Letter to Future Self - Vol. 01
In case someone else planted a seed of doubt to compare yourself with your sibling, know that they are also as clueless as you are at the moment.
In case someone doubted whether you will make your future dream of life come true and would smirk then compare how much your other sibling made more money than you are, know that they are also feeling full-of-doubt as you are at the moment; The differences are that you are putting the doubt into action than talking someone else down, and reminder that you are building something that trying to detach from the capitalist system. You are, making your own ecosystem that some day you don't have to buy into the corporate capitalist lies.
In case someone doubted and smirk over your current savings compared to your sibling's, know that the fact you are able to have savings no matter how small is a huge achievement because you tried your best to save within your own ability in the world of needing to 'buy more more more'. I am currently building the 'just enough' lifestyle and I am looking forward to the future me who continued doing the life I wanted.
Know also that the fact that generations today cannot have a much of savings are not the fault of the young generation, it is the fault of a failed system.
In case someone compared how much it seemed like your sibling made more in a month on their field of work, know that while it's true that some industry paid more, it doesn't make that field of work 'easy'. I know you probably still juggling between freelance and current 9-5 day job while still making less, but reminder that it's never the fault of the other industry who paid more - It is the fault of a failed system who didn't want to pay and respect your field of work more.
In case someone made a statement that being a creative/artist is an outdated job that you'd be struggling for the rest of your life, know that you are keeping a knowledge alive and still keep being human. You are one of the backbone of Art, the very soul that humans needed yet often times being disrespected. It's never about your fault to choose this artistic path. You are, more capable and willing to adapt more than probably a lot of people.
In case someone made a statement how much you are willing to not adapt and learn new skill that the world today's demanding, know that you know yourself more that you know what time you want to spend than just following the current of the river; pushed around by a parental figure and sometimes they needed to be reminded that I am an adult who can decide the best for my life. Reminder that it's not just you never learn new skill; The act of drawing, writing, playing music isn't like just riding a bicycle - those creative works require a lot of conscious decision and even if you don't learn something entirely new, you are still learning something to add to your toolbox.
Reminder that the people who would be willing to plant a seed of doubt are often the ones who have too much of a time that they decided to nag people's life. Those seeds of doubt are planted in people's mind and will grow as time goes on. It would linger in the brain - Avoid these kinds of people at all cost. They don't want to be convinced, they wanted to make themselves proud for being right.
It's never about what's wrong with you, it's a crucial information for you to avoid wasting time and energy for these kinds of people
(written in 23 September 2026)