I started reading this book the other day, F**k it – John C. Parkin, and, as it’s meant to, it got me thinking about the future. The big 30 is closer than I would like, my current career paths have led me in several directions and my heart is trying to lead me in others.
What is it I want to do with my life?
There is a task in the book that tells you to write a letter from your 17 year old self and from your 77 year old self, so that is what I am about to do… Excuse me whilst I revert back to wearing denim shorts with leggings, a questionable hair colour, and thinking nothing was more important than learning to drive my baby blue Daewoo Matiz named Marv…
Dear future me,
I hope as you read this you are happy. Not content, happy. That kind of happy that makes your sides hurt. Keep hold of your best friend, she’s a good egg and will be good to you as you get older. Go into teaching, it’s what you want to do and if it all goes tits up (spoiler, it did!) it doesn’t matter because you tried.
College is ok, although as you are sat here when you should be in Law, it could probably be better. Still aim to have Dr. before your name one day but make sure you find something you love first and stop trying to do things that sound “smart” and “sensible”, that’s what landed you here, writing this, when you should be in a lesson (sorry mum!)
The future is exciting, do something great with it.
– Jenni
It’s funny, I always see teaching as this big mistake, wishing I could have studied English earlier but, really, those 4 years studying it were some of the best of my life and the people I met at university are some of the best people I still have in my life. We can get back to teaching another day though, for now lets focus on why I am writing this. Time to hear from 77 year old me…
Dear me,
You’ve lived a full life, it had its downs but the ups were magnificent. I can’t tell you if you achieved your goals but I can promise you that if you followed your heart and tried your hardest, and I mean really tried, you got your closest and that is something to be proud of.
It worked out ok, we got here and we made it. You still find times to smile in life and you fill your heart with love and passion. Never give up the passion. You kept good people around you and it shows in who you are.
You still get anxious, it never truly leaves you, but you fight it and you win.
Keep aiming and you’ll get there.
– Jen
I hope it all goes ok. I hope that by aiming for my dreams I land somewhere within them. I hope that my made up future self is right and I aim every day to make it so.
The dreams:
- Be published or, failing that,
- Work in publishing alongside those who inspire me.
- Find something worth waking up for.
- Find someone worth waking up for.
- Have the strength the dream.
- and the courage to pursue them.
The plan:
- Start dreaming.
- Start chasing.
- Make progress every week,
- every month and every year.
- Know it will take time and
- Know it will be worth it.
6 dreams, 6 steps.
This is step 1, stick around for step 2.
– Jen.
Jennifer Pickering 