Hey!  Future Austin!  How’s life in 2018?

Well, this is a letter that you’ve written 10 years beforehand to yourself.  You’ve buried this in an aluminum time capsule in the backyard, or I hope somehow placed in a place that would conveniently be found 10 years from now.  Which does not include the trash bin.  Or the paper shredder.  Or under the bed, which is remarkably similar to a black hole: what goes in, never comes out.

I’m hoping life for you is doing swell.  By 2018, I’ve hoped you’ve accomplished some rewarding goals, such as moving to Vancouver, Canada, becoming  a successful part-time web-designer/part-time marine biologist/part-time psychologist, keeping in touch with old room mates back in college, completing a marathon, and finding a nice soul mate to  hunker down with.  And, of course, hopefully you’ve moved out from Mom’s house and got yourself a spiffy bachelor’s pad.  ‘Cuz even I, your former Austin at the current age of 14, know you are too good for your Mom’s basement as a suitable residence.

By 2018, I’ve hope you’ve outgrown the habit of finding yourself in fits of insomnia, got over the fact that you may not be as tall as you’ve hoped (because aiming to be 6′2″ is kind of pushing it), and changed your ways of pessimism (optimism fo sho!).  And quit using phrases such as “fo sho”!

On a global perspective, I hope our efforts to prevent global warming were not in vain - because I would surely be ticked off if you had to live in a world where crops were dying, coastal cities were underwater, and polar bears were to perish.  I mean, were all those days of biking everywhere versus asking Dad to drive myself everywhere to waste?  And how is American education system going by the way?  I hope it’s most certainly improved from its past condition of not being able to compete with developed nations around the world, through international test scores given by PISA.  I hope America’s a more competitive foe in the world ranks, education-wise.

Overall, I wish you a well life and a happy one at that. May you prosper as a happy part-time web-designer/part-time marine biologist/part-time psychologist Vancouver-based Canadian bachelor who no longer uses phrases such as “fo sho.”  Rather, may you prosper as a “cool” Canadian bachelor who uses phrases such as “radical” and “righteous” because those will never go out of style, I’m sure.  Just like 80’s music and American Idol.

See you in 10 years time,
Austin

P.S.  Don’t grow a mustache.  Please, do not let any insane spirit possess you to even think that mustaches are for you.  Otherwise, call an exorcist.

P.P.S. Be a happy, clean-shaven man.