#DearFutureMe: ‘Accept and love yourself’

MANILA, Philippines – “Dear future me, how are things?

Have you accomplished all the goals that I set out for you? Are you still setting new challenges for yourself? Are you making my family-to-be feel special every day?”

The future holds infinite possibilities. It’s natural to imagine and ask yourself these kinds of questions.

Beyond picturing your goals, however, it’s more important to figure out how you’ll actually answer these questions. What can you do now and keep doing in the future to make all your dreams come true? 

Last March 30, we invited netizens to share their messages for their future selves on Twitter using the hashtag #DearFutureMe. As it turned out, people tended to have very specific ideas of what they want their futures to look and sound like. Overall, everyone was optimistic and hopeful.

Along the way, we learned some very important lessons about how to achieve our goals for the future. Here are our favorite answers.

Don’t just be a name

We asked people to fill in the sentence: “#DearFutureMe: By 40, I want my official job title to be _____.”

#DearFutureMe: By 40, you’ll be dominating the stock market while running your own company. Hang in there, better things are coming.

— Yana Jenkins (@hayleyyana) March 30, 2016

#DearFutureMe I know how much you want to practice again and help sick people. Kapit lang. You’ll have that MD at the end of your nameplate.

— maybe Nathalie (@oh_natnat) March 30, 2016

@rapplerdotcom not really a job title but I hope,wish & pray to see a book with my name on it as author someday (must go back to writing)

— BlueGirlLovesTheSea (@arvslovesblue) March 30, 2016

#DearFutureMe In 20 years, I wanna be a successful missionary priest.

— Lex Xander (@LexEspadera) March 30, 2016

#DearFutureMe since you’re now a boss, give chances to people who’s like you, working hard to achieve their dreams. @rapplerdotcom

— Ji Woo Park (@OhEmJiwoo) March 30, 2016

In the future, your name on a door, a nameplate, or a business card can symbolize the fruition of all the hard work that you’re putting in right now.

In your career, success in the traditional sense is important, but there should be more to it than a high salary or an office with a view. It’s all about what your achievements mean to you. Don’t settle for the affirmation that a contract or job title brings. Seek your own definition of a meaningful job, and if it’s not out there, create it.

Be the song that keeps your wife on LSS

We asked people, “In 20 years, how do you plan on making your loved ones feel special?”

#DearFutureMe you have to stop working at 30 and start traveling the world with your wife.

— Jefferson Sejalvo (@imjeffbro) March 30, 2016

@rapplerdotcom #DearFutureMe In 20 years, I’ll build a house for my parents and travel with them to their dream destinations 🙂

— JAMO ☺ (@jeyuhmm) March 30, 2016

It’s no fun to be on top if you’ll be by yourself. What’s the point of being successful if you’ve got no one to share it with? Your loved ones, whether it’s your significant other, your children, or your parents, will make life special and worth living. How can your future self make them feel special every day? 

#DearFutureMe fulfill your dream, make your parents proud and be the first attorney in your family

— ✘✘ (@beberoseAG) March 30, 2016

More than material things, life lessons are the best gift you can give your future kids.

#DearFutureMe i know being a mom is not easy, if your busy at work,,dont forget the children to teach them to Love God.

— BETH (@MaribethBoholst) March 30, 2016

Keep only the things that spark happiness

Your priorities today might seem important but they will change in the future. As you get older, you will learn about what’s truly important and what you can live without. People and things that make you happy should always be number one.

#DearFutureMe

Don’t stop moving.
Stay optimistic.
Eat.

— Dawn Zulueta (@DawnZpost) March 30, 2016

#DearFutureMe In your success, remember the people who helped you get there and thank your critics for the constructive criticisms.

— jeezy (@tanjhnpl_) March 30, 2016

#DearFutureMe I hope you’ll never forget the people who helped and supported you to become successfull in life.

— TheWho ✨ (@godesssi09) March 30, 2016

@rapplerdotcom I have one goal in life. To have a healthy,complete and happy family. That will not change for sure. #DearFutureMe

— Vermont Paul Amante (@Paul_Amante) March 30, 2016

Be fearless

At the end of the day, your future self’s success will not depend on the labels that others will place on you. The key to happiness is to never give up on what you want, be genuine with who you are, and to strive to never stop being better.

#DearFutureMe, when you are 40, travel around the world and make unforgettable moments.

— Joromar Taco Zapanta (@joromarzap) March 30, 2016

#DearFutureMe In 20 years, be brave in taking multiple roles, be unconventional, be a mentor and challenge who you are right now.

— Elli C. (@instakam) March 30, 2016

#Dearfutureme I just want u to remember the old you. Learn from your mistakes and be a better you

— ❁ (@PatriciaSapaoS) March 30, 2016

@rapplerdotcom Yes. Being shy won’t get me anywhere in the future so I’ll try to change that. #DearFutureMe

— adrian mores! (@tadaoandoy) March 30, 2016

#DearFutureMe Accept yourself and love yourself more than anyone else, everything will fall into place, and that is self-respect.

— Carlo Espartero (@YucxsYou) March 30, 2016

To achieve all your hopes and dreams for the future, it pays to step back and have an honest talk with yourself about what really matters. 

No matter who your future self ends up being, what matters is that they choose to live a life of infinite moments. – Rappler.com