Past Me / Future Me
The trip I recently took was probably the trip I’ve ever been most prepared for in my history of trips. I did the usual amount of planning ahead of the trip, but the real distinguisher was when I started to actually get ready for the trip.
In the week leading up to the trip, I did things like make my packing list (and started packing two days before), plan for (and then buy and make) food to bring on the plane, thought ahead about the weeks I’d be away and what things needed to be maintained or done in that time and did about 80% of the work before leaving…
I was a machine. By the time I actually zipped up my suitcase and left the house to head to the airport, I felt light and free and the journey had only barely begun.
But here is the gamechanger. The thing that I thought Future Me would appreciate, and the thing I’m now so grateful to Past Me for…
I cleaned my house before I left.
Now look, it wasn’t exactly a pigsty. I’m just talking some basics – ran the vacuum, put things away, ran and unloaded the dishwasher, cleaned the kitchen counters…nothing crazy.
But I can’t tell you what a welcome-home it was to walk into my place after nearly 14 hours of travel time and, across times zone, being up for almost 20 hours, and have my house be clean. In that moment, I was so thankful for the Past Me who thought this might be a nice little treat.
I don’t often think about this. As I go along, day after day, I don’t always think about what Future Me might like or appreciate. Present Me is usually pretty preoccupied with whatever is happening around Present Me.
But this one experience showed me how powerful it could be to think about Future Me and what she might like or want that I could start creating now…
What do you think Future You might wish you would do today?
