What if you had a chance to go back in time? Would you try and change history? Or would you consider giving yourself a few pieces of advice? Or better yet, what if your past self could talk to you now?
For one young woman, when she opened an email, she never expected what was inside. But the words, were exactly what she needed to hear.
Dear Future Me… Hi! Did you miss me? It’s me, you!” the letter began, and 20-year-old Michelle Skidelsky just smiled as she read the heartfelt words from her 13-year-old self.
Back in 2016, Skidelsky had used the website FutureMe.org to write herself a pre-scheduled email, not knowing when or if it would ever arrive. But now, in 2023, the email had finally made its way to her, and she decided to share it on TikTok, where it quickly went viral.
@michelleskidelskyi used futureme.org to do this!! dont let this fool you 13 year old me was rlly annoying♬ original sound – michelle
In the TikTok clip, Skidelsky shared excerpts from the letter, which was filled with positivity and encouragement from her younger self. “If your life has gone horribly wrong, I’m sorry. But your life was awesome at one point and don’t regret making your life horrible because at one point it was everything you wanted,” her teenage self wrote. She also reminded her older self that she was “beautiful and awesome and deserve lots of awesome things.”
Skidelsky was touched by the kind words and encouragement from her younger self. She created a TikTok carousel honoring that 13-year-old, whom she referred to as her “hero.” She described her as “strong, resilient, and brave; someone who loved books, music and DIY room decor.
The younger Skidelsky had dreams of becoming a doctor, specifically a psychiatrist, but her career path had since changed. “No, I’m a communications major now,” Skidelsky revealed, but she was grateful for the wisdom and positivity her younger self had shared. “Things turned out better than she could ever imagine,” Skidelsky said.
Skidelsky’s experience of receiving a letter from her younger self has resonated with millions of people who have viewed her TikTok video. Many have been inspired to write their own letters to their future selves, infusing their future with a sense of hope and positivity.
It’s so common to think that a chapter in our life isn’t going the way it should be when we’re in the thick of it, only to look back with a renewed sense of appreciation of our former selves,” Skidelsky reflected. “How many times have you been baffled looking back at a photo of yourself you once thought was atrocious? Yes, me too. Perhaps one of the best ways we can perform self-love is to infuse our future with a sense of hope in whatever way we can.”
But it wasn’t all so serious. Skidelsky’s younger self also had a sense of humor, writing, “You are smart, or you were, and you can be smart again.” And towards the end of the email, her younger self urged her to treat herself to a donut, which Skidelsky explained had a deeper meaning.
“I had been battling an eating disorder during that time, and this was an attempt at giving my self-esteem some positive messaging,” Skidelsky shared in her TikTok video. “And in case you’re wondering — yes, I got myself a donut. A vanilla one, to be exact.”
So, if you’re curious about what advice your younger self might have for you, why not try writing a letter to your future self? Who knows, it might bring a smile to your face years from now, just like it did for Skidelsky. After all, as Skidelsky’s younger self wisely said, “I hope you remember that you are beautiful and awesome and deserve lots of awesome things.”
@michelleskidelsky Replying to @thefairygrandmother ♬ original sound – michelle
Sources: UpWorthy | In The Know
