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what's this? a collection of letters that people have written to their younger selves it's like... back to the future meets postsecret to contribute please email submissions to: selfaddressedletter@gmail.com i promise i won't spam you. be as specific or vague as you like. be funny, be serious, be creative. write a sentence, write twelve paragraphs... it's up to you. feel free to include images (e.g. a scan of a hand-written letter or a photo you took to accompany your note), provided you have the right to distribute them. if you wish to remain anonymous, use a pseudonym. you are welcome to submit multiple letters. the fine print by submitting content, you're granting "self-addressed" a perpetual, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, and otherwise exercise all copyright and publicity rights with respect to that content (it sounds scarier than it really is). elsewhere archives December 2009 March 2011 |
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Dear Kate,010. In high school you will be given the chance to develop some proficiency in a foreign language. Do not take German; Frau Carducci is crazy. Opt instead for French as one day, knowing how to ask directions or order a cut of meat will be of great, great use. Bonne chance, Kate
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Dear Mary,009. Don't change anything. You have a wonderful life ahead of you, and though it has had its share of disaster and letdown (hey, just being honest), it all works out in the end. I know you don't want to hear it, but everything happens for a reason. Love, Mary
Friday, December 25, 2009
Letters will resume tomorrow.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Dear Caroline at age 10,008. Opening presents is a lot more fun when you don't spend the weeks prior to Christmas sneaking into your parents' bedroom to see what they got you. Just trust me on this one. Love, Caroline at age 24
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Dear Sara (age 6 or 7), 007. Quit thinking that any time someone knocks on the front door, it's the Beach Boys! Even though your Dad's spaghetti is the best, they are not coming to Rolla, MO and certainly not to your house! Also, you will not be able to perform with Cindy Woods and Jane Oeffner wearing the red and white striped dresses (which used to be your older sisters') singing Beach Boys songs, dubbing yourselves "The Beach Girls." Sorry to burst your bubble! Go back to playing Barbies instead! -Sara, age 50
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Dear Bert at 14,006. I know you are undecided about a career in music, but don’t worry about it now. You have plenty of time to decide. However, just because you don’t have to make your mind up now is no reason not to practice and not continue taking lessons. Fourteen is an important stage in your musical development, and developing your musical skills now certainly won‘t get in your way if you decide on another field endeavor. Another thing, to quit studying now would be a slap in the face to your parents, who gave up a lot to provide you with an expensive instrument and give you training with good teachers. Take care. Bert at 79
Monday, December 21, 2009
Dear Molly at 16,005. Stop spending all of your time wondering if Johnny McMurtry will ever ask you out. The answer is a resounding NO. Forget about it. Ain’t gonna happen. Pay better attention in Latin I and II. On the Algebra thing. Don’t worry about it. You’ll learn means times extremes later on in life. And you’ll also learn how to figure interest (both simple and compound) and other stuff like that. Being able to figure out which train gets to Toledo faster will not help you in real life. Hold on to your 45 rpm records. Just for the fun of it. Go ahead and join the Navy after high school. You’re too immature for college. Be nicer to Mom and Dad. And stop being jealous that big brother Dan got to leave home before you did. He’s 3 years older, for God’s sake. Get over it. Join the Navy. That’s it. Good luck, Molly at 66 Dear Molly at 29, You’ve got your wonderful sons. Don’t worry when they are teenagers. It’ll all work out in the end and they will be just dandy adults. Trust me. I know. That’s it. Molly at 66
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Dear Toni,004. If I wrote down everything that was going to happen to you, A) you wouldn't believe it and 2) well, never mind about 2. Suffice to say that your path is not going to be a smooth one and even though the big, brick wall is in plain view, you are still going to have to run smack into it. A more timid soul would have crumpled up this letter by now, but I hope you will read on. SOME ADVICE No matter what happens, pick yourself up and try again. If at all possible, learn from your mistakes. Never give up. Never say die. You can't have too many real friends and you will find out that your family can also be your friends. I'm not kidding... yes, you will vacation with your sisters. Seriously! Needle nose pliers can be used for almost anything. Love, Toni
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Dear Kay,003. I’ll think you’ll be most mystified to receive this letter because I know you never got much mail back in 1977, an occasional letter from your mom or something to do with a grant or loan payment. Most of your mail was addressed to occupant and was on that dusty trash mail paper that to this day I can’t abide. December 1977 will find you singing the blues, worried that life was passing you by. Most of your friends are graduating, getting married, landing great jobs and moving away at the speed of light while there you sit, stuck on Walnut Street in an apartment that doesn’t belong to you with other people’s stuff in it. Don’t despair! Time will pass. Don’t wish this time of your life away and don’t be afraid of all you have ahead of you. Try to manage the little steps and the big steps will come by themselves. Keep your mind and your options open to the endless possibilities that can come your way. It’s a wonderful time in the universe to be young. Don’t be afraid. Love, Kay
Friday, December 18, 2009
Dear Young Jessica,002. You may not believe me, but the person writing this letter is you from December 2009. On November 19, 2002, your life will change forever. If my calculations are correct, you should receive this letter 2 weeks before the date mentioned (making you 13 years old). You will, at approximately 3:50pm, receive a telephone call on your home phone number. Do not, for the love of baby Jesus, pick up. It will save you a whole lot of trouble. It is the longest call from a telemarketer you will ever experience (at least up to this point at age 20). Something about a potato slicer with a bonus newton's cradle. Took up a whole 3 hours... Don't give in to the telephone ringing! You'll miss the newest episode of whatever-that-show-you-watch. You'll thank you when you're older. Love, Jessica  |