Letters To The Future
A Virtual Time Capsule, open for all.
When life takes an unexpected turn and things start to feel more uncertain than stable, I turn to familiarity. Eating food I’ve loved since I was a kid, watching TV shows I know by heart, re-reading books I love. One such familiarity I was drawn to in the latest season of uncertainty in my life was reading my old journal entries.
I love looking back to make sense of things that felt too complex. Sometimes to reconnect with myself. Last week on my 25th birthday, I had an idea of creating a Digital Time Capsule. A post I can fall back on any time I need advice from my younger self (trust me, sometimes that is the answer to all your questions). It took me days of thinking, eliminating, editing and re-editing to finally come up with a list I would want the old me to come back to. I hope these reminders help you too, especially when you need them the most. Feel free to treat this as our Time Capsule and comment below things you would want your future self to remember. Save this post and come back to it whenever you need to.
(PS: A special surprise awaits at the end of the list.) ✨
Things 25-year old me wants her future self to remember
Minimise your screen time as much as possible. The best way to do life is to ‘feel’ it completely, which is possible when you live more in the real world and less in the reel world.
You will cherish difficult seasons of life later when they have passed and you know you made it through. If the current season of life seems unbearable, know that someday, you’ll make it through like every other time.
Never feel guilty for taking time off to rest. You have spent way too many years multitasking and pushing slowing down for when you achieve those short-term goals without realising that by the time those goals are achieved, you would already be eyeing another. There is plenty of time to slow down as you move forward. Know that when you do, the world won’t end.
Movement is the key to your peace of mind. Make sure you don’t forget to exercise, especially when life feels like too much.
Let go.
Trust your instincts. If you are ever in a situation where you need to assume things, your instinct is probably pointing you towards the right train of thought.
Live for yourself as much as (if possible, even more) you live for others. Sometimes, the people you are closest to hurt you, mostly unintentionally. When you live for yourself as well, there is a sense of purpose which ensures your life doesn’t always revolve around others, even if those others are your loved ones. Remember, you can’t fill from an empty cup.
Add your contribution to the Time Capsule in the comment section below.
Last week, I reached out to some of my favourite creators on Substack (some of them are even subscribed to Unwind which is huge!) to share one thing they would want their future self to remember. I was overjoyed by the response received.
This entire section is dedicated to their lovely responses. Hope you enjoy reading all the responses as much as I did..
[Zoom in if you are reading on your phone. :) ]
Revisiting 2024
If you missed reading my birthday post last year, here are last year’s responses from some of the best writers on Substack when I asked them to share one thing they wish they knew at 24.
“Dear younger self, you have a big heart and you want to help everyone, sometimes forgetting to make space for your own dreams. Nurture and explore them. Truly enjoy what brings you joy. You don’t need to feel guilty for what your heart desires, the boundaries you need, and the things you wish to accomplish. Your passion will get you far, trust me, but don’t rush and skip steps. Have fun, enjoy, and make your well-being a priority. This way, your cup will always be full, and you can pour into the hearts of others, have the biggest impact, and create a ripple effect without exhausting yourself. 💕”
, Author of Rooted & Rested.
“Dare to be yourself! My biggest regrets in life have always come from trying to please others or changing myself to fit into the corporate mold. I lost precious child-free time trying to be someone I wasn't. But let me tell you something—you're already giving more than what's expected of you. You're working hard, you're dedicated, and you're talented. It's time to give yourself the green light to pursue the life you feel you want to live. You don't have to fit into a job description. You can create your own job. External validation feels good, but if you're not being true to yourself, you'll lose the most important connection you have—the connection to yourself. Why not start building something on the side? Become your own boss, even if it's just part-time. Don't tell me you don't have time for it. What you're really saying is, "This isn't a priority for me." And that's okay, but let's be honest about it. Your child-free life gives you a unique opportunity. You have the freedom to create a part-time business that you truly love. Use this freedom to your advantage. Start small, but start now.”
, Author of Kristina God’s Online Writing Club.
“When you reach my age it's difficult to choose just ONE thing you wish you knew when you were younger. When I was 24, I already had a five-year-old. Yes, I started young 😁 I also had no clue about the adventures and curve balls life would throw my way. At 24, I wish I had been wise enough to pay more attention to more little details, even if they seem insignificant at the time. One small choice can alter the course of your life. Likewise, ignoring one of those small things can also alter your life. Embrace every choice and make the most of them. And love your loved ones as fiercely as you can because they won't be with you forever. If I could go back to 24 with what I know now, I'd do it in a heartbeat and make many different choices.”
, Author of Wildhood Wanted and Unstack Substack.
“Happy Birthday wonderful Mansi! I'm so glad I have met you here. You are wise beyond your years and have so much to share with the world💕 This would be my message to myself at your age:
Darling 24-year-old self, may I remind you that no two people have the same perspective on something. They do not think or feel the same way you do, even about the exact same event! I wish to gently remind you it is not possible to ‘help’ another person change, just as it’s unlikely they will fully adopt your perspective. So, rather than spending your time and energy convincing them and defending yourself, you can take full responsibility for your actions while also softening into opinions you do not share. xoxox”
, Author of The Bright Life.
“All of the conditions for happiness already exist in the here and now, not in some distance future of success, fame, money or power. Happiness is an outcome, not a goal. It is the result of fulfillment, when we stop constantly striving and craving.”
, Author of Inner Peace.
“My overriding impression of my 20s was of a pressure to hustle, to rush, not to stop still in pursuit of my goals. I think the advice I would give my 24 year old self is to slow down a bit. There is time, there is always time. Trust in the process and trust that things will unfold for you as they are meant to. Slow down and enjoy it.”
, Author of Everyday Knitter.
“The advice I would give my 24 year old self would be….know that you are more capable than you know, start a gratitude practice, get your ADHD diagnosis, read “The Artist’s Way”, carve out time to figure out what you love and do it unapologetically, care what you think more than what others think, and invest!!”
, Author of Musings By Mika.
“What I wish I knew at 24 is that as soon as you become a mother (I got pregnant at 24) everybody will want to put their nose into your business and that you’ll need to build an armor around your own gut-feeling to keep doing what feels right to you and your family 🙏🏼💕”
, Author of Follow Your Gut.
“What I wish I knew at 24. At 24 I wish I knew how important it was to live in the present moment and appreciate the moments with those who love you fully. After losing my father at 26, I wish 24 year old me took the break off of chasing her dreams and made more time for family or being present for the times you are with them. Don’t take their love for granted and write about how much you love them while they are here. Also, make sure to exercise, even if it’s just walking everyday. :)”
, Author of In the Presence Of.
“First, people and things change much faster than you think. By the time you notice (in a way that makes any difference), it'll likely be late. Stay observant, and act on observations.
Second, things (careers, money, possessions, love, etc.) can be gained and lost, and it can be as if you never had them. Work hard; work right, but never fool yourself that you have in a way that you can't lose. No one is ever this good; no one knows things this well.”
, Author of Everyday Living.
“As I sit down to think about Mansi’s question, what is one thing I know now, that I wish I’d known at 24… I realise it is actually very simple…
Radiate Self Love. Please trust yourself, be your own best friend. Take the time to get to know yourself. Love yourself hard, be endlessly encouraging and always be kind. You don’t need to be like anyone else or compare yourself to anyone else. You are you- and that is your superpower. It all starts with self-love.
Love yourself, believe in yourself and give yourself permission to follow your heart and dreams no matter what.”
, Author of Generosity of Spirit.
I enjoyed this, Mansi. Thanks for this compilation. Very insightful and refreshing contributions. Also love your inclusion of last year's wisdom. I'll certainly be coming back to these. Happy birthday, once again!
Happy belated birthday, Mansi! SO many wise words and a beautiful collection of wisdom, thank you for including me! ❤️