When I turned another year older, I thought to myself, where has all this time gone? Then I looked back over the previous year of my life and asked myself, “Did I accomplish all that I set out to do?” While I had an amazing year, I really couldn’t answer the latter question; there was no documented reference.
In light of that, I pulled out a blank sheet of stationary and sat there for a few moments, pen in hand, contemplating what to do next. Before I realized the pen had started scratching across the paper, a date was written — exactly one year in the future — followed by two simple words: Dear Self.
What came next was an exciting recount of the previous year. All the adventures I encountered, all the places I’d visited, and all the people I’d met. Part way through the letter, it became real to me and before the last word was penned, goals began forming. Writing that letter was a refreshing and exciting experience, one that would be the loosely formatted roadmap for the upcoming year.
Once the letter was finished (signed With love, Teli), I read over it a second and third time, and just enjoyed my life. Then I plopped down in front of my laptop and plucked each goal from between the lines. Finally, I sealed up that original letter, in my own hand, and addressed it to myself one year in the future. When the next year rolls around, there will be a yardstick by which to judge.
As not to lose sight of each goal, a few copies were printed off. One stays near the computer at all times, one copy in my planner, and a few copies are placed throughout the house (living room, kitchen, bathrooms).
To document the journey, the accomplishment journal was started. At the dawn of each new day, a question is asked — what can be done today to make it better than yesterday — and at the end of each day, I recount each thing that made the day wonderful, no matter how small.
Make this year your best year, write a letter to yourself and watch in amazement as your life unfolds before your eyes.
Hey! I think this is beautiful and I wanted to tell you there is a way to do this online. It is at www.dreaminder.com . It is free and you can send as many dreams to yourself as you want at any time in the future.
[ April 6th, 2007 at 1:18 am] [ #Link ]
Thank you, Sarah, for your kind words, the link, and for commenting. The Dreaminder is an excellent idea and I’ve already added my first one.
~ Teli
[ April 6th, 2007 at 4:55 pm] [ #Link ]