etc.

By now, you have probably heard of futureme.org. You might even have sent yourself a letter. I first stumbled across the service last year, sent myself a note, promptly forgot about it, and then found it again two weeks ago. This morning, I opened my e-mail to find that note I sent myself a year ago. Here’s what it said:

Well, this is certainly an interesting thing to do. I’m skeptical, but who knows. This is a bit like that journal I started some years ago that I told myself I would only read in my thirties (that’s this year!). Anyway. Here are some of the ways you should be living your life:

• live small and low on the food chain
• consume less and create more
• give gifts that you have made with your own two hands
• strive to be fiercely ethical in everything you do
• treat life’s karmic bank well: put back in what you take out
• trade things (goods, services) based on non-monetary standards whenever possible
• square things off with everyone you know and come into contact with

I look forward to meeting you in a year.

It’s probably a good thing that last years’ standards are also this years’ standards, and I’m happy the service worked because, if for nothing else, this note serves as a good reminder. I think I’ll resend it to myself for next year.