In my first year of uni, we were asked to write a letter to our future selves. I sat there for an hour, without the slightest clue of what to write. Maybe it was the new environment that made me anxious and unable to be vulnerable in the proximity of so many strangers.
We received the letter back in our fourth year at our white coat ceremony. I low-key wish I had written something down that day, or at least put some money in there- it would’ve made for a great present to myself.
We always hear the question, “what would you tell your younger self?”, but a letter to your future self rarely makes it into the conversation. A letter to your future self is an interesting concept, and I think a more practical one, too. Because, well, you’ll actually be able to read that letter at some point in your life.
We can’t really go back in time and find our younger selves, can we?
Last week, whilst looking for a place to go over the weekend, I came across Kerkerland, a super cozy store in Taichung selling beautifully designed postcards that you can put in a time capsule of your chosen month and year. They have a selection of stationery in their store so you can write your card immediately and put it into the time capsule.
I find the concept of writing a letter to your future self so fascinating because there’s so much flexibility in how far down the future you want to receive this letter. Do you want to read your letter in a year? 5 years? 10 years? Or maybe even further in the future? You’ll feel so different reading the same letter at different stages of your life.
At Kerkerland, you choose the postcard you want, pay for just the card and a small mailing fee, and you can start writing! There are so many cards to choose from, it took me a good 30 minutes just to look through them all.
The best part about Kerkerland is they even mail internationally, so travelers are able to enjoy this experience as well. Definitely don’t miss this gem of a store if you’re visiting Taichung, I can’t believe it took me 5 years to discover them!
Or perhaps you’re not writing to yourself, but to a loved one. I’m pretty sure I’ve written a letter to my future husband when I was in elementary school. *awkward laugh* Writing together or receiving a letter from a loved one down the years can be such a meaningful experience.
5 things to consider when writing a letter to your future self:
- how far into the future do you want to receive this letter?
- tell your future self about what is going on in your life at this moment
- how are you feeling right now? how do you want to feel when you open this letter?
- tell your future self about your current goals and aspirations- it’s always interesting to look back and see if they’ve changed!
- let your future self know that you’re proud of them, and reassure them that everything will be alright.
Whilst doing research for this post, I also came across Futureme.org– a website where you can send a letter to your future self via email. So now if you’re reading this, this is your sign from the universe to get started with that letter wherever you may be in the world. Your future self will love you for it!
Tell me: Have you ever written a letter to your future self? What are some things you would tell them?
Until next time,
Emily
Leave a Reply