on the couch and watching tv, spending weekends with Emily, planning parties with Abbey, running errands with Gio, having dinner with your mom, talking to your grandpa, sharing baking and cooking tips with your aunt, and the list goes on and on and on. Think of how much love you have for others. How no matter how much time has passed, still cry when you visit grandma and uncle marks grave. How you care about the students you work with. How you will do everything in your power to take care of your cats, rather than do something fun with the extra grant money you got, you used it to get Pumpkins teeth fixed. Think of how much love you have for yourself!!! If you didn't love yourself, you wouldn't have admitted you needed help and hired cleaners to get back on your feet. You wouldn't take yourself to the doctor when something isn't right. You wouldn't take care of your hygiene and appearance. It's not fair that romantic love hasn't found you yet because I know how desperately you want it. But the fact that you haven't settled shows how much you love and respect yourself. Don't forget that. I know the days are getting harder, your heart is heavier, your tears seem endless, and the loneliness feels unbearable, but you are still here. I know it feels like you can't survive another heartbreak, but you've survived everything that's ever been thrown at you. I know it's not fair, you deserve a softer life. You are working towards that softer life. You will have that softer life, just keep choosing yourself. Don't forget that there is so much love everywhere, and how fortunate you have been to see it. I love you.