Maybe I should do this one every five years!

In 2010, I wrote of clear idealism. In 2011, I wrote of ways to move on. In 2020, I wrote of ways to believe in myself.

Future Self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?)

Dear Jenn of 2030,

For some reason, so many people have been calling me wise this year. Each time it happens, I laugh it off, because I certainly could never describe myself like that when I was younger. I am now more jaded, more opinionated. But more confident, because I know what went wrong and am motivated to help others not make the same mistakes. I know that I told some people about what it meant to be diagnosed if they were going through some scares, about how to make sure that they’re not evicted, about how a personal injury lawsuit really is like. And of course, why I hate certain books.

For my future self, you might know all of this. You might even be wiser. But I guess, don’t lose that humility that you were once like me.

I also want to say: you got this. Because of all the horrible things that have happened that I couldn’t have anticipated a few years ago, it’s the fact that I keep going. I am keeping the dream. Keep your eye on the ball. I am not talking about the next medical appointment or the next big bill. I am talking about what you want your life to be.

You have always talked about being a writer. So keep doing it. Even if it means that you haven’t published a novel yet. Or got that memoir going. It’s because your voice deserves to be out in the world.

Or maybe in a parallel universe, you already are a parent. That very different world that I can’t imagine. Thinking of that from this standpoint, I would say without any experience whatsoever except on Instagram reels and the like, it doesn’t matter what people think. It only matters what you do and what you think.

Also why not write about it? And be that annoying person to skewer all those things.

By this point, you’re off the medication, I think? Fingers crossed for no recurrence. But whatever happens, know that you already have everything that you need to take care of it. You got this. As I did.

Dear Jenn of 2015,

Trumps wins. Twice. It’s as bad as it can be.

You don’t need to be a food writer. You can be the creative writer that you want to be.