Other members have been writing wonderful postcards to their younger selves. Have you written yours?
To write a postcard on your VN profile page:
1. Make sure you’re logged in to Vibrant Nation.
2. Click on My Profile (green link in upper right corner of the page).
3. Click Edit My Profile, then scroll to the bottom of the page to write your Postcard. Hit “Update.” That’s it!
Watch for more great postcards on VN and on VN’s Facebook page – yours may be the next one featured!
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Permalink: http://www.vibrantnation.com/other-topics/have-you-written-a-postcard-to-your-younger-self/
Shirley - what a breath of fresh air. It sounds like you are quite the extraordinary person. I'm going to take your advice and ask myself what would I like to do on this long holiday weekend! Who knows...I just might have some fun. The loneliness is 
Dear Wondering,
First of all, you will be in my prayers over the next few days. What a sad situation for you to cope with. I hope that he will provide properly for you ... Make sure you get legal advice right away especially if there's any possibi
Shirley,
Sounds like you do have a FABULOUS life already.I too have journals I kept of all ot my travels .They include my sketches of different places as well as recipes from local restaurants which I figures out on my own.
I will be 60 in
It’s ok. You’ll get over it. I love you.
Don’t be so afraid. Life is not lived sitting quietly in the corner; keeping your head down. As a male friend just told me: thrust your chest out, put your head up high, and meet people’s eyes. It’s hard work putting yourself out there, so don’t despair. You are stronger than you think you are.
I think at turning 50 a change has taken place in my mind.
I am committed to accomplishing the things I have always wanted to do.
Is this common of other woman my age?
rusty1
yes – I think we finally have the time and give ourselves permission to follow our dreams – often dreams we have put on hold for family and/or career and other commitments. I published my first book at 50! Now I have three on the shelf and a fourth will be available this fall …
Wishing you all the best! (Perhaps you’ll report back to us here on Vibrant Nation about your experiences)
CONGRATS TO YOU WOODS FTL!
I’m an aspiring writer myself, and have often envisioned getting something published. I’m simply in awe of you getting your first book published! Would you suggest any ideas in getting published? I’m told it’s a very competitive world out there for firsttime writers.
Michele – do it! There are many smaller publishers (not to be confused with vanity press where you pay them to print your book) who are looking for new, local, fresh writers. I am with PublishAmerica, located in Frederick MD, and they have many local authors but many many international and well-known authors as well. The process is basic and is outlined on their website. It takes a few months for the whole process (acceptance, contract, editorial review, edits, etc) but it can be done.
BEST WISHES!
I just published my first book at age 73. Yes, it was self-published (InstantPublisher.com). I’m working on a second and a third, and plan to try for a “real” publisher next time. A life-long dream is finally coming true. So, if I could write a postcard to my younger self, it would say, “Don’t wait till you’re 73 to fulfill your dreams!”
When I am there, I want to run. When i am gone, I cant wait to get back.
Loving my sweet self! Now that’s a daily treat to me. (:
Marry with old age in mind. Marry for a retirement fund, or be sure to make your own. Old age and poverty is a tough combination. Always generate self esteem, having low/none generates challenging decisions (partnerships, jobs, money, abuse of self by self and others) — do it thru the lens of high self esteem. Marry for the retirement fund.
Postcard to younger self: If you work too hard & lift too much, you will spend 4 years pretty much flat on your back. It’s not worth it. Don’t try to be Super Woman!
Remember – do what’s right, not what’s popular.
I must say the postcard that you featured really pissed me off.
WHAT SORT OF ARCHAIC NONSENSE IS THIS?
MEET A MAN AND GET MARRIED????
SO IS THIS WHAT WE AS WOMEN ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO BE HOPING FOR IN OUR LIVES?? GETTING MARRIED?
WHAT CENTURY ARE YOU LIVING IN ?
I WOULD HAVE HAD A THOUSAND BETTER THINGS TO START OUT THIS ARTICLE ABOUT THE POSTCARD TO SELF MESSAGE FOR INSTANCE…
START A COMPANY , TRAVEL TO TIBET, WORK WITH THE SICK OR THE POOR , START MENTORING A KID ( LIKE MY SISTER IS DOING) INVENT A GREAT NEW PRODUCT AND GET IT OFF THE GROUND BUT YOU WENT FOR THE STUPID OLD CHESTNUT – HOOK A MAN AND GET MARRIED
HOW DISAPPOINTING AND UNINSPIRING OF YOUR WRITER.
Um, I don’t think it’s your place to judge the woman’s postcard message. If that’s her message, nod your head and get on with your life. And using all caps is rude. Just saying…
Not only that, I think marrying with old age in mind is a wonderful message to a younger self. I could have said that to my 21 year old self too.
Hey get over the caps and try to concentrate on the message ok
I am pointing out the fact that TODAY women do not think that hooking a husband is the ultimate task in life .
This kind of thinking is what I call ‘SLAVE THINKING”
you want to be kept and be a GLORIFIED HOUSEKEEPER women need to loose this pipedream.
NOBODY IS GOING TO MAKE YOU HAPPY MARTHA EXCEPT YOURSELF NO MAN NO WOMAN NO KID IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY YOU ARE NOT LIVING UP TO YOUR FULL POTENTIAL . I am a passionate woman who loves life and so I use Caps ! Just trying to convey my positive message . THIS IS OLD HAT THIS MARRIAGE CRAP GET OUT AND GRAB THE WORLD BY THE BALLS!!
I’m hearing that you have some deep wounds around marriage and men and am sorry for you. For a moment you reminded me of my ex-husband.. he also suffered greatly from anger issues. That’s why I divorced him.
Being around someone who was continually ‘pissed off’ was the biggest and most exhausting turn-off ever.
However, I learned a big lesson from my years with ole’ Grumpy: Smile and the world is your oyster, sneer and the world will turn its back and go play somewhere else.
For that lesson I am forever in appreciation, I also appreciate you for reminding me of that lesson.
Would you be willing to share with us what you would write in a postcard to your younger self?
Hi there Esmee . I am the person who was angry because of the dumb comment on the postcard to NOTE TO SELF etc etc IT SOUNDED SO PASSE IT REALLY MADE ME LAUGH .
“GET A MAN, FIND A HUSBAND – WHAT DESPERATION IS THIS THIS IS PATHETIC .
WHAT CENTURY ARE YOU LIVING IN?
SO MUCH FOR INDEPENDENT COOL WOMEN WHO REALLY DO ACHIEVE SOMETHING IN THIS WORLD AND DO NOT WANT TO GET MARRIED AND THROW THEIR LIVES AWAY IN A DEAD END MARRIAGE AND WORSE TO BE SADDLED WITH A BUNCH OF SNOTTY BRATS THEN TO GET DIVORCED AND BE STUCK WITH THE SNOTTY BRATS! ARE YOU NUTZ?
SO WE ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO ASPIRE TO GET HITCHED AND BECOME GLORIFIED HOUSEKEEPERS ?
WRONG ! I GRADUATED WITH HONORS FROM YALE AND I AM QUITE SUCCESSFUL IN BUSINESS AND THAT IS ALL I WANT . SORRY I AM NOT LIKE YOU AND I DO NOT WANT A HUSBAND. I ALSO DO NOT WANT KIDS . YOUR THINKING IS SO OUTDATED .
I was very sad to see that it was all about HOOKING A MAN AND MARRYING A MAN – TO MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY . GET REAL ESMEE YOU ARE LIVING IN A SILLY LITTLE GIRL WORLD AND IT IS STATMENTS LIKE THIS
HAPPINESS COMES FROM WITHIN AND NO BODY MAN OR WOMAN IS GOING TO MAKE SOMEONE ELSE HAPPY ! IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING WITHIN YOU NOT OUT THERE. IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY THEN GETTING HITCHED AINT GONNA DO IT YOU WILL COMPOUND YOUR PROBLEMS TEN FOLD .
SO THEN YOU WROTE ME THAT YOU THINK THAT i AM NO T HAPPY
YOU ARE SOOOOO WRONG . I LOVE MY LIFE DATE MANY GUYS BUT I DO NOT FEEL THAT I NEED TO GET MARRIED NOR HAVE I EVER FELT THAT WAY! I AM SINGLE AND OVER 50 AND LOVE IT – I HAVE MY OWN BUSINESS MAKE GREAT MONEY AND LOVE LOVE LOVE WHAT I DO SO I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WOMEN LIKE YOURSELF WHO FEEL THAT THEY MUST HAVE A MAN TO COMPLETE THEM. I UNLIKE YOU AM ALREADY A COMPLETE AND COMPLETELY FABULOUS WOMEN . DO I LOVE MY SELF ??
YES I DO I THINK I AM AWSOME !! SORRY TO DISSAPPOINT YOU
Dear Honors Yale Graduate,
Wow, you may want to get your keyboard repaired, it appears to be stuck on CAPITAL LETTERS.
You certainly did not disappoint me. I don’t even know you so how could you possibly?
As well, I don’t recall mentioning that I wanted or needed a husband to be happy. Perhaps you could re-read my comment before bursting into flames again.
Good for you you are ‘quite successful in business and that is all you want out of life’, you go girl. But I am curious how one could laugh and be pissed off at the same time, hmm… are they related?
I wish you all the best of luck in your life and will offer you a parting thought (after you get your keyboard looked at) – Don’t take yourself so damn seriously
Esmee I wrote in caps because I want to warn women that husband hunting is for losers. It is for women who have not the intelligence nor the guts to get out and make it on your own. they want to sit on thier fat backsides and wait for a man to hand it to them.
Please Dont try to analyze me- you do not know my background
I’ve been engaged several times and I decided to call it off
the man were all nice and professionals MD’s, physicist, an engineer
it just felt … all wrong , in fact the thought of gettng married made me feel very sad like I was loosing ME.
I have no past bad marriage that went south (as you most likely have)
I’ve always felt that marriage kills a womans spirit and turns you into a chattle …. a breeder , a zombie. NOT for me.
and lets face it most women want to get married they want a man to “take care ” of them financially.
Which is why divorced women especially divorced women with kids are
the NEW POOR. So I love my own company and love being alone even though I have men around and can see them when I want I really like being alone. SO SHOOT ME!
Hi Anonymous,
While you have made some valid comments about women and marriage, even in this 21st century, there are still women who feel comfortable desiring a marriage partner. And, that’s perfectly okay. As the saying goes, ” To each his/her own.”
One of the things I most enjoy about VN is women’s ability to give voice to their individual thoughts and opinions. While everyone may not express the same sentiments, they are respected. I have read your comments, yet, in my opinion, others’ opinions have been debated and ridiculed with vehemence. Would you not agree Anonymous, that many in society expect women to be catty, criticizing, and demeaning of each other? Let’s NOT make this venue of expressing ourselves a self-fulfilling prophecy of that negative thought!
Children bring a huge burst of love into our lives, and this is a wonderful thing. It is normal for a woman to love her man. But managing relationships, with all their strong emotions, is a tricky task, and there are all sorts of inequalities built in, from within our physical selves as well as culture and society. Marriage is teamwork, to attain a healthy family and a good future. For some, this does lead to financial dependence, which is fine as long as the unpaid one knows s/he has a justified entitlement to support in return for holding it all together. When it works, it is a delight, and when it falls apart it is a ‘learning experience’. Unfortunately, people will always try to wield power over each other, and time changes the balance. You are right that marrying just for money is cynical and ultimately self destructive, but as money is power, it makes sense to avoid contractual ties to complete no-hopers or crooks.
Postcard to myself at age 23:
DON’T QUIT THAT PhD PROGRAM! You’ll regret it the rest of your life.
Postcard to my younger self:
There are many different opinions on every subject. Collect some, then choose the one you like best ATM. The opposite could be true, too
It’s not the destination, it’s the journey. Slow down…the next thing you know you’ll be ahead of yourself, again.
IF it isn’t fun, easy and producing results, its just your ego talking. Take some time for yourself until its fun again. Oh and btw the path of love is always the best one so dont miss one minute of it!