Letter to your future self

I came across a letter to your future self while reading Hyperbole and a half.
 
Dear 25 year old [note: not “Dear 25-year-old me” or “Dear 25-year-old self,” just “Dear 25 year old”],
 
Do you still like dogs? What is your favarite dog? Do you have a job tranning dogs? Is Murphy still alive? What is youre favarite food?? Are mom and dad still alive? 
 
My name is Allie and I am ten years old. I have blound hair and blue eyes. My favarite dog is a german shepard. My second favarite dog is a husky. My third favarite dog is a Dobberman Pincher. 
 
Please write back.
 
This letter makes me laugh how many ever times I read it.
 

Why should you write a letter to your future self?

 
After reading that book, I wanted to write a letter to my future self and discovered the importance of it.
 
1.Insecurities
 
You have a lot of insecurities. You wish you knew a future teller who will predict your future correctly. All those will reflect in your letter to your letter to your future self. Normally, you won’t let them out, but when you are given an opportunity you express them freely.
 
2.Dreams
 
You will have a lot of dreams. Big and small. You want to envision yourself in those dreams. Your future self is the right person to answer that.
 
3.Relations
 
You love a few people and want them forever in your life. Your future self has the answer if they are still a part of your friend circle and stood the test of time
 
4.Habits
 
Do you want to get rid of a certain habit but still not able to? Your future self will have the answer to whether you were really able to get rid of that habit or not.
 
5.Apologize
 
You must have done really stupid things in the past and also at some point of time before the future sets in. Ask for apologies to the known and unknown mistakes you did which gave your future self a tough time.
 
6.Convey love
 
Your parents stay with you for a limited time. Your friends may or may not be there forever. You would or would not have found love of your life. But you have yourself. Irrespective of who is there beside you, the letter will tell that you are always there for yourself.
 
This one letter removed the burden from my heart and took my worries as its responsibility for the future self.
 
You will feel relieved and excited and will discover yourself when you do this exercise.
 

How to write a letter to your future self?

 
First decide what is the future you are aiming at. It can be anything from a few weeks to a few decades. Or you can write multiple letters with different timelines. Then write down points taking the above section as guideline. Now you can compose your letter like a creative writing exercise or can make it as an interview with questions for your future self.
 

Where to write?

 
1.Journal
 
I wrote my first letter in my diary. All I wanted to do was feel the experience of writing a future self.
 
2.Email
 
You can either schedule a mail to yourself on gmail. Or use websites like http://lettertomyfutureself.net/ which will post you the letter in the desired timeline
 
3.Book
 
When I searched for more options, I found a letter writing book. If you enjoy the activity, you can go for that too.
 

Sample letter

 
Dear me,
I hope you are doing well. I am sorry that I put you through so much of pain. But without pain was there ever any gain? How many books have you read and which one is your favorite? Were you able to finish writing any of the books you started? How have your friends been? Do they still make fun of you? How are your students doing in life? Were you able to do that Ph.D which you always wanted to do?
Lots of love.
 
Irrespective of the method you use, you will discover that this exercise helped you set goals for the future and also gave you immense happiness and job.
 
What will you write about in your letter to your future self?
 
Happy writing a letter to your future self!