Before I took a job as a high school counselor or even considered becoming a life coach, I taught 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders for twenty-two years.  And sometime early on in my career, I started having my students write themselves letters each January.  I would give them a guided worksheet with statements and questions to fill in, give them class time to work on them, and have them seal the letter in a self-addressed envelope.  I would tell them to write as much as they could think of to write, because more writing would make it so much more fun to read.  

Then, that next December, months and months later, when they had long forgotten that letter, it arrived by mail to their house – an envelope addressed to them, by them.  I have had many, many students tell me over the years that they loved getting that letter from themselves. Being the version of themselves that received the letter and reading something funny or profound or heartbreaking written by the past version of themselves proved such a useful practice in self-observation.

Later I started doing the activity with my extended family, with interested friends, with anyone who wanted a good tool to reflect back and look ahead – with no pressure.  

My family still gives their letters to me when they’re completed and I mail them out – every year.  I even mail my own letter back to me (of course I do!).  It’s still fun to get an envelope in the mail addressed to yourself by yourself. 

So, this year, my brother asked for the letter again – for his daughter’s in-laws – and I had this idea.  Why don’t I offer the letter to anyone who wants it? 

So, that’s what I’m going to do.  

I have revised it just a little, I have claimed ownership of it, I have made it into a printable PDF for your families and your students and your co-workers and your teammates (you get the idea) and YOU.  Right now it’s free. All I’m asking is that you make sure you’re subscribed to this little blog of mine!  

Then, just DM me on Instagram, or contact me through my website, or text me (if you have my number).  I will email you the PDF and you can use it to your liking! It is a really fun New Year’s Eve activity in which anyone who can read can participate. 

I can’t wait to hear about what you discover!

PS If you want to get me your completed letters I’ll even mail them back to you next December – it has become so much a ritual for me after all these years that I would happily add your letters to my stack.