Welcome back, it’s letter writing time again! We’ve talked about the point of writing these letters (which you can find here), and our last exploration was of writing a letter to an old mentor of yours (which you can read by clicking here). We’ve also talked about writing a letter to your past self (find that one here). And today, we’re doing another twist on that. We’re writing a letter to our future selves!
This is another letter that is just for you, and it’s like a time capsule, if you’ve ever done one of those. Writing a letter to your past self is similar in that this is a letter just for you, but the logistics of how this works are different, as well as the headspace it puts you in.
How it works
Over the years, I’ve written multiple letters to my future self, and it’s always a worthwhile practice, even if you think you have nothing to say. You’re going to sit down, and write a letter to your future self. Really challenge yourself to say the important things and don’t rush it. Then, when you’re absolutely certain that you’re done, put it in an envelope and mark it “Do not open until ____” and write the date or year or age that you’ve decided you’re going to wait until. Make sure you keep this letter in a safe place and keep tabs on it when you’re moving things around like when redecorating, decluttering, or changing residences. Remember, this letter may not be worth much to you right now, but by the time it’s ready to open, it will be worth its weight in gold.
And it’s not just about what it will be in the future, either. Just the exercise of writing to your future self can be helpful. It will help you think about who you are, who you want to be, and your goals big picture. It will also help you see life a little differently, a little further past the end of your nose. It’s a simple shift, but sometimes, much needed.
What to write
It makes sense to be stuck on what to write, because you don’t know what will be valuable in a few years. But here’s some ideas.
-What’s happening in the world around you right now
-What’s trendy right now
-What things are you proud of yourself for
-What you’re trying to learn
-What your goals are
-Any advice for you future self
These are all fun and beautiful topics to cover so that when you do open this letter, you know that it will be a positive experience. But don’t think that you have to completely leave out anything negative, etiher. The negative is a part of life, and future you will also understand that. Plus, when we look back on our lower moments from a later perspective, we learn and grow so much. So don’t be afraid to get a little vulnerable.
You can also include small keepsakes, like photographs, pressed flowers, or little drawings in your letter. This helps give the experience more dimensions and can add a fun little surprise if you forget you put it in there by the time you open it again.
How long do I wait?
Now, with the logistical side to it, you’re going to want to decide a hard and fast deadline for when you can open this letter. If you really do hold onto it all this time, you’re going to be tempted to open it many times before it’s actually time. So consider when you’re going to open this. Maybe you want it to be when you finish college, or some sort of milestone like that. Maybe you’d prefer it at a specific age, or a specific year, or amount of years after you finish writing it. But it’s up to you when exactly you decide to have this letter be ripe for the opening.
If you want my suggestion, I would say make it at least five years. It seems like a long time, and it is. But it’s also not, in the grand scheme of things. What it is, is more of a placeholder, for more concrete reasoning. But in five years, you will probably be in a different place, at least internally, if not externally as well. And that’s the real goal to actually reading this in the future. To get a portal back to who you once were and the life you used to be living.
Remember, you’ve got this! And your future self will thank you. So go write that letter!
