Dear Me in 2019,
In a few days, 2020 will end. I am writing this letter at the same time envisioning you. The first image that pops in my head is an excited you, eating onigiri in Tokyo Narita Airport while waiting for the shuttle to meet your sister.
I found another vision of you on a road trip with 
I am glad you followed your intuition to spend time and visit family in Japan and in France in 2019. You had a strong feeling that all local and international trips should take place that year. For some reason, you were compelled to avoid making travel plans for 2020, and your decision to say no to overseas trips and reunions with long-time friends was wise. I'm grateful that you listened to this consistent gut feeling.
You will be traveling with your family to Siquijor in a tuk-tuk and catching up with your best friend and design partner in an unplugged weekend in the mountains of Dahilayan in Bukidnon.
While you're walking around inspecting the construction of her house in Cagayan de Oro, much to your glee, you will receive news that you passed the DELF B1 French Language Exam. I'd like to pat you on the back because I know this had been a long-time personal goal and you spent several months in 2018 preparing for it.
Having said that, just chill and don't stress about the trivial administrative and nitty-gritty tasks in Manila. Again you felt the need to complete everything this year and you're right to do so.
In June, you'll be saying goodbye to 2 years' worth of countryside living in the rice fields of Argao.
You'll pack your life in a 20ft container and move to the other side of the island to the coastal village of Moalboal. Here, you'll deepen friendships and create new connections. Your neglected social life will thrive and flourish and you will be hanging out most evenings with travelers and scuba dive instructors.
The quote, "You become who you hang out with," rings true. You would be surprised that you would be learning how to scuba dive despite your fear of deep waters.
Continue to heed your intuition, as you did when you had that nagging thought to attend the last conference in the city at all costs. That would be the last opportunity and there won't be any for a very long time until you discover a new tool called Zoom Meeting.
Cancel all travel plans to meet family in Romblon in December because all flights will be grounded due to a heavy typhoon.
By this time you will crave to own one of those coffee shop 2020 journals and you'll fail to do so. Don't bother getting yourself one. There won't be any appointments to write down nor anything interesting to plan. You'd be left with empty pages, as empty as I am feeling right at this moment.
I don't mean to shock you, but knowing you, you always wanted to know things in advance before they even happen so here goes:
Book an appointment at the dentist and have your two molars on either side checked. If you don't, you'll suffer excruciating pain that will keep you restless and sleepless at night despite the pain killers during the 2 months of confinement. COVID-19, a global pandemic will keep you stranded at home. Everything will be closed and no dental clinics will be available for any emergency treatment. As a result, 2 of your molars will be extracted, and biting into a baguette or a steak won't be as pleasurable anymore.
The islands and their borders will be shut next year. Air and sea travel will never be the same again.
There will be a curfew during the lockdown. There will be checkpoints and police vehicles at night catching violators. You will get used to walking around wearing a mask and a face shield. As silly as it seems, taking selfies with masks on would be the new norm.
On a lighter note, you will re-discover the joy of writing again through a blogging platform called Hive. This started after a conversation with 
You will also meet new friends via Hive in real life like 
Hive Meet up in Moalboal Philippines - December 28, 2020 (From Left to Right:
You will take part in communities made up of writers from different parts of the world and unknowingly create one with 
The once-bustling diving village of Moalboal will closely resemble that of a zombie town. Many business establishments will close down and many ex-pats will leave. Tourism will suffer and something shocking will also take place. Hence, these will heavily affect your business.
By the end of 2020, you and
2021 will definitely be a year of new beginnings. I couldn't assure you right at this moment where you're going to be by then. The future remains in the balance.
Stay connected to your intuition and heed the insights that reveal signs of where you need to be.
Thank you Hive for making 2020 interesting.
You in 2020
A Letter to Me in 2019 is originally created by 