In the midst of doomscrolling and diagnoses, I wonder if my past self has any words of encouragement for my present self.

Today is 4th of July, a day in which I almost feel a patriotic obligation to spend as I did throughout my white-picket-fence childhood. Yet, I am flying solo today.

What would Past Me -- the one deciding whether to take a leap -- write to Today Me? Perhaps just as importantly, what would Today Me write back?