Letters to the future.

I'd like to describe a category which I will be using to label some of my posts.  This is a category of my writing that I intend to do from time to time for several reasons.  It is something I have done a little of before and have always appreciated the experience on both ends, whether at the moment of writing or the moment of receiving(since I have typically only done this in writing letters to myself.)  This particular category of my writing, however, is something that I would like to do more for the other important people of my future than for myself.  I will certainly take the time to write to myself on occasion... but it certainly has a different meaning and effect than anything I would write to someone other than myself.

Here are a few of my reasons for doing this:

Writing to others is an act of faith.  Unless you actually hand a person the letter you are writing to, and sit with them to watch them read it, it is unlikely you will ever be aware if or when this takes place.  Beyond that, you never really know how it is received until you get some sort of feedback, which may or may not have the desired positive effect, and may never be given to you even if it is well-received anyway.  Thus, the element of faith is definitely increased through this practice, and I am definitely in need of increasing my faith.

Writing to others is one way I can build a relationship with them.  I am all about building relationships, not breaking them down or allowing them to disintegrate.  I know that time can come to dim the light between me and others, as we may separate and become entangled in our lives apart, but I know that it doesn't have to undo any progress which has been made prior to that separation.  I further believe that efforts extended to build any relationship while separated actually do build that relationship that much more when they are together.  This is easily represented in the role of performing temple work for those who have already passed beyond the veil of this life.

Writing to others is a form of commitment.  Every word we put down in writing should come from our honest intentions to do the right things.  And though I am definitely a flawed, imperfect person, my intentions to do the right things will hopefully remain intact, and every goal or positive notion I express in any letter will hopefully be extended my honest best effort to keep or achieve.  Certainly this is an unusual way to go about writing goals but I think it will prove productive in my life.

Writing to others is a form of honesty.  Not just for the intended recipient of the letter but also for myself.  If I am taking the time to compose something for all of the above stated reasons I definitely have to search my inner-self to produce the best possible result.  Despite my generally carefree style of expression I take this form of communication very seriously.  I honestly don't expect anybody to care about this as much, or take this as seriously as I do, and why should they?  These are written from me to the future I hope and expect to have.  Certainly I would hope that any of what I write here can be helpful to any who read it(else, why bother posting any of this on a public blog?) perhaps serving as an example of things worth trying in your own life, or clearly illustrating my own folly in my attempts to do the right things.

Altogether, I feel like this will be a good category to explore from time to time for the reasons that it can also be fun and friendly.  It is good to think of the future and excitedly try to become a part of it somehow.  This seems like as good a method as any I can currently think of and I hope it can be worth anybody's time who gives it a shot as well.