What Your Pre-Pandemic Self Would Think of Your Current Lifestyle

A Letter from the Old Normal

Hey. It’s me—you. From 2019. Back when you used to complain about your morning commute and thought ‘quarantine’ was something that only happened in dystopian novels. I’m writing from the past because I caught a glimpse of your life now, and I have some thoughts.

First of all—wow. You wear sweatpants like, all the time now. And you don’t even flinch when someone mentions a Zoom meeting. I used to get annoyed when people FaceTimed without warning. Now you host virtual birthday parties like it’s nothing.

The You I Remember

You were busy. All the time. You’d brag about being productive, like it was a personality trait. Your calendar was packed, your inbox was always buzzing, and you couldn’t sit still for more than ten minutes without feeling guilty.

Now I see you taking slow mornings. Drinking your coffee without rushing out the door. I didn’t think you’d ever slow down—but look at you. You did.

You’ve Become Softer—and That’s a Good Thing

You used to care a lot about appearances. Social media likes, who saw your stories, whether your outfit looked good from every angle. But now? You care about connection. Peace. Making dinner at home. Noticing how the sunlight hits the window at 4PM.

Don’t get me wrong, you still have goals. But they’re not rooted in hustle culture anymore. You want meaning. Depth. Joy. You want rest—and you’re finally learning to give it to yourself.

You’ve Lost Some Things Too

I know not everything has been beautiful. You lost people. You missed milestones. There were moments you felt isolated, scared, even numb. Some dreams got delayed or faded entirely.

But somehow, you’ve become more resilient. More real. You’ve learned that grief and growth can exist in the same breath. That you can still bloom even when you don’t feel like it.

Your Relationships Look Different

Remember when you thought staying in touch meant showing up at every birthday or texting back immediately? Now you value depth over frequency. Some friendships faded. Others got stronger. You learned who really sees you, and who was just passing time.

You call your parents more. You hug slower. You say 'I love you' like it matters—because it does.

Would I Recognize You?

In some ways, no. You’re quieter. More grounded. A little softer around the edges. But I think I’d still see you in the way you laugh at memes at 2AM. The way your eyes light up when you talk about the things you still love.

You’ve changed—but only in the ways that matter. And I’m proud of that.

Final Thoughts from Your Former Self

I used to think the goal was to always be achieving. Always be on. But now I know the real flex is healing. Creating joy. Saying no without guilt. Being present.

So if you ever feel behind, just remember—you’ve made it through something historic, something hard. And somehow, you’re still showing up. That’s more than enough.