Dear my younger self

    

    I just received the email from my 2024 self two weeks ago. 

    Every year, I write an email and set the time to send it to my one-year-older self. I have been doing that since about 2-3 years ago. This year, when I read the email from my younger self, I realized something, something that I've been told but never believed in: life has its own plan. I said that because what I am having currently is far different from what I ever thought about a year ago. And surprisingly, it is the best thing that happened to me.

    To continue my tradition, I am writing an email to my future self. Additionally, I have decided to write a message to my younger self, inspired by a poem by Jennae Cecelia about having coffee with her younger self on social media. 

    I met my 2021 self for coffee at 10 am.

    She showed up on time, and so was I.

    She ordered a black coffee, I ordered the same.

    She tried to cover her tired eyes, I told her it's okay, it's me.

    She asked if we could get our Master's degree. I said we did, but it took a bit longer, and not with the same supervisor.

    She asked if we were still following our dream, I answered yes, we are on another continent, pursuing our PhD degree.

    She was silent. I touched her hand. She cried.

    I told her things would be fine. And what happened was not as bad as we thought. 

    Sometimes, it is hard to understand the way life directs us to the right track. The sky is dark so we can clearly see the stars. Believe me, that is the better path. 

    I gave her a hug and said: "Be brave", before saying goodbye.

    The picture is of the 2021 me and the dog named Abai in the campus shelter. I hope my 2021 self can read this. But no matter what, she is strong, and I believe she can get through anything.