Dear Future Self

Dear FutureMe, I hope by this time you're something incredible. I'm 23 now and I have so many lofty goals for the future --- I hope you've attained most of them by now. Here's a brief list of the things you should have done by now. See how you match up: 1) Write a book. Remember, I wanted to write a book that would become at the very least a cultural phenomenon. 2) Become a teacher of philosophy. Not a hired teacher, mind you. Just remember how much you wanted a pupil, someone who wanted to take in your wisdom. Spread your wisdom, Future Self. 3) Move AWAY. If you're still in Canada, I'll shoot you. If you're still in Hamilton, I'll shoot you in the face. 4) Most importantly, you'd better be as passionate, as inspired and as happy as I am now. Never forget your beliefs. Question authority --- don't necessarily contradict it. Don't do anything you can't say you love. Pour your heart into your work. Half-ass everything else. 5) What about Jackie? At this point, our future together is vague at best. I want to give us some time apart -- substantial time apart. How did that turn out? Never forget those moments you had with her. Never ever forget that love you two shared. Do you remember when she ran from behind the deli counter and hugged you while crying? Just because she missed you, man. Don't forget that. If she's not in your life right now, GET HER BACK. 6) If you're in a braindead job right now, quit it. Give yourself a month or two to save up and then quit. If you're not writing or doing something inspirational, you HAVE to be. Never ever ever ever forget the passion you had in yourself at my age. 7) ADOPT. I hope you remember how seeing baby girls almost brings you to tears as my age. Adopt a girl. Treat her like a goddess. Don't forget how beautiful Lilly was. 8) Money... well, I'm sort of confused about money right now. I hate what it stands for, I despise the situations that arise from having it or not having it... but I sure do enjoy using it. If you HAVE it, put it to USE. Don't you dare try and save money, you jerk. Unless it's for a house, a car, something big/important. Other than that, give that money away. You don't need it. It's not real. You don't want it. 9) Always think about reality! Remember "The Holographic Universe" by Michael Talbot? That book awakened you. That book changed your life forever. You better have it somewhere. You better re-read it IMMEDIATELY. After you read it in the summer of 2006, you were never the same. And I hope you feel that way now, too. Question EVERYTHING. NEVER follow the norm. Never BE the norm! 10) Finally... love those around you. I know it's hard. In fact, I have trouble doing it now. But I feel something inside me slowly starting to do it. I feel like I'm changing so drastically. Please let this change be represented in you. I don't want all these feelings to be for nothing. Please don't let us turn out like those pussies who give up after 25. Don't let this just give in and call itself "a quarter life crisis"! This is something HUGE. I know it, and you should know it. You should be someone/thing amazing by now. If you're not, DO IT. Oh, and how's poker going? Remember when you won that $3000 online? Well, it was probably closer to 2500. Either way, you felt ontop of the world. If you haven't played in awhile, PLAY. It's fun. I wonder how much of a trip this is gonna be when you get this 10 years from now! Sincerely, You