Meeting My Younger Self for Coffee

Some self-reflections on a Friday morning...

Hello dear friend,

I met my younger self for coffee today.

She was 10 minutes late.

I was 10 minutes early to spend some time with myself before she arrives.

She ordered a cappuccino with extra cream.

I just had a glass of water because we don't do caffeine anymore.

She told me she wants to travel but doesn't know if her lifestyle will allow her.

I tell her we've been to 8 countries - all self-financed - and will go to our 9th soon.

She asked me if we'll get into our dream job.

I told her no, we'll fail, but we'll get into something bigger than a job. That we'll create jobs for other people while creating value for strangers across the globe.

She told me she's unsure if the boy she's in love with loves her back.

I told her it doesn't matter, because now, we love ourselves so much, we don't need validation from a boy.

She felt lonely.

I told her we go on solo trips all the time and love it.

She told me she's unsure if her hard work will ever pay off.

I told her that it will. In ways she can never imagine.

As we stood to leave, she told me she's proud of us.

I told her this life is possible only because she didn't give up.

I told her she's stronger than she knows.

She smiles, like she needed to hear this.

I hope I'll meet her again in another 10 years.