Here We Are

Dear Present Self,

It's okay to feel bored, to feel unchallenged. It's not a sign of not growing. It's a signal that you can take things slowly and as cliche as it may sound, have the time to smell the flowers. Don't look for a new job yet, enjoy the current one. Embrace the whole experience. Boredom is part of existence and it's okay to feel like you are too small to change the world. And maybe still young to do something great.

You say you want a job in advertising. Start now. Organise your portfolio. Who cares if that's going to contain some mediocre works, some time, someday, you'll get that dream copywriting job and you'll know that it's not about having a Pencil or a Lion. It's about being satisfied and proud about your work.

You say you want to travel the world, start now. Go to the embassy at the soonest possible time to renew your passport, book those air tickets. You have lots of friends who would like to be travel buddies with you. Muster enough courage to ride a bus or train alone, you'll be fine. It's not about the destination, it's about what you have achieved while going there. Someday you'll find the perfect travel partner who will be there for you all the time. Someone you can drag no matter how frivolous the trip is or how long it would take to travel. But until you find that perfect travel partner, explore the world alone. It's not as scary as it sounds. You have the guts to transfer to Singapore alone, why not travel alone? You can do it, just do it.

Please take the OCness a notch down. January is five months away, don't fret. The perfect job will come, the perfect working environment will come. I know you want to transfer to another city in the world for your next job, but what if Singapore offers something great, too? Or even greater? What if there's something in store for you here if you stay just a bit longer? Consider the 'what ifs', then decide.

Should you decide to go back home and look for a job in Manila, I'm sure your parents will respect your decision. If, deep in your heart, that's what you really want to do, then do so. Stop thinking of how much money you can earn abroad or that some people might say that you are wasting the opportunity that might come your way here. If you want to be in Batangas and experience Makati life once more, then go back. But you know the heavy traffic and the economic situation waiting for you there. Just be ready for everything.

Present Self, I love you for who you are. For how immature and childish you could be sometimes. For being young and idealistic. For surviving in a foreign country and how grown-up that sounds. For thinking about your family first before yourself. For being true to what you want, what you need and what you really want to pursue in life. For knowing that there are unexpected things that will come your way and the best thing to do is accept them. Don't be afraid to experiment on things you haven't done before. Risk. Eat something beyond the usual. Get out of your comfort zones. Run and be free. Do not be afraid to love. You are blessed with parents and siblings who support you all the way. You are blessed with friends who are there for you no matter what. You're a blessed girl and be thankful for that.

Live in the here and now. Plan about the future, but don't be such a worrywart. Yes, it's okay to write some emo stuff like this once in a while. Just don't overdo it and you might sound like a Maalaala Mo Kaya letter and I bet you don't like that.

Just be true to yourself and you'll be okay.



Love,
Nelly