I love this! I also tend to dwell on things, but as I grow older I try to look happily to the future. Finding the right balance between reflecting on the past, focusing on the present, and projecting to the future isn’t always easy, but I keep trying to get the balance right anyway.

Well, my letters are a bit all over the place. The first round (2003), is a deluge of what I was doing but with little insight (no car, no boyfriend, miss home) but of the few things I listed that I wanted to do I accomplished (enlisted for only 4 years, went to college, lived in the Dakotas). The most recent letter (2012), has more details of what I was doing and only mentions one regret. But, I turned that regret around when I did finally travel to Europe.

My take away is that I spent 99% of my time dwelling on what was going on and not much about what I wanted for the future. It has only been recently that I have been writing down specific things I want to accomplish and trying to move towards those goals. ‍♀️

I’m jealous that you still have your old letters. What is your biggest takeaway in reading them? I too am making space for self improvement. It is an ongoing process that I never want to end!

Interesting. I don’t think being happier is the norm. At least not in my limited circles. I have many friends my age who are unhappy and wish life took them in a different direction. I myself am much happier for the reasons you mentioned!

It is hard for me to image life being better than it currently is but there are some adjustments that I can make. Mostly making space for self improvement.

I wouldn’t have explored those memories without your post, thank you!