Thursday, March 10, 2016

A Letter to Myself, 10 years ago

To Myself, 10 Years Ago:

You are not going to believe what's going to happen in the next ten years. Right now, you are feeling lost, and a bit confused. You are with a man who doesn't feel right. You want children, but not with him. You feel guilty about this. You like being in a relationship. You like the things he provides for you. Companionship. Stability. Relationship status (in a relationship).

You feel a bit lost in your career. You love the children you teach, but you wonder what's next. You miss travel. You miss pushing your limits. You've discovered the Reading and Writing Project and you want to be just like those staff developers when you grow up.

You think, you're reaching an age where you should be more stable, more sure. You think you shouldn't be going out as much as you are. But you like going out. You like acting like you're still twenty.

You are running. A lot. You are probably a bit on the thin side. Though you don't have a serious issue, you probably worry about what you eat just a bit too much. If you don't run a certain number of miles per week, you feel like a failure.

To sum up, you are unmoored. But I'm here to tell you that this unmooring is something to be celebrated. For without letting go of those safe but slightly stale shores what happens next wouldn't have happened.

For example, in the next ten years, you will...

  • Meet and marry the love of your life
  • Move to Sydney, Australia with him
  • Move back to Brooklyn
  • Work for The Reading and Writing Project
  • Write a book 
  • Move to the Bronx
  • Have a perfect baby boy
  • Move to Manhattan
  • Expand your friends' circle with incredible fellow parents and caretakers
  • Work for Heinemann 
  • Have another perfect baby boy
  • Feel more fulfilled, grateful, and joyful (and tired) than you ever have in your life.


So, don't worry. Go through everything you need to go through. Make all of the choices. Because you end up just fine. 

Love,
Yourself, in 10 years 



11 comments:

  1. This is so incredible! I love this idea...great way to reflect on your life and to take stock of all that you have done and blessings you have. You have done so much! Congrats!
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  2. Wouldn't it be so great if we knew back then that it would all turn out ok? I think this letter is also important as a parent -- needing to remember our own children will need to go on the same self-discovery journey and it will be okay. Love that you made it a letter!
    Clare

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  3. Have you ever read Spragins' books about letters to my younger self? This reminds me so much of all of those lovely missives contained in the pages of her books.
    Beautiful, Anna.

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  4. Wow! This is deep. 10 years seems so far away, but in actuality, when you really think about it, 2016 is almost over. What a great way to reflect on your life. Love this slice!

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  5. Oh my word, I LOVE this post! It reminds me of a song Brad Paisley does like this. It makes me cry every time. I am so glad you found your happiness. What an amazing letter. I kind of want to try it myself. :)

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  6. Oh my word, I LOVE this post! It reminds me of a song Brad Paisley does like this. It makes me cry every time. I am so glad you found your happiness. What an amazing letter. I kind of want to try it myself. :)

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  7. Looking back is important, isn't it - we learn so much about how far we've come and how much we've grown when we do this.

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  8. Looking back is important, isn't it - we learn so much about how far we've come and how much we've grown when we do this.

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  9. What a cool way to reflect. I have never read anything like this so I am very intrigued. I might have to try this craft move.
    Thanks for the idea / challenge.

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  10. What a cool way to reflect. I have never read anything like this so I am very intrigued. I might have to try this craft move.
    Thanks for the idea / challenge.

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  11. So awesome! Look at how far you've come! I love this format for reflection and thankfulness! :-)

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