21 February 2025,
As I sit here, pen in hand and heart brimming with thoughts, I wonder where the tides of time have carried you. Have the years been gentle? Have you found the poetry in existence, the melody in the mundane? I write to you from a moment suspended between the past, which gently tugs at my sleeves, and the future, glowing like a distant lantern, guiding me forward. There is so much I wish to say, so many emotions I hope you still carry, and so many questions I long for you to answer.
Right now, I am a traveler between worlds—an engineer by training, a literary soul by calling. I have embarked on the journey of a master's in literature, chasing the whispers of words, the cadence of stories, the magic of human expression. Have you found solace in the pages of life’s great novel—whether in the stories crafted by others or in the unfolding narrative of your own existence? Have you given life to your own stories, letting your thoughts flow freely onto the page, unburdened by doubt or hesitation? Or have the pressures of practicality dulled the vibrancy of your creativity? If so, I urge you to reclaim it. Remember why you turned to words in the first place, how they made you feel seen, understood, and bound to the unbroken thread of human experience. Have you remembered those late nights when inspiration struck like a sudden storm, when your fingers could barely keep up with the rush of ideas tumbling out of your mind?
I hope you have continued to embrace wonder. The world is vast and brimming with hidden beauty, waiting to be noticed by those who dare to pause. Have you taken the time to sit beneath trees and watch the dance of leaves in the wind? Have you let your soul be stirred by poetry, music, or the gentle hush of rain against your window? Have you stared at the stars and marveled at their indifference, their endless twinkle, their silent stories spanning millennia? Or have you, like all of us at some point, been caught up in the blur of obligations, forgetting to listen to the heartbeat of the world? I hope that even amid life's storms, you have found your moments of stillness, where the heart speaks softly and the mind listens. Have you taken spontaneous trips, allowed yourself to get lost in unfamiliar streets, felt the thrill of discovery in both the world and yourself?
I recall a childhood afternoon, one where I ran through a field of wildflowers, feeling the delicate petals brush against my fingertips. In that moment, I felt as if I was part of something greater, a fleeting whisper of the universe itself. It was then I realized how simple joys, like the gentle touch of nature, could offer a sense of belonging and peace. That day shaped my understanding of happiness—not as something grand and elusive, but as something found in the quiet, unassuming moments of life. It was one of those ephemeral moments, golden and fleeting, where time seemed to pause. I wish for you to hold onto such memories, those that tether you to the simplicity of joy. Have you found such beauty in unexpected places? Have you chased the scent of freshly baked bread through a quiet street, or followed the laughter of children playing in the park, allowing yourself to bask in the purity of their delight? These are the moments that form the tapestry of our lives—the ones that seem insignificant but, in hindsight, are the stitches that hold everything together.
And what of love—have you nurtured it? I remember the time I thought love had to be grand, a fiery spectacle, a declaration shouted from rooftops. But love, I have learned, is quieter. It’s the way someone remembers how you take your coffee, the way a friend listens without waiting for their turn to speak, the way a parent’s hand lingers just a second longer on your shoulder before they let go. Have you held onto such moments? Have you let love grow in the spaces between conversation and silence, in shared glances and unspoken understanding? I hope you have loved deeply, fearlessly, in the way that literature has taught me love should be—full of vulnerability, raw and unguarded. Have you remembered to be patient, to forgive, to embrace imperfection? Relationships are like stories—imperfect, evolving, full of plot twists and lessons. Have you allowed love to be your greatest teacher? Have you learned that the deepest love is often the love that allows another person to be their truest self, without fear or hesitation?
Life, I know, is an unpredictable narrative—twists and turns, crescendos and silences. I remember the time I faced an impossible decision, standing at the crossroads of my engineering past and my literary future, uncertain if I was making a mistake or following my calling. Have you learned to embrace it all? Have you learned to sit with the discomfort of not knowing, to wade through the ambiguity rather than running from it? I remember nights spent staring at the ceiling, wondering if my choices were leading me to a life of regret or a life of meaning. Have you found peace in the unknown? Have you learned to dance with uncertainty rather than fight against it? I hope you have discovered that the beauty of life lies not in its predictability, but in its boundless capacity for surprise. I hope you have laughed often, cried without shame, and lived with a heart open to all the emotions that make life rich and meaningful. Have you learned that even the greatest failures often lead to the most unexpected joys?
I want you to remember the story of the old fisherman who cast his net into the sea each morning, never knowing what he would pull up. Some days, he caught nothing but seaweed; other days, his net brimmed with silver fish. Yet, he kept casting, kept believing in the ocean's generosity. Have you continued to cast your net, believing in the boundless possibility of tomorrow?
And above all, I hope you are happy. Not the curated, picture-perfect happiness of social media or the transient rush of accomplishment, but the deep, abiding contentment that comes from living authentically. I hope you wake each morning with purpose and close each day with gratitude. Have you continued to chase what sets your soul ablaze? Have you ventured beyond your comfort zone, taken leaps of faith, risked failure for the sake of growth? I want you to look back and see not just a series of days but a journey well-traveled, one filled with passion, kindness, and self-discovery. Have you learned that happiness is not found in arriving but in the movement, the journey itself?
But if, by chance, you have strayed—if life has weathered you into someone you no longer recognize—let this letter be your compass. Come back to yourself. Remember the dreams that once set your soul alight, the stories that made you believe in magic, the moments that filled you with an unshakable sense of belonging. It is never too late to begin again. Life is not a linear path, but a series of chapters, and at any moment, you have the power to turn the page and start anew. You are not bound by past mistakes or missed opportunities—you are defined by your resilience, your courage to keep writing your story.
Time will have reshaped many things, but I trust that the essence of who you are remains unchanged—a seeker of meaning, a lover of words, a dreamer unafraid to chase the light. Remember the moments of wonder that shaped you, the quiet joys that sustained you, and the love that defined your journey. Hold onto them, for they are the truest parts of you. Keep writing, keep loving, keep hoping. I am cheering for you, always.
With love and infinite hope,
Your Past Self (Mukta)<3