A letter to my future self

When we first had kids, my wife wanted a large table for us to all sit around at dinner time. She knew that we would have our share of ups and downs as a family. She wanted to make sure we had a place to come together for important meals and conversations. She’s always been the smart one.

When we went furniture shopping, most tables were too expensive for our limited budget. We kept at it though and found a strong oak one that met our needs. We couldn’t wait to fit it in our dining room-kitchen area and for all three of the kids to enjoy.

A place to savior our meals

I forget how we “christened” the table. I suspect our first meal was a kid-friendly one, maybe pizza, chicken nuggets or some pasta dish. The very next week, however, we were back to sitting across from each other at our small breakfast bar. The kids did a surprise end around that caught my wife and I by surprise. The “little urchins” missed the closeness and intimacy of the breakfast bar and took matters into their own hands. When we told them to set the table, they put our plates at the breakfast bar.

Oh, when they got a little older, we moved back to the table.

This is your warning

We replaced that oak table a few years later. We got great use out of it. I still kind of wished though that someone would have warned us. I wish a future version of myself — wise and seasoned Future Brian so-to-speak — would have let us know that we didn’t need to dive in head-first. We didn’t need to buy the old oak one from the get-go. We could have held off buying the table for a few years.

It got me thinking: Since I’m still waiting for some guidance from Future Brian, what would I write him? What from the past would I like to remind him?

Oh, a note from the past doesn’t work quite the same way as a warning letter from the future. It’s still interesting nonetheless. The questions come fast in my mind: What worries me about the future? What would I wish for? What would I want my future self, let’s say when I’m in my 80s or 90s to remember about 2024?

My wife challenged me to write one. Here goes nothing.

. . .

Letter to my future self:

Yo Brian,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. Those back aches you’re feeling now, you earned them in your 30s and 40s. They were well earned.

I’m getting ready to watch the Philadelphia Eagles, who’ve started the year 2-2 and are taking on the Cleveland Browns. I hope the 2024 Eagles mean something to you. If it does, then there’s a good chance it means a Super Bowl and a parade down Broad Street. If it doesn’t, it probably means a so-so year. Ugh.

Of course, I’m in my mid 50s at the moment. I saw a meme the other day that I thought sums up my situation. I feel like I’m a mere 29-years-old. I have a sense of humor of a 12-year-old and I have a body that feels like I’m a 100-year-old man. Good grief.

Here’s a few wishes for the future:

—Tom Brady and his seven Super Bowl rings moved this year from the football field to the broadcast booth. Let’s hope he stays there.

—The NFL is as crazy as ever. The teams I root for find a way to lose when I expect them to win and when I expect them to get clobbered, they win. Yup, situation normal for the NFL.

—The big movie draws this year are Inside Out 2, an animated movie; a sequel in the Deadpool series; and the return of Beetlejuice. I wouldn’t say this year has been horrible movie-wise, but I’m really hoping movies have gotten better.

—On a serious note, the Middle East remains in upheaval. War there feels eminent. Let’s hope peace prevails.

—Here at home, The current state of politics is kind of sad. It’s a presidential year and hate and partisanship seems to be prevailing. Let’s hope we can get back to country over party, kindness and concern for our neighbor, and working together for our shared interests.

Now on personal nature, Here’s a few more hopes.

—Peacefulness. I’m in my mid 80s now. My hope is that the anxiety and worry you carried for much of your life is long gone. I hope too that I’m still strong in my faith and surrounded by my beautiful wife and family.

—Strong belief in love and life. Oh, I’m sure I’m still as sarcastic as ever. I can’t see that ever changing. I’m hoping that I’m still optimistic and believe in the good of people too. I hope that never leaves.

—Writing. I hope I’ve finished my novel by now. At least one of them. Oh, I’m kidding — sort of. Instead, I hope I’m still writing. I believe in my writing. I believe that it keeps me young and current. I hope I continue on until the day I die.

Oh, you hang in there. Keep on fighting the good fight.

Past Brian loves you very much. Keep it going man.

. . .

What would you write to your future self? What would you want your future self to know?