Last year I was reading through various inspirational blogs and found several that discussed different new year traditions. One tradition was mentioned on not one, but two blogs and I was intrigued enough to try it out. The concept was presented first on Jess Lively’s blog and then again on the When I Grow Up Coach blog and after reading both, I couldn’t contain my excitement and decided to try it out.
The basic concept is to write a letter to your future self describing and reflecting on the coming year as if it has already happened. When I completed my letter for the first time at the beginning of this year, I was so excited to start. I had many visions of what I wanted to accomplish and I included everything from the writing opportunities I wanted to obtain, to the way I wanted to decorate my house. After I had written the letter, I tucked it away only to be read twice in the coming year. Once about 6 months out and then again at the end of the year. I (not so) patiently waited for all of my dreams to come true. Unfortunately they didn’t come true in the way I thought they would.
Some of the items did materialize for 2012, but looking back on it, I realize my focus was very rigid. I wanted very specific things to happen and when they didn’t, I found myself very frustrated and I wondered if the whole “future letter” was a waste of time. Now that we have reached the end of 2012 and I am contemplating writing the letter again, I have decided that I will indeed write it again, but I suspect that it will have a bit of a different feel to it.
Instead of setting mostly rigid expectations for the year ahead, I am going to be a bit more balanced in my approach. And considering my theme for the year ahead is to “be open” to whatever may come, I believe I will not only be able to handle whatever comes my way, but I also hope that many more dreams in my letter will come to fruition.
So, during the first week of 2013, I will once again sit down to write a letter to myself describing 2013 as if it was coming to an end. I look forward to getting my thoughts on paper and dreaming big for the year ahead, but if all of my dreams don’t come to pass, then I know I will be open to whatever comes in it’s place.
If you were going to write a letter to yourself what would you include in your reflection of 2013?
I love this. What a great idea for an end of the year tradition. Many blessings on your journey in 2013!
I like this too! Maybe I will try writing this letter to myself. For 2013, I would include honoring myself more, meaning trusting my instinct, my inner self. 🙂
Hi Rufina,
Thanks for stopping by. I haven’t completed the letter for 2013 just yet. I hope to complete it this week, but I think I am still figuring out what I want to include. I hope 2013 brings you all you desire!