Dear Abby,

I don’t even know where to begin, so I guess I’ll start by saying thank you. From our very first zoom call, I have adored you so much. 

Me and my friends have this saying, “love at first vibe” and it means exactly what it sounds like, that there are some people that you meet and you connect with in such an effortless way, that it is without question indicative of love in some form or another. 

I can confidently say meeting you was definitely “love at first vibe.”

On surface level, that connection could easily be attributed to how much we have in common. From interests like music and coffee and comfort movies to how we cope with stress and how we interact with people, we are frighteningly alike. 

I’ve never experienced that before, not in such a holistic way. At first, I didn’t quite realize why it meant so much to me. I thought maybe it was because you made me feel very seen and validated and accepted, all of which are certainly true. However, after further reflection, I recognize that the significance of our similarities lies not in how you saw me, but how you changed how I see myself.

I have always struggled finding and creating a sense of self that feels genuine to me. That is a very teenage coming-of-age movie statement to make I know lol, but it’s honestly a struggle that at times, has nearly cost me my life because if you don’t know who you are or even where you’re going, it’s so easy to get lost and to lose yourself completely. There were times last year where I definitely got lost and I honestly didn’t know if I’d be able to find myself again.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is thank you for the reminder, of who I am and also who I want to be. You’ve reminded me of all the little things about me that I forgot about, the niche interests, the borderline obsessions, the desire for meaningful conversations and relationships, the acceptance of ever changing and ongoing dreams. You’ve also reminded me of how beautiful it is when someone knows who they are and lives that way, how it is gentle and contagious and impactful.

I think so highly of you, Abby. You are one of the warmest, kindest people I’ve ever met in a way that is extraordinarily genuine and innate to who you are. It has been a pleasure to be your coworker and an absolute privilege to become your friend.

Thank you for everything.

Love,

Grace