I recently found a poem I wrote in January 2015 based on this prompt: "Write a letter to yourself to be read on a future birthday." This was winter of my senior year of high school. I think this is a unique perspective, and I'm really glad I wrote this piece because I would never have remembered feeling this way.

Dear Future Self:
Another birthday, another year of life
And yet, you're only a day older
than you were yesterday.
Now is not too late to start again,
To do the thing, whatever it is.
Please always remember the joy that comes from
exploring in the woods,
staring at the stars, and
admiring the colors of the sky.
Please take time to read a fluffy book,
and keep up with YA lit,
but also read more Austen.
Please remember your 17-year old self
who wanted nothing more in life
than to be happy without depending on others
and to have a small apartment with twinkle lights.
I know it’s cliche, but always follow your heart,
even if your heart ends up being different from mine.

I wrote this next poem in September 2016 as a response to the 17-year old me who wrote the previous poem.

Dear Past Self:
Birthdays might be arbitrary,
But your growth has not been.
I took your advice and started again.
And again. And again.
I keep inventing and re-inventing.
I have not lost my love for
the woods, or
the stars, or
the colors of the sky.
I wish I had time to read a fluffy book;
I promise to read a few
when I have the time.
You'll be happy to know that my dorm rooms
have been decked out in twinkle lights
And I hate to break it to you, but
depending on others is a wonderful
way to be happy.
Allowing people to love you
is a powerful source of joy
(I'm still learning how to do this).
I'm very different from you in so many ways,
but I've followed my heart
and it has stayed true to yours.