Future me, according to social media filter…
There have been a few times in recent years when my now 17 year old daughter would comment about what she was wearing or what she was doing with the expression: “Little A. would approve.” It was a reference to her younger self. A kid who before puberty, middle & high school, had a wonderfully individual fashion sense and was willing to try just about anything once. Riding a horse, driving a jet ski, climbing a waterfall, holding a shark – all at the age of six on a single vacation. I love when she says this as a teen. It's so full of awareness of a purer sense of self. Of the true self we all possess before it gets a little intimidated and yes, beat down by life. The person we started out as, and still remain.
I was recently invited to do an exercise where I had to visualize the end of my life and look at my “older, wiser self”. The other end of the Little A. spectrum. I had to imagine - as if watching it on a screen - where this future me was; the feel of that place, the smell of it. I was asked to contemplate as a curious outsider - what does her life look like? What would she want me to know? What would she say were her greatest experiences, joys, sources of gratitude? What might her regrets be?
Here’s what Big Anne showed me:
Big Anne lives in a small but beautiful, colorful place with fresh air.
Big Anne has experienced a lot of the world, near and far.
Big Anne is close with her besties.
Big Anne is still open to new friends at any age.
Big Anne gave some of her time and money to causes that help people and the world, in ways big and small.
Big Anne sought to share her knowledge and experience with people who might benefit.
Big Anne doesn’t have a lot of stuff.
Big Anne has solid conversational relationships with her children, grandchildren and great grand-children.
Big Anne is at peace with aging.
The simple beauty in the day to day still inspires Big Anne.
In a perfect world, Medium Anne has a solid 30+ years until this reflection comes true. Since some days I still feel 23, it’s clear 30 years can go by fast. It’s time to get started. Medium Anne starts right now putting one foot in front of the other toward creating Big Anne.
That means letting go of anything that isn’t essential and doesn’t lead to Big Anne.
That means laying the groundwork toward seeing the world. Picking places to go, picking times to do it, picking people to go with.
That means working on personal relationships every day, and not letting old friends drift away. Supporting and engaging with my children in meaningful ways so it will still be happening when their lives get busy.
That means throwing out dumb crap that is taking up space.
Being at peace with aging will mean doing what I can to make sure I can move through life in as much ease and flow as my body will allow, and thus, doing what I can to support it. Yep – that’s gonna mean a healthy diet and exercise. But not to lose weight and meet some ideal I’ve got to let go of, but to keep my muscles strong, my joints lubricated, my brain active.
I like Big Anne, I look forward to hanging out with her.
Product Recommendations
Water Bottle Waterers
The picture says it all. If you are a bad plant parent, this can go a long way to help. And you save a water bottle from the recycling bin!
Container Store Storage Boxes
Plastic shoe boxes with lids come have a myriad of uses. I love the quality of the ones found at the Container Store. They are clear (never foggy), have good right angle corners (uniform size top to bottom), and have good lids (no breakable snap ons), and they come in many useful sizes. I often have one of their boxes of 10 or 20 of the men’s and women’s sized ones on hand. Just this month filled them with extra medicines and toiletries for Little A to take to college. Nicely stacked on her dorm closet shelf.
What I’m Consuming
Book
Stolen Focus
Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again
Spoiler alert! It isn’t just your phone, and it isn’t all your fault!
Other Cool Stuff
September is Save Your Photos Month…
The Photo Managers organization is offering a month of free classes to help you finally get that overwhelming pile of photos organized. If having your photos organized is on your end of life vision, this is the way to get started! Click here to get started. Totally free, and if you decide it’s too much work, you can find a pro photo organizer on their site to help.
Finally, for your amusement, some ways that SnapChat and a phone app called Facelab perceive what my future holds…
Here, Facelab is giving me the Rebecca from Ted Lasso Treatment…
Ouch, Snapchat. This is actually how I look now only a bit better with your eye make-up filter…
…however, this is what I should actually hope for… Also, I really might add teeth-whitening to my life agenda.
Snapchat again, with a different filter. My apologies for complaining…
German T-Mobile is Ultimately My Favorite..
She looks a lot like my sweet Mama. She looks content, despite the flyaways.
Plus, the translation reads:
Make Your Passion Your Future
Well said, TMobile Germany, well said.