Letters to Myself: Entry Twenty-Eight
Prompt: What my future self will thank me for?
Some days, gratitude feels effortless. Other days, it feels like something we have to consciously choose. This reflection explores what my future self will thank me for the boundaries I’m building, the mindset I’m shaping and the small daily choices that help me become someone I’m proud of.
When I think about what my future self will thank me for, the very first thing that comes to mind is gratitude. I’ve come to believe that being thankful is one of the greatest strengths a person can carry. Gratitude softens us. It grounds us. It brings us back to sanity when life feels loud. And when practiced daily, it shapes the way we show up for the world: gentler, more aware, more willing to see the humanity in everyone, even those we struggle with.
Lately, I’ve been thanking myself every morning, every afternoon and every night for simply showing up with the best version I can give. Gratitude and humility are quiet forms of courage. They let me move through life with intention, grace and the kind of presence that reminds others (and myself) that goodness still exists.
I’m thankful for the moments I get with people I love, the music that fills my ears, the stories I’m writing, the worlds I’m building and the books that sharpen me. I’m thankful for the work I’m doing, the relationships I’m tending to and the small creative sparks I’m slowly bringing back to life. These are the things that shape my future self, the foundation I know he’ll appreciate.
Tonight, I’m going to a concert and even before I arrive, I’m thanking myself for choosing to live. To connect. To show up for my friends. To let myself enjoy something without guilt. Yes, I’ll probably be tired, overstimulated, lost in a sea of sounds and costumes, but that’s something to be grateful for too. It means I’m still here, still participating in life instead of hiding from it.
I’m also thankful that I’m reclaiming my weekends. Getting productive again. Writing these reflections. Returning to my creative roots instead of drowning in comparison or fear. In a world where everyone is exhausted by finances, pressure and survival, that choice alone is an act of radical hope.
And here’s something surprising:
I’m even thankful for the people who want to see me fail because they remind me how far I’ve come. As Anora says in that brilliant film, “Jealousy is a disease.” Once you stop feeding it, once you understand that jealousy is just admiration twisted the wrong way, you start to see life from a much cleaner lens. Gratitude becomes the antidote.
Being thankful doesn’t mean accepting toxicity. It means choosing a way of living that refuses to be bitter. A way of living that refuses to shrink. A way of living that still believes in the light.
So what will my future self thank me for?
For staying grounded.
For setting boundaries.
For choosing humility over ego.
For honoring the present moment.
For writing, creating, and dreaming again.
For showing up, even when it was hard.
For choosing opportunity over fear.
For living today as if it matters because it does.
Tomorrow is just another chance.
But today, right here and now is a gift.
And my future self will thank me for not wasting it.
This post is part of my "Letters to Myself" series — a weekly free-write blog where I explore personal growth, curiosity, and healing through simple prompts. Sometimes reflective, sometimes fun, but always real. Thank you for being here.
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Photo by Kyle Gare
