A letter to my future self
A came across a psych exercise designed to help chronic pain patients deal with the (sometimes frightening) future. The assignment is to write your future self a letter; Dear Me, 2038. Here is mine...
Dear Traci 2038,
It is strange to hear from me, I'm sure. I wonder if you will think fondly on me. Will your memories of me bring a smile to your face? I hope so.
First, I want to apologize. I imagine you are not in the best of health. You probably are dealing with arthritis pain and living with the results of years of neglect and abuse to your body. I take full responsibility for that, but in my defense, 2038 seemed a lifetime away and as you know, I'm more of a 'live in the moment' kind of gal. I am sorry if my actions caused you pain. Maybe it would help you to take down the photo albums I left for you in the attic. Read through them and know that the pain wasn't for nothing. All those memories came at a cost, I know, but I believe it was a bargain. I hope you will agree.
Do you still color your hair? Everyone is bound to know you're not really a brunette at this point. Perhaps you have let it go silver. I'm sure it's stunning! Is it still long? It took me so long to grow it out. Don't let people tell you you're too old for long hair. What do they know? Who cares what they think?
Is your little house filled with books? How many cats do you have? Be honest. Did you get that bulldog you always wanted? What is his/her name?
By now Hayley has been married for many years. You must be a great Aunt many times over. Did she give them those ridiculous names no one could pronounce or remember? Do you just call them Sweetie and Honey like Mamaw did with all of us? Do any of them look like me, like Hayley did as a child? Has seeing Hayley start a family ever made you regret your choice not to have children?
Do you still keep in touch with my friends? Are all the old jokes still funny? Have you forgotten them? Please try to remember. I promise you will laugh until you cry.
I want to ask if Jason is still with you, but the thought of it being otherwise is too overwhelming for me to consider.
Wherever this letter finds you, my prayer is that you are happy. Not the kind of happiness that ebbs and flows with the circumstances of the moment, but the kind of true joy that gives your life purpose and peace.
Much Love,
Traci 2008
Share your letter. You can write it in the comments or post a link to your site.
Dear Traci 2038,
It is strange to hear from me, I'm sure. I wonder if you will think fondly on me. Will your memories of me bring a smile to your face? I hope so.
First, I want to apologize. I imagine you are not in the best of health. You probably are dealing with arthritis pain and living with the results of years of neglect and abuse to your body. I take full responsibility for that, but in my defense, 2038 seemed a lifetime away and as you know, I'm more of a 'live in the moment' kind of gal. I am sorry if my actions caused you pain. Maybe it would help you to take down the photo albums I left for you in the attic. Read through them and know that the pain wasn't for nothing. All those memories came at a cost, I know, but I believe it was a bargain. I hope you will agree.
Do you still color your hair? Everyone is bound to know you're not really a brunette at this point. Perhaps you have let it go silver. I'm sure it's stunning! Is it still long? It took me so long to grow it out. Don't let people tell you you're too old for long hair. What do they know? Who cares what they think?
Is your little house filled with books? How many cats do you have? Be honest. Did you get that bulldog you always wanted? What is his/her name?
By now Hayley has been married for many years. You must be a great Aunt many times over. Did she give them those ridiculous names no one could pronounce or remember? Do you just call them Sweetie and Honey like Mamaw did with all of us? Do any of them look like me, like Hayley did as a child? Has seeing Hayley start a family ever made you regret your choice not to have children?
Do you still keep in touch with my friends? Are all the old jokes still funny? Have you forgotten them? Please try to remember. I promise you will laugh until you cry.
I want to ask if Jason is still with you, but the thought of it being otherwise is too overwhelming for me to consider.
Wherever this letter finds you, my prayer is that you are happy. Not the kind of happiness that ebbs and flows with the circumstances of the moment, but the kind of true joy that gives your life purpose and peace.
Much Love,
Traci 2008
Share your letter. You can write it in the comments or post a link to your site.
What an interesting idea! Maybe I'll try to work on one myself this weekend. I actually have two days off...what ever else would I do with all that free time?!
Posted by:Ali | May 15, 2008 at 03:52 PM
I wrote my letter on coloroutsidethelines.wordpress.com
check it out! ;)
Angela
Posted by:Angela | May 16, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Thanks for joining me in my future-casting correspondence. It's pretty cool, huh? I wrote things I didn't even realize I was thinking about. It opens the mind up to all kinds of scary, beautiful possibilities. :)
Posted by:Traci | May 16, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Wow....I cried....
Give me a few days to do this one.
Posted by:Wendy | May 17, 2008 at 09:44 PM