Why writing a letter to your future self is therapeutic

 I am not a person who enjoys writing diaries or blogs. I don’t take many photos over the course of my life. I don’t document the details in my life. When Dr. Dennen introduced social bookmarking and annotation tools during class, I don’t think it is very relevant for me because I just don’t like to document and keep things. Not even websites. If I ever need an information, I will find a way to look for it.

But life can pass by too quickly in a flash. When I look back at my younger days, I cannot find any memories or any photos tied to any specific memories. When people asked me to recall my hiking trips, I can only briefly describe how I felt during the trip, but I cannot conjure specific memories or special moments related to the trips. Sometimes, I may even confuse the details and the places. When people asked me about my school days, I don’t have many photos to show them, and I cannot convincingly describe the school events that I have attended, liked or disliked. 

Perhaps it has got to do with growing older. You tend to hold on to these memories and moments dearly and will find ways to document them. You are afraid that one day, you would simply forget about them, and there will be no stories to tell the younger generations. Writing a letter to my future self is one way to capture a specific moment or thought in history. It also helps me to take stock of what has transpired, and allows me to set goals and vision. How would I feel if I were to receive the letter 5 years later? We shall see. In the meantime, it is time to fast from social media for a period of time for this week’s challenge.