To Rick of the past Mar 2006.

Hi, this you/me 8 years from now. You'll think this is stupid or dumb because you're the type who doesn't trust anything, even yourself and you'll be as stubborn as ever.

You'll procrastinate a lot, and even now I'm still battling the same demons. I'm begging you to start now, just start. You'll still be a rotting "clean slate" after all these years. Looking back, you won't even begin to fit in your own personal definition of long term success. You're too short sighted and risk/pain adverse to do anything, or even start anything. You could have saved some of your teeth if you went to the dentist earlier and got over "the pain of doing so" instead of not facing the pain for long term benefit. You could have made a living instead of spending time at home hating yourself because taking a job you don't even remotely like would be "selling out" yourself, or let's just be honest, you're just afraid of the pain of looking for one.

When you do get off your ass, do make the most out of it. You'll start great, but end with a whimper. In spite of it all, you'll still harshly judge yourself even if others think what you've been doing was good, if not great. That just means you have potential, the potential for something huge, but please start on it, whatever it is, it'll be great. I can't tell you what it is, because I have to look for it as well, if not create it.

You'll be as passive as ever, even after you get a post graduate degree, you'll still revert to your old ways. Too proud to ask for help, yet too lazy to help yourself. The answer is simple: Swallow your pride and get off your ass. Easier said then done of course, even as I reflect on those words, I still have yet to do something.

However, not all is bad and a bleak lost cause. You'll find something you like with a passion, it's just unfortunate that it won't make any money. Let's face reality here for a bit Rick.

You'll find someone to love, one who is far superior to the one who just said no and has captured your heart for 3 years. You won't get to keep this other one, but damn, just the experience will be well worth it, you don't get called a hero by some, but it surely made the difference for her and she knows it, it'll be like GTO's 2nd opening if you'll remember. Therefore, don't think that it's over, greater things will come for sure.

You'll meet the best group of friends you'll ever possibly have because of a game. Sometimes you'll think it's to good to be true, but it's a reality I am living in right now, these are friends you'll keep and friends you'll treasure. These words don't do justice on how awesome these people are, they've given you friendship, lessons, lives, and an identity.

Love your folks, because they deserve it, and they deserve more then what you and I have been showing them all this time, and it's never too late to start. They're still alive and well right now, but they deserve even more love and care from the likes of you and me.

And most of all, please love yourself. You deserve better then this, but you have to create it with your own hands, you have to move your gifted self, get off your high horse, and start. You are guaranteed success and glory but only if you start and maintain what you do.

Well that's it, I do hope that these words get through that stubborn you and me at the same time, for I am still facing the same things as of today, but as I always say to everyone: "(I am 'always' hoping for) all the best (for you and me)"

Cheers
From Rick of Mar 2014

Dear Future Rick of 20XX:

You might be cringing in pain right now as you read this post, or you're a changed man and understand what you've just been through. Given current trends in your self, you're prolly still sitting in your computer at home w/o work because you're too lazy/afraid to look for one because it's such a pain or you're just hate the feeling of being rejected, because everything has to be a success in your little delusional world or else it's not worth doing.

Please prove me wrong.

Prove me wrong that you're not stuck in this self-made prison I am living in right now. That you've somehow broken free and accepted that getting rejected is part of the game, and that you've overcome that obstacle somehow.

Once you've overcome that obstacle, please to tell me about that one job/venture you accepted and stuck with. Tell me how your everyday is not a chore anymore, and that it doesn't consist of logging into the internet, looking for "something to pass the time" and avoid responsibilities to your self and the future. Tell me about the new people you meet at work; some of them might suck, but there'll be good ones for sure. Whether good or bad, they'll make for interesting stories to tell.

Tell me about how you found job that you like, and how much you look forward to it everyday. Tell me that each moment is no longer a chore, but a challenge to be fulfilled.

Tell me about how you and your good friends grow old together. It'll be fun knowing the misadventures I have yet to see. Tell me how much they've grown, found their calling, found their soulmate, fulfilled their destiny, and somehow you were there to help or witness that happen. You might not see each other that often, but even the last time they were well would be good enough.

Tell me about the girl you eventually find that surpasses the last one you went after, and how you did your best to get her. Whether you succeeded or failed, it is surely a more interesting story then the one that I had.

Tell me that family is still well and good, and that whatever tried to tear it apart was resolved or prevented in part because of you. Tell me how much you love our folks now and there in the future.

Most of all, please tell me that you finally learned to love yourself. To love yourself enough to give yourself what you deserve: Happiness.

Sincerely
A semi-cynical, jaded, emotionally overcharged, but hopeful Rick from the past (3/3/2014).