For those of you I haven’t yet caught – Happy new year to you! Those of you that have been followers for some time will know that this is something that I take part in early in the new year, I take a look at my latter for last year and write myself a letter to open next year.
Back in 2016 my friend Erin of Bubbles and Beebots tagged me in on this and I’ve been keeping this up since then as I have found this to be an interesting and relevant way to remember where I was a year ago and maybe help guide me on the year ahead.
For anyone who reads this I would definitely recommend giving this a go at least once as see what you think of it. Do it in the way that you think is best, there’s no rules and for me at least this is far more worthwhile that any new year resolutions. This isn’t just about looking back, it’s about looking forward too. I’ve tagged some bloggies on the end of this but really if you fancy it, do it and link it to this post so I can see who and what’s going on.
Last year’s letter is here:
Letter to Myself – Open Next Year 2021

Hello Simon of 2022, assuming you’re reading this you survived another year and here you are looking into another year with questions, hope and a bit of wonder.
It’s funny how life can bring a fresh perspective to thinking isn’t it? While 2020 wasn’t a great year as I look back on it now and count the cost of it I can’t help feeling I have more blessings to count than I can think of bad things. I’m still working at the moment, I have my health and I’m spending more time outside that I have for many years and I see the world in a new light.
I have far more I want to take with me that I would rather leave. When I compare 2020 with 2014 I can’t help thinking by comparison it was quite easy. Sure it wasn’t stress free but no one died which is a plus and that’s just the one think I can take. 2014 is still for the the benchmark definition of a complete shit show.
So what does this mean for you? What does this new perspective bring and what’s it going to give you in 2021? In short it’s up to you Simon but forgetting the stupid amount of work and stress of 2020 you’ve been shown that life doesn’t have to be how it is.
You can have more time to think and do what you want.
You can have more time to look after you and you need to look after you now more than ever.
You need to write and create do this.
You have so many ideas to explore – explore them.
Do as many of these things as you can… throw it out there and see what happens. See where life take you this year in your way.
You need to explore more. Just do it ok?
I want you to read this and look back on a year that I have no doubt will be a year of immense change, not just with you but all over the world and nod and smile to all the challenges. Look back and see where you did things that made you feel better, happier, more fulfilled and less like reading a script. The world is still your oyster! So here’s the kinds of things I want you to have done:
1) Finish the two books you have on the go now. If you have a 3rd to edit great.
2) Explore and try new art, paint, digital, pencil. You have loads of ideas just do them and post them.
3) Be courageous in your writing, whether it’s posts or stories. Don’t hold back!
4) Do things that you think will make you feel good, try them and if they don’t then it’s not for you.
5) Find and capture those pictures that move you and show the world! Try new things too!
6) Finally – spend time with you, fix you.
What are you sitting here for? Go and get on with it!
I would challenge anyone who gets this far to have a go at this themselves, write a letter to your future self. Every year when I read this it’s gives me that look back at what’s been which helps me work out what I need to do this next year. No peeking until next year though!
Let me know if you’re going to do this and all the best for the next 12 chapters and 365 pages!
© Simon Farnell 2013 – 2023

Writing a letter like this is such a fabulous idea. And good on you for doing it again. The world is most definitely your oyster my friend. You can do anything you set your mind and heart to. Have a great 2021. 😊❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you I hop you do too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great idea! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so. Maybe you’d could do it?
LikeLike
I kinda can see those books in my hands… yeah, it’s me – Victoria Ray, from the future 2022 lol
LikeLike
You give yourself very good advice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just don’t follow it lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m like that too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hhe… there’s a thing 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should do this at my blog. But if I don’t, I do need to pick up the interest of blogging again. I was going to post my art last year but I didn’t do anything. Mostly I’ve been spending time caught up in my family’s life and helping my younger children with their schoolwork at home. And playing. This pandemic has brought us closer than we were before. Scrabble anyone?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you do do it and I hope to see more of your work – art or otherwise.
I’ll do scrabble 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm, this is a really interesting idea. I imagine that my letter to my past self in the beginning of last year would have been so full of optimism and excitement, I am almost hesitant to try again this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mine was as well, I hope you try it. I know things seem dark blue but they’ll get better I think. You did some cool things last year too. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
You just gotta enjoy yourself wherever and whenever you can.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll do my best Larisa 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow sounds like the ambitions of a retired single man … no idea how you will fit work and family into this package! Good luck with it all
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t want to retire at least not from doing things, the corporate world can go fly… I just can’t afford to make it do that lol
LikeLike
yes material needs sadly come first … no one will pay us to blog 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Meh… That’s no good 😂
LikeLike
yea you’d think they’d at least pay us for effort 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah it would be nice lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great letter. Full of motivation and light. Here’s to a fantastic year to you. There’s definitely a lot of unknown in my path, too. We shall see where we are next year…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely and there’s definite scope for improvement! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been debating whether to do it this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have you done it?
I hope you’re well 🙂
LikeLike
Simon, wonderful exercise for everyone. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike