The following is a letter I wrote to my Future-Now-Past self on December 25th, 2011. Past-Past me knew I’d need a little encouragement before my first half marathon (runDisney’s Princess half, February 2012) so she decided to write Future-Now-Past me a letter.

All mes were/are terribly confused when it came/comes to tense. Which was/is apparent but try to overlook it.

Dear FutureMe,

As long as everything goes according to plan, you’ll be running a half marathon in the next few days.

That’s 13.1 miles.

That’s a long effing run.

Remember when you were in high school and they made you run the mile each year for the American fitness test? And remember how you’d sort of half walk, half jog around the track just so that you could just get it over with?

Remember how you were in shape until you reached a certain point in college and you became horrendously out of shape? Remember when you lost your shape and could no longer fit into jeans or shirts that you’d once lived in? Remember when you had to wear those gray pants all summer long because they were practically the only things that fit you?

The comments made by others were nothing compared to the way you felt about yourself. After Elderberry was born, you decided to make a commitment to yourself and your health. After Littleberry was born, it took you a bit of time but you once again made that commitment.

Why do you run when you don’t always like it? Because it’s hard. Because it makes the finish and the reward that much sweeter when it’s finally over. And because that sense of accomplishment, that sense of SELF, of being truly aware of who you are, is like nothing you’ve ever felt.

You are amazing and can do amazing things. At this point, you might be doubting us, nervous about doing something seemingly so BIG. But you shouldn’t be because you have this strength within you.

Remember that.

Remember to have fun with this, push yourself, and be the incredible person you’ve become over the past 34 years.

You can and you will until you could and you did.

Always,

Meridith

Want to write a letter to your Future Self? Check out FutureMe.org

If you need a pep talk, who do you look to? Do you talk to your Future self too? Or your present self?