A letter from July 7th, 2019

Dear Di, Wow! Today, a day in the past, you received a letter from yourself from four years prior. You were a teen, you were just a bit naive, but you were wise. You still are wise - I think. In the letter you wrote about life at 17, and how the people around you (one person in particular) has impacted you in a way you can't even describe. To answer 17-year-old Diana's question, you do remember him. You were once in love, but that love turned into one of your best friendships of life. You've talked to him many times after letting him go, you've visited him in London, you've maintained a mutual respect and admiration for each other. The only difference is that you do not love him anymore. Not the way you did at 17. The funny part is that although you thought he would be the only person who truly understood you - who truly loved you - you were wrong. He means nothing to you now. Nothing like before. Also, you made the right decision. Currently, you're in your last year of university and it has been the most incredible (elating yet heart-wrenching, constructive, and even de-constructive) experience. You've pulled all-nighters, you've drank yourself to sleep a few times, you've made friends and lost friends... lost yourself and then found yourself again. You've gotten your first C grade, it was brutal. You have also gotten straight A's for a few semesters too. You've created some incredible work, not by your own standard but by others'. You've learned so many new skills within your practice and gained the ability to think critically with every new project. Deadlines hit you hard, but you persevered no matter how difficult of a position you've found yourself in. You still procrastinate though - gotta work on that. Nevertheless, I'm still proud. You scored your first job within your career path at 18. And you didn't even consider it a "job" because it was a pleasure being there. You bought your first car at 19, a Mazda 3. Now it's your baby. You've dated, dated, dated. A lot of people are trash but there have been a few that really turned your world around. They came like a whirlwind. And that is how they left. Those people are no longer in your life but you're grateful for them. At 20, now, we are caught up. And you're engaged. Dear almost-24-year-old Diana, I hope you're planning your wedding now because it's been some time since he asked. If you remember, he never really formally got down on one knee because both of you knew - and you've talked about it day-in and day-out. He asks you to marry him every day, and you say yes. Every day. He has been the biggest pleasure to have around, and you've gone through so many rough times in life, together (and are ready to have him there for many more). Although in the past you didn't think you could find a love as strong as the one you had to let go of at 17, you finally have. And it's so much better. It's like... You want to invent new ways to tell him you love him because no word in the dictionary can ever begin to explain it. But you've also never read the entire dictionary so what do you know? I hope you've bought a house or are working towards it. I'm curious to see where you're going to end up. If no house, maybe travel for a few years? I don't know. Life is whatever you want to do with it, and every one has a different path. I know sometimes you get a bit down because you feel like you're missing out on some things - but trust me, there is no formula to life. You can't calculate a "path" or "direction". It isn't calculus. Lastly, please don't have kids yet. Live your life for a little while longer. Remember, I'll always love you. No matter what. See you in 3! Di.