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future starts now Manifesto

Dear Mia,

If I were to write this letter yesterday, I would have been out of ink and thoughts.

I know it does not seem like a New Year resolution so far, but do we have to stick to the script? 

Is it weird to refer to me and myself in the future as us, knowing that with every second passing we die and we are reborn as someone new, a different version of us shaped by the time. 

This year was not easy on you. But none before it ever was.

You stepped into 2024 with a messy luggage. Carrying insecurities, hesitation and fears.

You have been in and out of jobs you hated, struggled with unemployment and therefore started to doubt your skills and all your life choices. Indeed, the healthiest way to cope with failure.

Your hesitation costed you once in a lifetime job opportunity, but somehow you feel it's for the better.

You fought off old and new fears, but not for good.

You started dreaming of becoming a writer but the incoming email with the utility bills murdered that dream right there and then. But that's okay, because it was already on its deathbed after it has been made fun of by your mother, and after the first feedback from your friend.

Do I have to remind you that afterwards you felt crippled and useless, but mostly lost. And consequently, you once again kissed hello the anxiety and asthenia. The need to get up and do your best growing and the will do so hitting rock bottom. Crying while watching cartoons and losing sleep until the sunrise. 

Wash, rinse and repeat.

Perhaps writing this letter is my wake up call and a reminder for you to keep on the good work I have yet to start.

But it's so hard to keep up, you know? To be smart but not to make others feel inferior, to know what's going on around the globe but don't panic about the bad news, to be empathic but to be careful not to be used, to be a good friend but not to tell the truth that can hurt, to be supportive but to keep it real, to work hard but not to be a workaholic, to be a caring human but not to seem nosy, to be in the best physical shape, to watch the latest movies, to listen to the newest songs. 

These unrealistic standards were set by a brainwashed society and media for you to feel bad about yourself and your small achievements. And yet you are trying to stay in the race.

All these influencers that live the life they try to sell and all these followers that believe their life doesn't matter if it doesn't match their idols'. All these expectations from strangers, family, friends and lovers, but mostly from you are essentially poisoning a life worth living.

I know this is no news, not to you or other rational human-being. The reason I have to keep reminding you something you already know is that from time to time you have a short circuit and the system is down in flames and you are Sponge Bob on fire trying to save work files meme. And this reality is the fire extinguisher you need. You're welcome.

Simultaneously with trying to be enough strikes the urge of finding a reason to do so. Our world falls into pieces and loses its mind but you have to keep yours intact. We are stuck in this cyclical ride and have to make the most of it.

It is easy to get lost and walk away from dreams and hopes. And you must celebrate your will and effort of making a difference even if the outcome does not match the yield you have strived for.

You don't need a resolution and you don't need a reminder of the past. All you need is to remember that you are always one choice away from the life you want and that life is all about the journey not the destination. The future starts now.

Yours faithfully,

Yourself from the past

P.s. You can always be miserable, so please, choose to be happy instead.