Letter From My 90yr Old Self

My friend John Blase received a letter from his 90yr old self, and he invited me to do the same

Dear Winn,

I like you. You’re sure to like the man you become, but it's important for you to hear that I enjoy the man you are now. It's a powerful temptation to perpetually believe some future triumph or distant decade will signal your arrival. Winn, you've already arrived, two firm feet planted on solid ground. You're here. You're living and loving. Go with it.

This isn't to say you won't be arriving more, becoming more solid, more true. You will. But don't worry about getting there. Fretting over your story means you'll think too much and toil too hard. You've been writing long enough to know the contrived dribble that splatters on the page when we strain to make something rather than live something. Whenever you're pressing, it isn't believable. It isn't believable because it isn't true. Be true.

I encourage you to live attentively. Watch for the places where your heart is most tender or your anger most righteous. Watch for your tears. Watch for your laughter. Tune in to the yearning for slowness and quiet. Perk up when you want to punch a fellow in the face. Don't judge the right or wrong of a thing too hurriedly. Live from leisure. Curiosity is your friend, but curiosity needs room to breathe. I don’t know if an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, but I do know a leisurely mind is the soul’s friend. Remember when Ken shared his belief that we need to move toward the pain? Definitely pay attention to that. Don't be afraid of suffering. Don't be afraid of loneliness. Don't be afraid of making your mark. Don't be afraid.

I know all that appears a tall order. Let me help a little with the fear. The boys will know they're loved. They'll wrangle with some of the doubts you hoped they could avoid (they didn't kill you, did they?), but they won't doubt your love. They'll remember your tenderness more than your impatience, your presence more than your absence, your good more than your bad. Love truly does cover a multitude of sins. Speaking of fear, you'll also be glad to know you won't fight your darker demons forever — for a while longer, but not forever. It's not that you'll rally to an epic showdown where you vanquish what torments you; you're simply going to grow tired of the merry-go-round. One of these days, you'll wave down the operator, hop off and go for an ice cream instead.

In other words, you're going to become more and more the man who, in all the right places, learns not to give a shit. It's a strange thing that the good men learn to care more and, at the same time, to care less. You'll become scandalously tender, but you'll hold your tenderness and your strength with such openness that it doesn't require validation. Remember when your pastor told you to get comfortable keeping your own counsel? You will. You'll trust your wife and your sons and your friends, believing that others' good eyes and good hearts will sometimes see more clearly than your own. But you won't give credence to the people critiquing your life or your work or your way. You, Winn, won't give a shit.

And your sketch-of-a-dream comes true, complete with the worn tweed jacket and the worn books and the worn friends. You and Miska spend the next decades pouring the flames on love. The two of you become quite the spectacle. Your love weathers the seasons. More than weathers, it flourishes, love and laughter run wild. You grow foolish together, and you love others well. Keep listening to Miska. She hears things. She sees things.

Keep writing; you're heading in a fine direction. Don't spend an ounce of energy trying to tap into the flavor du jour or run after whatever it is everybody’s running after (I still don’t know). Like the song that’s been working on you says — don’t build your ego on a hungry crowd. Just keep being true, and generous. Tell us what you see.

I like you, Winn. You'll like you too. Might as well start now.

Sincerely,

your 90yr old self

21 Replies to “Letter From My 90yr Old Self”

  1. From one of your tattered friends – good job! I like it, and you too. Thanks for joining in the fun…the thing wouldn't let me post as anyone other than anonymous…figured it was a kairos moment, so I did.

  2. Winn, i love your words. They are like honey for a bitter world, soup in the cold of winter or maybe a really good hug….Good and comforting, sweet and true.

  3. I'll blow your cover, John. I'm thankful for the invitation, thankful for you. Grab those moments, over and over and over.

  4. I've always been a letter-writer.Never much of a letter-receiver. The note you recently sent me was one of the only ones I've ever received and it was on of the best. You spoke words that people closer to me (and who have actually seen me in real life!) have never said. I thank you for that.
    I think I should receive more letters from myself too. That's kind of what some of the pages in my journal look like.
    A wish I was a part of a "league of letter writers".A group of people who knew the power of a well-written,timely letter. But since I'm not,I have to remember to speak to my self and continue to send notes to people who need them.

  5. Kind of having a man crush on you right now. You won’t be weirded-out if I read all of your old posts and leave comments, will you?

  6. Winn, I’m so happy I found you!!! I can’t say any are my favorites cause each one speakS to my heart…love your heart

  7. Lee Allcorn January 13, 2015 at 10:00 pm
    Hello Winn, I’ve enjoyed reading these very powerful writings,please call sometime. I’d love to talk. 863-446-2210 Lee Allcorn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Top