Dear Me,
This is you from the future. I am writing this letter as I am celebrating my, I mean, our 65th birthday. I decided to do this not to warn you of anything but to assure you that you are doing a good job.
Don't let recent setbacks change the way you are. By the time you have received this letter you are saddled with a lot of issues at work while being away from home. Yes, 23 years ago when we have started working abroad. These are the times when you are questioning why you are there. You are angry and sad. These are the times when you wanted to go home. You wanted to give up. Let me remind you that this is not how Papa and Mama raised you. You are always calm, slow to anger. You think straight, your emotions guide you and not overpower you. Always remember our mantra "this too shall pass." Just breath and everything will be alright.
At times you beat up yourself about leaving home to work abroad. You feel that you are not seeing your daughter grow up and that she needs a father. But don't worry, she will be fine, no let me correct that she will be great. The love that you give is enough even while you are away. Do not underestimate her, she is a bright kid. She will grow up to be a beautiful person inside and out. At times she needs to learn the lessons in life without you being there. She will learn embarrassment, she will know frustration, and sad as it seems, yes she will feel heartbreak. But this will make her stronger, this will help her grow up. This I assure you, you will be beside her when it matters the most.
And you know what? She will get married despite her telling you at her aunt's wedding that she will be forever single. She's funny thinking about that when she was 9 years old. And she will get married to (portion deleted by internet authority) OK, I'll stop there I still can't get over the shock myself but do treasure that moment when you walk her down the aisle.
Don't let recent setbacks change the way you are. By the time you have received this letter you are saddled with a lot of issues at work while being away from home. Yes, 23 years ago when we have started working abroad. These are the times when you are questioning why you are there. You are angry and sad. These are the times when you wanted to go home. You wanted to give up. Let me remind you that this is not how Papa and Mama raised you. You are always calm, slow to anger. You think straight, your emotions guide you and not overpower you. Always remember our mantra "this too shall pass." Just breath and everything will be alright.
At times you beat up yourself about leaving home to work abroad. You feel that you are not seeing your daughter grow up and that she needs a father. But don't worry, she will be fine, no let me correct that she will be great. The love that you give is enough even while you are away. Do not underestimate her, she is a bright kid. She will grow up to be a beautiful person inside and out. At times she needs to learn the lessons in life without you being there. She will learn embarrassment, she will know frustration, and sad as it seems, yes she will feel heartbreak. But this will make her stronger, this will help her grow up. This I assure you, you will be beside her when it matters the most.
And you know what? She will get married despite her telling you at her aunt's wedding that she will be forever single. She's funny thinking about that when she was 9 years old. And she will get married to (portion deleted by internet authority) OK, I'll stop there I still can't get over the shock myself but do treasure that moment when you walk her down the aisle.
And speaking of that little bringer of joy don't forget to thank your wife everyday for guiding her and molding her. For the sacrifice she does to keep it all together. Much of your daughter's personality comes from her. Don't forget to encourage her. Don't forget to assure her like I am assuring you now that everything would be fine. It is really difficult to raise a child by yourself but always remind her that she is not and will never be alone.
I got to go, they are calling me now to blow the candles in the cake. And by the way, appreciate your family and true friends both here and abroad they are still with us right now. I'll leave it up to you to determine who they are. Good friends are like durable pairs of shoes, no matter what the situation is they keep on walking with you. So enjoy the journey and don't forget to smell the flowers along the way. This is just the start of the rest of our life.
From Me
P.S. I don't think the internet police would mind this but do keep yourself healthy. It is not fun to have a bad (portion deleted by internet authority) at age 65.
I got to go, they are calling me now to blow the candles in the cake. And by the way, appreciate your family and true friends both here and abroad they are still with us right now. I'll leave it up to you to determine who they are. Good friends are like durable pairs of shoes, no matter what the situation is they keep on walking with you. So enjoy the journey and don't forget to smell the flowers along the way. This is just the start of the rest of our life.
From Me
P.S. I don't think the internet police would mind this but do keep yourself healthy. It is not fun to have a bad (portion deleted by internet authority) at age 65.
