Recently, I shared a journaling prompt that really resonated with me and gave me the ability to get outside of my head and get a real birds eye view of the arc of a lifetime, my life. So today I want to share with you How I Reflect on my Past, Present, & Future. These are the yearly life lessons that I have learned, are learning, and want to learn in my coming years.
What started out as an impromptu self care practice turned into a truly healing experience. And it all started with an image I saw on Facebook and Instagram. If you have found yourself not knowing how to process the past or plan for the future, I really would like to suggest that you try this journaling exercise. It has given me a stillness and acceptance that I didn’t have before. It has connected me back to my spiritual center by giving me a holistic view of the theme of each year of my life.
How & Why To Write This Journaling Prompt: click here.
Dear Jenny,
1986 created me.
1987 age 1 – gave me an animal companion.
1988 age 2 – gave me that first touch of wild.
1989 age 3 – had me playing in the snow on the farm.
1990 age 4 – had me playing at the orchard.
1991 age 5 – gave me my first school friends.
1992 age 6 – disrupted my world, and gave me head trauma.
1993 age 7 – shook my foundation again.
1994 age 8 – told me I was a terrible student.
1995 age 9 – solidified that I was slow and dumb, but also gave me Molly and Smoky.
my teens
1996 age 10 – scared me, but also gave me a little world of my own to decorate, my first locker.
1997 age 11 – made me bleed.
1998 age 12 – gifted me music.
1999 age 13 – freaked me out.
2000 age 14 – gave me hope.
2001 age 15 – give me rejection.
2002 age 16 – solidified my self-doubt.
2003 age 17 – made me confident.
2004 age 18 – made me excited.
2005 age 19 – gave me freedom.
my 20’s
2006 age 20 – made me wild.
2007 age 21 – gave me love, Daniel.
2008 age 22 – moved me forward.
2009 age 23 – scared me.
2010 age 24 – began losing me.
2011 age 25 – give me entrepreneurship and Nate and Ally.
2012 age 26 – took me to New York City to see a llamasu.
2013 age 27 – was supposed to be the end.
2014 age 28 – shocked me that I was here.
2015 age 29 – united our love.
my 30’s
2016 age 30 – gave me a new era, 30s, hearing.
2017 age 31 – broke me and began rebuilding me.
2018 age 32 – open my eyes and gave me Zoya and Olena.
2019 age 33 – I’m coming back.
This is where I write this post and share it with you, where I am right now. Read the How To & Why To behind this journal entry here.
2020 age 34 – will give me understanding.
2021 age 35 – will give me peace.
2022 age 36 – will give me hope.
2023 age 37 – will probably give me more to love.
2024 age 38 – I will find life satisfaction.
2025 age 39 – 10 years of marriage.
my 40’s
2026 age 40 – experiences will be more memorable than stuff.
2027 age 41 – 20 years together.
2028 age 42 – I will learn that there are no grownups.
2029 age 43 – I will find forgiveness.
2030 age 44 – I will learn to love my skin all over again.
2031 age 45 – I will have already found my tribe.
2032 age 46 – confidence is beautiful and powerful.
2034 age 47 – laugh lines are worth it.
2035 age 48 – sometimes you have to suck it up in the name of love peace and harmony.
2036 age 49 – 20 years of marriage.
my 50’s
2037 age 50 – we are always evolving.
2038 age 51 – 30 years together.
2039 age 52 – confidence.
2040 age 53 – everyone is responsible for their own life story.
2041 age 54 – you’ve still got the second half of your life.
2042 age 55 – I’ll have a great sense of who I am.
2043 age 56 – feel happier than ever.
2044 age 57 – still a thrill seeker.
2045 age 58 – feel in tune with the divine.
2046 age 59 – 30 years of marriage.
my 60’s
2047 age 60 – life isn’t serious.
2048 age 61 – 40 years together.
2049 age 62 – I’ll be embracing life.
2050 age 63 – Little things won’t matter.
2051 age 64 – I’ll know how to play it by ear.
2052 age 65 – I’ll let go more.
2053 age 66 – I’ll retire to the woods or lake side.
2054 age 67 – I will have joyfully less fucks to give.
2055 age 68 – I will have found life satisfaction (again).
2056 age 69 – 40 years of marriage.
my 70’s
2057 age 70 – I will take living seriously.
2058 age 71 – 50 years together.
2059 age 72 – there is still more to come.
2060 age 73 – I’ll know that my life is meaningful.
2061 age 74 – I’ll be bold.
2062 age 75 – I’ll be taking life and love gently.
2063 age 76 – I’ll be gaining interests.
2064 age 77 – live with purpose.
2065 age 78 – I will have beautiful white hair.
2066 age 79 – 50 years of marriage.
my 80’s
2067 age 80 – I’ll be exercising.
2068 age 81 – 60 years together.
2069 age 82 – I’ll gleefully say anything.
2070 age 83 – I’ll be engaging my brain.
2071 age 84 – I will have accepted my past.
2072 age 85 – I will be outside watching the birds and animals.
2073 age 86 – I’ll be loving more.
2074 age 87 – I’ll have kept myself young.
2075 age 88 – I’ll still be creating.
2076 age 89 – 60 years of marriage.
my 90’s
2077 age 90 – I’ll be staying the course.
2078 age 91 – 70 years together.
2079 age 92 – Ill be sharing my wisdom.
2080 age 93 – I’ll be a maven – one who knows.
2081 age 94 – I’ll be in credibly happy and fulfilled.
2082 age 95 – I will have found a new kind of peace.
2083 age 96 – I will make my happiness.
2084 age 97 – I will have loved.
2085 age 98 – I will nap like a cat.
2086 age 99 – 70 years of marriage.
2087 age 100 – will give me the centennial club.
2088 age 101 – I will happily let go I will be becoming a tree.
This journaling exercise connected me to my core, my spirit, and my soul. It may not be for everyone, but for me it was a truly, truly, uplifting spiritual experience that made me feel connected with myself, life as a human on this Earth, and the human experience. I felt an overwhelming sense of healing and calm after finishing. I may not make it all the way to 101, but based on my family I know that I will get close.
