- The letter was written over three days.
- The letter is written to myself in 30 years because that is the day I have decided to officially retire. Yes, writing the letter made me think that through and make that decision.
- By retirement, I mean retirement from any title -- regional director, CEO, etc. -- I will still lots of projects, though.
- Sometimes I confused myself as I wrote, thinking of my self writing today, and reading in 30 years.
- My MS is not mentioned in the letter. I decided that it is just not important enough in my life.
- Should I share it with people? It could have gone either way, but I finally decided yes. As we know, I am a sharer.
- Writing the letter was totally fun and I think you should do it. The process really made me give some serious, structured thought to who I try to be.
- At one point, I considered writing about a bunch of the things I will have done by the time I hit 76 -- specific travel, business things, etc. -- but I decided against it. In a way, doing that felt liiting; my plan is for the next 30 years to exceed my wildest expectations.
- Of course, Leigh would have to figure prominently in a letter like this.
- When I read this letter in 30 years, I hope I smile and I hope it helps me keep moving forward and accomplishing things.
Here is the letter. What kinds of things would you want to say to yourself in 30 years?
Saturday, February 4, 2017
To be read Tuesday, November 27, 2046
Dear Future Sean,
Today, you are 76 years old. Good job! My
hope is that you are planning a day surrounded by family and friends. It is
also your retirement day, and the next day of the rest of your life. Do your
best to make the most of it.
When you finish reading this letter, be sure
to go give Leigh a hug and a kiss. Nothing you have done, nothing you have
accomplished, would have been possible without her. However much time the two
of you have – as you head toward your 40th anniversary, next year –
recommit today to making the most of it. For the over 40 years that you have
known her, she has made every day better. She is the best thing that has ever
happened to you.
Part of me really wants to just ask you a
bunch of questions, but you can’t answer, and I wouldn’t really want the
answers, anyway. I would not want you to tell me the mistakes I am going to
make, because then I would avoid them and not get the lessons.
So I guess what I will do is make some
predictions and we will se how they turn out. Worst case scenario, making the
predictions will help clarify where I want to be in 30 years, give me some
things to shoot for, and maybe make it more likely that reality will meet
ambition.
In 30 years, here are the things I want
people to say about me.
·
Sean was awfully nice to me.
·
Sean made me feel valued.
·
Sean made me laugh.
·
Sean made the world a better
place.
·
Sean failed plenty, but he always
got back up.
·
I am really glad I invested in
Sean’s projects. He made me a lot of money.
·
Sean really made a splash in this
life.
Today, I look back over 46 years of life and
there is very little that I miss. For good or bad, I just do not hold on to
things. I move on, focusing on today and tomorrow, leaving yesterday behind. In
30 years, I think the short list of things I miss will include my dad (Mom will
just be 108, so she will still be around); my grandmothers (never really knew
my grandfathers); and a handful of family and friends who have passed. Really,
that’s about it. There is not a single possession or job or anything else that
I miss. I want to just keep moving forward.
You know this, but as a reminder, I would
like to mention some of the key things that have gotten you through 76 years as
one of the happiest people I know.
·
Nothing was ever as bad or as
good as a lot of folks thought it would be.
·
Dating is the best way to move
forward from a broken heart. Everything is like that. Always force yourself to
move forward.
·
Every day, just do your best.
Give it your all. That's plenty.
·
It is my responsibility to make myself
happy.
·
More "we" and
"ours"; less "I" and "Mine".
·
Set high goals and take happiness
from the striving, regardless of result.
·
Time and experience have shaped
how we emotionally respond; so we have the power to shape ourselves for good.
·
To accomplish big things, figure
out the little steps and get started.
·
As long as I am alive, I am
winning.
·
I don’t do regret.
With that, I think I am going to leave it.
You have a big day ahead of you, and a big rest of your life. You got to where
you are by keeping the looking back to a minimum, so this is enough for today.
Enjoy your party. Enjoy what’s next. Be nice. Make the world better.
Sincerely,
Sean C. Spence (46 Years Old)
P.S. Tell
Leigh I said hi. I feel sure you will agree that she is the best thing that
ever happened to us.
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