Happiful – September 2019

When we reach a big life milestone, it’s natural to

want to reflect on where we’re at in our lives. Here,

blogger Anna Newton pens a letter to her future

self as she approaches the big 3-0, drawing on

lessons she’s learnt so far, and those all important

intentions for her future

Writing | Anna Newton

Hello future Anna!

How are you doing? Has The

Office finally come to Netflix?

Are avocados still trendy, or are

they laughed at like the ‘devils on

horseback’ dish from the 80s? Can

you believe that we used to drive

cars with our hands and feet?!

Here’s the thing with writing

a letter to your future self – one

day you can actually look back at

it and read it. If only I had access

to the implanted microchips that

you now use for diary entries, I’d

schedule a reminder for 20 years

time to check this out. Instead of

looking back at what advice I’d give

to my younger self, it’s a chance to

review where I am now, how I got

here, and have a look into a crystal

ball to set intentions and hopes for

the years ahead.

This year, 2019, will see me

turn 30. An age by which, when

I was younger, I imagined I’d be

I’ve learnt that family and friends

are everything and, just like you

need to be there to buoy them up

sometimes, the ones that are worth

their salt will return the favour

when you need it most. I’ve learnt

the hard lesson that you can’t be

everyone’s cup of tea. I’ve learnt

to congratulate a friend on their

achievements, without comparing

their life timeline to mine. I’ve

learnt about teamwork, decision-

making, interest rates, and what

the hell to do when the pipes freeze

over, and the shower doesn’t work.

I’m learning to adult.

Learning

to grow

married (I have found myself a lovely

fella, so have checked that one off the

list), own a house with a garden

(haha!), and have started a family

(hahahahaha! x100).

But here’s the thing, life doesn’t

always turn out how you planned

• which I’m sure you’re even
  more aware of now. In fact, life
  has a funny old way of turning
  things completely on their head,
  providing challenges which hurt
  like hell sometimes, but can often
  give us a chance to grow, and teach
  us a lesson worth learning.
  So what have I learnt in the past
  29 years? Well, sometimes what
  you think you want, isn’t actually
  what you want at all. I’ve learnt to
  forge my own path, and not the one
  drawn out for me by others. Hell,
  I went completely off-piste and
  became a self-employed blogger,
  and I couldn’t be happier thanks to
  my jump into the deep end, and off
  the corporate ladder.

80 • happiful.com • September 2019