A Letter to Your Future Self
October 26, 2005 by Heather Goldsmith
Filed under Home & Living
The first time I came across this journal writing prompt was in the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. One of the exercises is to write your future self a letter. Cameron’s exercise encourages you to write to yourself at 80 years of age. I found this a valuable exercise which helped me gain some perspective on my life in the here-and-now. I’ve since gone on to write letters to my self at many different ages, all still to come.
Even Sark suggests this idea in her book Succulent Wild Woman, but goes even further and suggests you also post this letter to yourself. I tried this one time and while there was definitely some benefit the only problem for me was that I expected the letter. I really wanted to write the letter and receive it at some other point, preferably when I’d forgotten all about writing it in the first place.
This morning I found a solution. Future Me allows you to write yourself an email, set the date you’d like it to arrive, and they will return your message to you at some future date.
The fun part is reading other people’s future messages to themselves, but you don’t have to share yours if you don’t want to. I hope you find this resource useful.
hi
i so confused
i have no idea of writing a letter to the future me
its so hard
please help.
Hi Pat,
I hope to write an entry tomorrow to clarify this further for you, but just try to write as if you are addressing yourself in the future. What would you like your future self to remember, to know to be aware of? I hope that helps, but I will write more on this in my next entry.
I did something of a similar nature, except that I wrote a letter to my future kids. Basically saying I will always love you, etc etc.
Hi Coralie,
This sounds like a great idea. Thanks so much for sharing.
There is a website, http://www.posttothefuture.com, which you can actually write your letter online and they will print and post it to the receipent at the date you specify at any time in the future. You can also send your own handwritten letter too.
Hi Bella,
Thanks for that website. I like the idea of being able to have the letter received when you decide. Very cool. Thanks for leaving the link.