Dear future Leah,

I hope you look back on this past year, your first year out of college, your first year truly living on your own, your first year as a member of the working world, and remember it fondly. I hope you remember all of the good times…

But I hope you remember the lessons you learned also. I hope you remember how much you grew, and changed, in that year. I hope you remember that you are an introvert, through and through. You love to be around people that you care about, but you draw your strength and rest from time spent reading, catching up on blogs, going for a run, or just being solitary.

I hope you remember that you are strong and capable, and self-sufficient. You know how to clean a house top to bottom, and how to cook dinner for two – or for twenty. You know how to bake the perfect hostess gift, and you understand the value of a good thank-you note. Remember that even though you don’t necessarily enjoy talking on the phone, you enjoy the friendships that you maintain through staying in touch with people.

I hope you remember what it is like to be young and carefree, to have no one to answer to but yourself, to do the things that make you happy and to enjoy life’s little pleasures. Future Leah, I hope that life still challenges you, and surprises you, and makes you laugh and cry and curse and stammer in awe at the wonder of it all. I hope that you are as inspired and as happy as I am now, and I hope that you never take this for granted.

Oh, and I hope know that you still love chocolate. I just hope that you still let yourself enjoy it. Because life is too short not to enjoy dessert!

Love,
2012 Leah