Hey you,

You did it! You made the decision to move out–and damn am I grateful for that. I know the last few months have been hard, (like, really, really hard), but believe me, the stress, tears, and pressure of deciding whether you should buy or rent will be worth it (FYI – you definitely made the right decision). You will grow more in the next year of your life than ever before. As you sit at our desk writing this letter at 5:30am, you’ll feel so proud, happy, and healthy.

Before you moved out, mornings could be summed up in one word: rushed. You woke up at 5:40, rushed to leave at 6:00, drove to the train station to make the 6:23 with the hope that you gave yourself enough time. (Spoiler alert: most days you didn’t). Everyday you were heading to work feeling rushed, tired, and heavy. But, a year later, your mornings look veryyyyyy different…

Now mornings can be summed up with one very different word: calm. You get on your yoga mat and do crunches, planks, and lift weights–every morning. You meditate and drink warm lemon water–every morning. You wake up to packed bags, pre-made lunches, and work clothes laid out. You listen to podcasts and music while you get ready and read on the train. You go to bed at 10:00 and wake up at 5:00 feeling refreshed and ready for the day. Sounds a little unreal, doesn’t it? I know. But you did all of that. You made that life for yourself. It took a lot of hard work, experimentation, and a few weeks of being totally lazy and ignoring that routine (your engagement (!) is to blame for that), but you’ll feel more you than ever because of it.

You also have a ton of other things to be proud of too. You’re still getting into work early (most days). You’re reading a ton of non-fiction books now and learning so much. You’ve starting running (I bet this is the one you’re most shocked about, believe me, it’s still weird for me too). You’ve even even run a 5k–twice. You practice yoga at a studio that you love walking to because you get to spend time outside. You follow Tone It Up workout routines and are dancing again! You’re saving tons of money by making lunch more than buying lunch. You’re making delicious dinners (yes, you, not Diego) and you’re eating healthier. And, most important of all, you still have the greatest family, friends, and fiancé (!) a girl could ask for.

I love this life and I have you to thank for that.

Thank you for working through your fear of moving out and making the scary jump to live on your own. Thank you for giving me a space where I can create the time you always craved. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to learn more about myself and what makes me truly happy. And, thank you for working so hard to get where you are. I’ll never forget what it took to get you to March 2018 and you should be so excited about where you’ll be in March 2019. I can’t wait to see what our life will look like next year.

Love always,
Me