I had plenty of time in the waiting room to read the Real Simple “Family” issue cover to cover between sugary drinks during my four hour gestational diabetes test this past fall.

I almost missed it when my name was called because I was so engrossed in one article. It featured various writers writing letters to their kids in the future. They were incredibly poignant, witty, and provocative. Letters with titles like - “To Finneus, age 3, to read the first time your heart is broken; To Lydia, age 2, to be read the first time I disappoint you;  To Thomas, age 18 months, to be read when your own baby still isn’t sleeping through the night.”

Ostensibly these writers were composing advice to their children, but really - they were soul searching and writing very revealing letters about themselves.

I recently stumbled across a web site that reminded me of those letters. It is called futureme.org This no frills site allows you to read others anonymous letters to their future selves, sometimes in other languages or txt msg- (also another language). It also allows you to write a letter to yourself in the future -or to your child or your partner or your mother or whomever. Provided you don’t switch e-mail addresses - this seems like a great idea. 

Now I’m not one to hand out assignments - but how about it? It’s still technically the beginning of the New Year. If you’re not already completely burnt out on resolving - give it a go. It’s not too late to write a letter to yourself or someone else - with goals, aspirations, advice, whatever. How about writing a letter to your 2009 self? What hopes do you have for your family, your children, yourself this year?

Let’s circle back on 1/1/09 and compare notes…

 

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