Dear You (Yes, You, Twelve Months from Now),

I’m writing this from the middle of the "In-Between."

Right now, as I type this, things probably feel a bit like a first rehearsal—the kind where no one knows their lines yet, the blocking is messy, and the set is mostly just blue painter’s tape on a cold floor. You know that feeling. It’s the stage where you have to trust the director’s vision even when you can't see the finished product.

I want to remind you of a few things, just in case you’ve forgotten them in the rush of the last 365 days.

First: Don't forget the "Natural Ones."
I hope that in the last year, you’ve rolled a few ones. I hope you’ve had a session where the players went left when you prepared right, or a scene where you tripped over a prop. I hope you remember that those moments didn’t break the story. In fact, those are the moments that made the "Natural 20s" feel like magic. If this year was hard, I hope you look back and realize you didn't fail the check—you just gained the XP you needed for the next level.

Second: I hope you’re still "Both."
I hope you haven't given up the spotlight for the sake of the headset, or vice versa. I hope you’re still finding that balance between being the person who is seen and the person who makes things happen. A year ago (which is today for me), we were learning that we contain multitudes. You don't have to choose one version of yourself to be "valid." You are the actor, the techie, and the DM all at once.

Third: Keep reading the "Hard" stuff.
Don't let life get so busy that you stop disappearing into the stars or the forgotten realms. I hope the bookshelf behind you has at least five new spines that are creased and well-loved. I hope you’ve found a new favorite protagonist who feels like a mirror, and a new magic system that made you stay up until 3:00 AM just to see how it ends.

Finally: Be kind to the "Me" I am today.
When you look back at photos or journals from right now, please don't cringe. Don't look at "current me" as a work-in-progress that wasn't finished yet. Look at me as the brave person who did the hard work so you could be where you are. I am the one laying the foundation. I am the one doing the world-building so you can play the campaign.

I don't know where you’re standing right now. I don't know if you’re in a new city, a new job, or just a new headspace. But I know that you are still a storyteller.

Break a leg, roll high, and keep turning the page. I can’t wait to meet you.

With love (and a +5 modifier to Charisma),

akimikoisthecutest