#Reverb10 Prompt 21: Future self

Prompt 21: Future self
Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?)

I’ve always had an irrational fear of time travel. I never liked the “Back to the Future” films much, and “The Time Traveler’s Wife” almost sent me into a full-blown panic attack.

I know, sounds weird, right? It’s just that when I try to think about time travel, it hurts my brain. Most of these films are based on the premise of something horrible happening, and a future self coming back to tell the present self not to sell give X item to Y evil mastermind who is going to use it to take over the world.

(But if future self tells present self not to do something, then how would future self know about said something in order to be able to travel back in time to tell present self not to do it? See what I mean? Hurts your brain a little, doesn’t it?)

My own attempts at time travel, and to become my future self warning my current self of an impending disaster and/or miracle, are below. (After all, it is Christmas Eve, what's more appropriate than being visited by 3 ghosts?)

Dear Noël V.2010,

I don’t exist yet. That’s because you haven’t yet made the decisions that will bring me into this world. But this year you have to if you want certain things to happen.

I, more than anyone else, know what you want in this life: one family under one roof. An old house or even an old flat or apartment, it really doesn’t matter as long as it’s filled up with the sounds of people and children, everyone piled into the kitchen while dinner cooks, running in and out of the backyard and letting the screen door slam shut on summer afternoons.

You want this thing, and yet you watch from an outside window. You want, but you don’t take. This year you have to start making the space for these things in your life. You’ve done all the mental work, now it’s time for the action. You know what you have to do and you are ready.

XOXO,
Noël V.2015

And for the bonus round …

Dear Noël V.2000,

Stop worrying about all those stupid boys. You will meet someone amazing. He will make you change and grow in ways you never thought possible. And in between you’ll laugh an awful lot.

XOXO,
Noël V.2010

Comments

[Julie Jordan Scott]

:-)

Your post made me smile today. I feel like I want the future me to write to me again, I could use some encouragement today!

LOL.

This line was especially potent for me:

>>>

You’ve done all the mental work, now it’s time for the action. You know what you have to do and you are ready.

>>>

[Dragonfly]

Ahhhh....watching instead of taking! Open the window!
Merry Christmas!

[Shannon]

You nailed it with the whole "my brain hurts" regarding time travel. I am much the same. But you go on to some profound and lovely statements...

"You want this thing, and yet you watch from an outside window. You want, but you don’t take."

As a serial outside window watcher, I say just go for it. (Easier said than done, yes, but this is the year to embrace it, no?)

Here's to 2011. I'm rooting for you :)

[Noel]

Thanks @Julie @Dragonfly @Shannon for all the positive energy! You guys give me the support and motivation to do what I need to do.

[Kristendom]

Oh my goodness - I almost busted out laughing reading this because I wrote almost the exact. same. thing. Although at least you made an attempt to do the prompt - I couldn't even do it, it hurt my brain so bad. Too funny!

[Noel]

@kristendom, Thanks! I'm so glad I'm not the only one!!