A voice note I left for myself a year ago…

"Everything happens the way it’s supposed to."

Hey, this is Simon from 2023. It’s currently the 31st of December. There are a few hours left until the new year, and this is, I guess, the last message that I’m leaving you.

I don’t know why I sound so dramatic, but I’m really proud of what I’ve done this year. The biggest thing is making it this far. It’s being able to get through all those dark moments with the help of people who still care about you. I’d like to think that those people are still there for you now, and if they’re not, I hope that they’re doing well. Maybe you’ve met even more amazing people who add love and support to your life.

We never planned this far. It wasn’t that we never really thought we would get this far, but here we are, just taking it day by day. I hope that 2024 was kind to you and that you were kind to yourself. We learned a lot about ourselves this year and how much resilience we have, how much patience we have, as well as how much love we have to give. Knowing me, there’s no new amount of ideas in our heads. It doesn’t matter if we achieve all of them.

I guess what’s the most important thing I’ve realised is that it’s just about having fun and not taking things so seriously because that’s not how we want to live anymore. We want to experience joy, share joy, and bring joy, and I believe that you can do that because if anyone can, I know it’s you. You are going to be the better version of me, so just take each day as it comes and don’t worry too much about the things that we can’t control. I just hope that you’re looking after yourself and the people you care about. And that when you’re looking back at all the memories and all the moments, that you regret nothing because everything happens the way it’s supposed to.

So just go with the flow.

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I felt a wave of different emotions when I was listening to the voice note and I honestly can’t remember why I decided to even make it for myself. I thought I could use the audio as part of a montage for a 2024 highlights video but looking in my photo library I did NOT record enough videos as the voice note was too long.

But we make do with what we have (I say as I’m writing this on my iPhone in bed before midnight).

2024 was everything I needed it to be. Who knew being kinder to yourself will drastically improve your wellbeing? 2022 Simon didn’t. I’m extremely fortunate to be able to live to see another day, and now another year.

This time around, I don’t have a voice note or letter for 2025 Simon. I know he is going to achieve a lot this coming 12 months. And when he does, all I hope is that he isn’t burnt out by the end of it all because (t)his writer journey has only begun.