Dear twenty-something self

                Thank you. You have inspired me in more ways than I can even count. You made friendships so deep, they’ll never die. You chose selflessness and realized it was love. You bravely embraced new challenges like moving away from family. You sought out ways to learn and grow. You never gave up on your calling, even when it resulted in tears. You set goals and worked hard to meet them. You worked hard to discover what God meant when He said to love Him and love others.

                Thank you. You made memories that I can never forget. You went places I never thought I’d get to go. You laughed about silly things. You had dance parties and karaoke parties and TV show parties. You made cakes and cookies and koolaid just to have something to share with others. You took way too many pictures in an effort to capture every second. You went to weddings and graduations and delighted with your friends. You went on family vacations so epic, you’ll talk about them for years. You went to state fairs and zoos and baseball games and concerts.

                Thank you. You extended my family. You said yes to the boy who made you laugh. You chose to love him every day even when he drove you C.R.A.Z.Y. You prayed for him. You encouraged him when he just wanted to give up. You bought Yoda presents and listened to sports talk radio. You went on adventures together simply because you could. You brought home a stray cat. You chose to raise a family. You read every parenting book and blog. You simultaneously cut back on caffeine and sleep. You gave birth to a baby girl and stressed every day about doing it right. You played peek-a-boo and changed diapers and decided to do it all over again. You put your toddler on your burgeoning belly in order to maintain your bedtime routine of reading stories together. You gave birth to another girl and showed me what it means to expand your heart.

                Thank you. You chose life. Every day, you chose abundant life. You went on crazy adventures and followed your dreams. You made me grateful for my youth, my health, and my relative wealth. Your tenacious hold on living life to the fullest made me realize that age is just a way to measure the memories. You made me excited to enter the next phase. I am forever in your debt.

                Thank you, and goodbye. It was really nice to know you. I hope my thirty-something self is just as awesome.