Belated Letter From the Future

Hey there, Thom of 2008!

How’re you doing? No, wait. Let me guess. You’re living the dream. Well, you’re right. But ten years from now, you’ll be even more right. How do I know this, you ask? Why thank you for asking. Let me tell you.

So you know how you’ve always thought it would be cool to get a letter from your future self? Well here it is! Sorry it’s arriving a little late, but it’s me. And you. It’s Thom of 2018. I’ve been thinking about you recently, and I thought it would be fun to go back in time and talk with you. I’m not going to go into all the details, but your world is going to be radically different and better. You think your life is pretty awesome now, but you have even more amazing things in store in the next decade.

Let me start by just thanking you. In the next few years, you start taking better care of yourself and 48-year-old you is much healthier now. It will feel like a long process, but hang in there. Every morning future you gets out of bed feeling awesome, the effort you’ve put into it is greatly appreciated. Things are going to go well. I won’t spoil it for you, but who knows. Maybe a marathon or a triathlon may be within reach.

Your family is pretty awesome and doing well. But don’t get a big head. All the credit really goes to Jill. Let me tell you, you hit the marriage lottery! Amazing family doing great things. You'll be proud. Also, your spiritual life is on track. If you want to know the secret to success, you can start by simply breathing and being quiet. Be a contempletater (I know that's not a word, but I like it). Also, keep an eye out for Richard, Marcus, Brian, and David. Those are going to be some key figures. And look out for Stan. He may want you to write a book or something crazy like that.

On another note, you are going to find that you love teaching and coaching more than you ever thought possible. You’ll still value optimal performance by your students and athletes, but your true passion and focus will shift more toward relationship building. More specifically, your first “one word” will be IMPACT. Your second “one word” will be INSPIRE. This will make more sense in about nine years.

So is your mind blown yet? It’s all good. Just enjoy the process. Keep reading and learning. Love, enjoy, inspire, encourage, and impact. Be grateful and compassionate. Be present and aware. Build connections and relationship (you’re going to meet some amazing people!). Oh, and don’t get too attached to the hair you still have, because it’s not going to stay too attached to you. Other than that, good things are definitely headed your way. And speaking of the future from the future, I’m excited to hear what Thom from 2028 has to say.

Enjoy the day!

Thom of 2018