Sending a message to the future
Lottie Macro suggests a novel way to mark this extraordinary year, with a message to your future self
With the copious amount of time I’ve had on my hands, whilst remaining within the four walls of my home, I have had freedom to reflect and be creative. A few days ago, I came up with the idea to make my own time capsule for myself to open in five years time (2025). I have been able to think about what I am like now, how I want to be in the future, and what I would like to accomplish / experience. In this article I am going to talk you through how you can make your own time capsule.
Step 1 - Writing a letter to your future self:
The main part of the time capsule is writing a letter to your future self. Remember that you don’t have to do this for yourself in five years' time! You could choose any date you like. It’s entirely up to you.
Firstly, in your letter you might want to start by describing your current self. This could include: how you dress, your favourite music, where you live, your current stage in education and what you have been up to recently. Next, you could ask your future self some questions. I definitely recommend this because your future self can then respond and reflect. You could ask your future self: “What has been your favourite memory from the past five years? Where do you live right now? Have you got any new hobbies?” Lastly, you could outline what you want to achieve in the next five years and ask your future self if you have succeeded or changed your mind and how you have achieved those goals.
Step 2 - Photos:
Why not print off some photos and put them in? You could even include a selfie of what you look like now so that, in five years' time, you can see how much you have grown up and changed. I included photos of my pets, friends, family and memories.
Step 3 - Items:
You could put items in such as a bracelet, bookmark, theatre / cinema ticket or any kind of small treasure that you love.
Step 4 - A bucket list:
On a piece of paper, note down anything you want to achieve or experience during your life. This could be anything from going travelling, to writing your own book.
Step 5 - Wrap it up:
Once you are all finished, package it up in any way you like. I put mine in a big envelope but you could put your time capsule in a box. Once packaged, write the date it was completed, give instructions of when it is allowed to be opened and address it to your future self. Then, you can decorate your packaging. Finally, keep your time capsule somewhere safe where you won’t lose it so that in a few years' time, you can open it up and respond to it. A time capsule is a lovely gift to your future self, so it’s important that you know exactly where it is.
I hope this article is helpful and inspires you to make your own. I found this activity really fun and it certainly cured my quarantine boredom! If you do make your own, feel free to send me pictures of what you come up with. I would love to see what you create.
By Lottie Macro, year 11
Deputy editor: [email protected]
With the copious amount of time I’ve had on my hands, whilst remaining within the four walls of my home, I have had freedom to reflect and be creative. A few days ago, I came up with the idea to make my own time capsule for myself to open in five years time (2025). I have been able to think about what I am like now, how I want to be in the future, and what I would like to accomplish / experience. In this article I am going to talk you through how you can make your own time capsule.
Step 1 - Writing a letter to your future self:
The main part of the time capsule is writing a letter to your future self. Remember that you don’t have to do this for yourself in five years' time! You could choose any date you like. It’s entirely up to you.
Firstly, in your letter you might want to start by describing your current self. This could include: how you dress, your favourite music, where you live, your current stage in education and what you have been up to recently. Next, you could ask your future self some questions. I definitely recommend this because your future self can then respond and reflect. You could ask your future self: “What has been your favourite memory from the past five years? Where do you live right now? Have you got any new hobbies?” Lastly, you could outline what you want to achieve in the next five years and ask your future self if you have succeeded or changed your mind and how you have achieved those goals.
Step 2 - Photos:
Why not print off some photos and put them in? You could even include a selfie of what you look like now so that, in five years' time, you can see how much you have grown up and changed. I included photos of my pets, friends, family and memories.
Step 3 - Items:
You could put items in such as a bracelet, bookmark, theatre / cinema ticket or any kind of small treasure that you love.
Step 4 - A bucket list:
On a piece of paper, note down anything you want to achieve or experience during your life. This could be anything from going travelling, to writing your own book.
Step 5 - Wrap it up:
Once you are all finished, package it up in any way you like. I put mine in a big envelope but you could put your time capsule in a box. Once packaged, write the date it was completed, give instructions of when it is allowed to be opened and address it to your future self. Then, you can decorate your packaging. Finally, keep your time capsule somewhere safe where you won’t lose it so that in a few years' time, you can open it up and respond to it. A time capsule is a lovely gift to your future self, so it’s important that you know exactly where it is.
I hope this article is helpful and inspires you to make your own. I found this activity really fun and it certainly cured my quarantine boredom! If you do make your own, feel free to send me pictures of what you come up with. I would love to see what you create.
By Lottie Macro, year 11
Deputy editor: [email protected]