New Age. New Resolutions.
Updated: Apr 30, 2023
On this very day, just a week ago, I sat across from my psychologist for our last session in the wellness facility I had been booked into for exactly fourteen days following a three-month struggle with anxiety. The day before, she had asked me to pen a letter to myself as my older self, and after the usual decencies of "how did you sleep" and "how are you feeling today" we delved right into reading the letter.
When I wrote the letter, I felt bouts of optimism resounding in my heart, my mind, and my body. It felt like the older me was proud of, the younger me. I smile as I remember the feeling when I thought about my future self. It was almost magical.
The letter went something like this:
Dear Rami,
Ten years ago, you sat with Dr. Mabasa, completing a transformational 14 days of inner work that you hadn't anticipated when walking in on day one.
I want you to know that all the steps you took after leaving were all worth it. Well done for standing your ground at work and putting yourself first. Well done for placing boundaries in your family and friendships. Well done for recognizing that you can't save everyone and that it's not your responsibility to do so.
I am proud of you for implementing discipline in your life, especially your health and studies. Look at how far it has brought you! You have now reached your professional and fitness goals that you thought were just a dream.
Well done for practising mindfulness and living in the present - not being anxious about a future you know nothing about and not regretting a past you have no power to change.
You are beautiful, brave, and smart, and your feelings matter. Remember always to put yourself first - this is what got you this far 10 years later.
Lots of love, Your Future-Self
And there we have my resolutions for this next phase of my life as I celebrate completing 28 years on this earth! Assertiveness, Boundaries, Consistency, and Mindfulness are the four things I will be exploring in this new season while trying to keep my mental health in great shape.
Like a school kid the night before a school trip, I am excited about what 28 has in store! Happy Birthday to me.
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