Week Four tasks are juicy! Today, I’m time traveling to visit myself at age eighty and writing a letter to myself from that age to the age I am currently. I didn’t over-think what I’d say, and as I just let the words flow out, I find myself encouraged and surprised at how good this exercise felt. Here’s what came out.

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Time Travel: Describe yourself at eighty. What did you do after fifty that you enjoyed? Be very specific.

I am well-known and loved by my neighbors, and I go for long walks at dusk every night. My days are filled with writing and reading more books that teach me new things, even at eighty. I dress in comfortable clothes, but am stylish and always look put together in an effortless way. My body posture and movement exemplifies my relaxed and steady emotions and thoughts. My hair is gray, but I look as full of life as I ever have.

After fifty, I spend time with young people two or three generations younger than me. Not just to mentor them, but to learn from their perspectives. I’m a teacher and I prioritize making people of all ages feel supported and loved by me. I’ve learned to love cooking, and I am always feeding my friends, neighbors, and kids in the family. When I’m not hosting at home, I am hiking in the mountains or the rain forest. I still travel every few months, checking in on other various cultures around the world. It gives me a sense of connectedness and reminds me that the world is so much bigger than my community.

One of my biggest life-changing experiences happens after I am fifty. I take time away from my normal life and spend several weeks on retreat somewhere in Japan or China, immersing myself in qigong, meditation, and prayer. This experience is as much for me as for my legacy. I do this to forever deepen my practices and connect to my Maker.

Occasionally, I travel and speak to crowds of people. Sometimes it’s from a stage, other times, it’s in a quaint, quiet place where spiritual seekers have gathered. Even when I am eighty, I am working – collaborating, leading, and connecting with others to make a positive impact on our future. I know that the work I do in this lifetime is only a fragment of what is possible if I teach the next generations everything I know. Although I don’t have children of my own, I am viewed as a mother figure to others. I mother. I mentor. I lead. I inspire. My life has purpose every day until my last breath. I rest often, but I never stop my pursuit of fulfilling my dharma. Every moment matters, until the very end.

Now, write a letter from you at eighty to you at your current age. What would you tell yourself? What interests would you urge yourself to pursue? What dreams would you encourage?

Dear 44-year-old Amber,

I’m eighty now, and it feels like life has been so full, yet breezes by so quickly! Where has the time gone? You already sense this, but as you are now almost 45 years old, your true adult-life is just beginning. You are understanding yourself, building confidence in your own taste, and noticing how beautiful life really is, but this is just the beginning of your awareness of the cocoon, soon to be broken open.

Your intuition is strong now, but you are only beginning to trust it. There’s more depth to this gift than you can imagine. You must never let these daily rituals of journaling, qigong, meditation, and prayer fall to the wayside. These practices are your core and your connection to the Divine. They are a steady hand as you navigate the rocky terrain ahead. These practices nurture your soul and help you to connect with yourself. Your dharma is powerful and impactful, but never forget that it is your thick tether to God that makes it so. Care for this tether like your life depends on it.

You have been dabbling in qigong and have just decided to take your practice more seriously by becoming a teacher. This is the beginning of a key part of your journey. Keep following that desire to share qigong with others. It may not look like it right now, but qigong will be a healing modality that many turn to when times get harder in the future.

And they do get harder sometimes, Amber. You have such a penchant for optimism and hope. Don’t let that go no matter what happens. The world will gravitate toward sources of hope and encouragement in challenging times. Be that light. Don’t let anything darken your spirit. Let your authenticity be your compass always.

Oh, and also – loosen up a bit 🙂 It’s great that you take life seriously, but remember to have fun along the way. Cultivate joy for yourself and others.

And lastly, hold tight to your commitment to navigate life with love and curiosity. These two qualities will always be doorways to new opportunities.

I love you, and I believe in you. I’m super excited for you to see what happens in the next 40 years. It’s big!

Amber, age 80

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Tomorrow, I’ll time travel to remember myself when I was eight, and I’ll have that young version of me write a letter back to me at my current age.

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