Dated: February 2021

Hi Aimee,

I hope you’re having fun and enjoying life.

I don’t want to scare you but soon the world you know is going to look very different: it’ll be a while before things go back to normal.

I know you’re busy with uni work and socialising with your friends but promise me something; promise me you’ll take every opportunity to see your friends, to live your life to the fullest. I know you might be hungover but go on that night out anyway, make the memories while you can.

When you see your friends hug them a bit tighter – you don’t know when you’ll be able to do that again. Tell them how much you love them. Shower them in love, and let them do the same back. In a year’s time you’re going to need all the love you can get.

Please don’t be sad – there is nothing you can do to change how this year is going to pan out. Just keep yourself focused and understand that sometimes things are out of your control. Go with the flow but don’t lose sight of who you are and what you want. There is going to be a lot of time to think and reflect in the next year so don’t waste your precious moments alone with your thoughts, get out into the world.

The only thing you can do is make the most of the life you are living. Do it all. Do everything you can. Say yes to the nights that could turn out awful, because they could just as easily turn out to be wonderful.

The coming weeks are going to be filled with a lot of lasts: your last lecture, your last night out, the last time you see some of these people. You always knew there wasn’t room for everyone in your post uni life, so you probably will leave some people behind. Though they won’t all become strangers, going from seeing each other every week to messaging twice a year is just something that happens when you get older.

But some of these goodbyes will be the last ones, and it’s probably better that way. Say goodbye and be sad if you need to be, but don’t dwell on these moments.

And for god’s sake put yourself first. Seriously, start doing things for you because you are the most important person in your life. The sooner you give yourself credit for how truly amazing you are, the sooner you will realise that you matter the most. Stop putting up with other people’s shit. Let go of the people who just make you unhappy or angry. Do less of what you hate and more of what you love.

Be the best version of yourself, I’m rooting for you.

You’re going to get through this.

Sending you the biggest hug,

Aimee x

Image courtesy of Annie Spratt.