You Made It (Dear Future Me)

This track comes from Aaron's military service — Air Force enlisted, Army Infantry officer, DoD civilian at SPAWAR/NIWC. It tackles The album closer — a letter FROM his younger self back to present-day Aaron, telling him he's proud. The kid who had nothing made something beautiful.. The lyrics get specific — "Every single thing they said you'd never do" — because personal tracks on Majik's are personal for real, not performatively. The r&b ballad production matches the energy of the confession. It hits hopeful and triumphant, in that order. Every personal track in the catalogue comes from a real moment, a real feeling, a real person. This one is no exception.

[verse 1] Hey old man, yeah I'm talking to you The one with the company and the ocean view I heard you built a platform in like five weeks flat I don't even know what that means, but I know it's where it's at I'm writing from the barracks, lights out thirty minutes ago Flashlight under covers, just wanted you to know [chorus] You made it, you actually made it through Every single thing they said you'd never do CTO, Black Belt, Magic Unicorn on the door You became the man I was always hoping for You made it, and I know it wasn't free But I'm proud of you, sincerely, your younger me [verse 2] I know some nights you wonder if the grind was worth the cost If the things you built replaced the things you lost But from where I'm sitting, shaking in my boots Just knowing I become you, man, that's all the proof That every early morning and every late-night fight Was planting seeds in darkness that would reach the light [chorus] You made it, you actually made it through Every single thing they said you'd never do CTO, Black Belt, Magic Unicorn on the door You became the man I was always hoping for You made it, and I know it wasn't free But I'm proud of you, sincerely, your younger me [bridge] Do me one favor though, from the kid you used to be Don't forget to be amazed at what you see The beach, the sunrise, the fact you're standing here Don't let the hustle steal the wonder from the years You taught yourself to build, now teach yourself to breathe Because the boy inside you still needs you to believe [final chorus] You made it, we made it, look at what we've done From nothing into something, from the bottom to the sun Folly Beach is waiting and the tide is coming in You made it, Aaron Stransky Now go and live [outro] P.S. — I hid a letter in the duffel bag You probably found it already But just in case I love you, man I always did