A letter to my 20-year old self

Dear 20-year old self,

First of all, I would like to say it has been a tough journey, but all tough roads lead to memorable, life-changing experiences. It was a crossover to two different yet interconnected roads - and you have, by far, traveled really well.

The past two decades have been really memorable, and it marked the end of your "young" journey. You graduated from college, got and lost your first job, explored a new horizon in an attempt to make a change, but the system was too strong to be ideal. Finally, you've been tricked by life and brought you to your first love - in fact the reason why you took communications as your degree - writing.

You've been an active part of the society. You've fought a lot of battles, some of which you still continue, and you are fighting for the right reasons. At a young age you learned how important it is to have principles, and it is more valuable than any amount of material possessions the world could offer.

You've told the world how proud you are being gay, and that there is nothing to be ashamed of most especially if you're trying to be a responsible person. You understood that being accepted in a conservative country is a crusade, but you never lost hope that one day, people won't judge you based on the gender you have chosen but based on how good you tried to live.

You've made big mistakes, sure it had repercussions, but you managed to make that an instrument to step up and be better. As a person who actually is afraid of committing mistakes, it's very unusual for you to accept that you did wrong, and that you're willing to learn to produce better results.

You've loved and lost, you gave your all and were shortchanged. You were underestimated, under-appreciated, sometimes forgotten, but you still give the same love - despite all the bad possibilities it could pose. You were ready to get hurt, because you believe that it is part of the process, but you are doing what you can to keep the relationship in good shape.

It has been a tough journey, but all tough roads lead to life-changing memories.

Thank you for being weak, you learned how to be strong.

Thank you for making mistakes, you learned how to get up and keep going.

You are not perfect, but you are enough. 

To a great year ahead, 

Vberni