“The Faroe Islands, anno 2117 A.D.,
I’ve lived a long and wondrous life.
I’ve travelled to every part of the world, and I’ve acquired as much information, knowledge, and wisdom as my mind would contain. I feel grateful for the understanding and compassion that this has brought me; I have tried valiantly to quench my insatiable curiosity.
I’ve always done what I could to help people around me, to bring wisdom into their lives, to help them find joy and meaning. Nearing the end of my time, I’ve given everything away, although I’ve left enough for my family to live comfortably and safely.
My wife has been by my side through most of it. She has shared in my experiences, and I in hers. She is my most loyal companion and friend. We’ve seen hardships and felt pain together, but in the end, she has been the only source of constancy in my life.
Our children and grandchildren are all very different from me and from one another. But they are also very much a part of me. My spirit will live on through them, and I pray that they will continue to do good things for themselves and others.
Old friends often come by to see me; they bring their children sometimes, who are also friends with my children.
Once in a while, I receive letters or calls from someone I have helped. They express their gratitude for my services to them. I write thank-you letters of my own, and send one out every day to a specific person. Thank goodness I have their names, stories and contact information written down.
My old journal [this one] is great to read. My children read it to me, and we all relive, vicariously, through the tumultuous times of the Industrial, Information, and Innovation Ages, all which I have experienced (and thoroughly enjoyed).
I love my children. I’m so proud of them. And I love my parents. They have both passed on, but I am so grateful that I got to spend so many years in their company. I’m happy that I could be of service to them and make them proud of me. And my grandparents, too. I’m happy that I was able to spend enough time with them to get to know them.
My life has been a successful one.
I am truly blessed.”
This letter was written in February, 2015. I found it while reflecting on my past by revisiting old posts from my daily journal. I’m amazed by how much I still resonate with this, my hypothetical post-humous reflection on a successful life. I highly encourage you to write down their own.
Ps. Yes, you read the date right – 2117. I plan to be 130 years old.