Why write a letter to yourself?
We compose a message to ourselves with wishes, ideas that will become nostalgia. It's nice to know that in the distant future you are a successful businessman who travels the world, or a beautiful wife with a big happy family. But many are often afraid to even think about the future, because: “Who knows, why make a guess. We still need to live until tomorrow, and not think about anything. It doesn’t work for me.” Just remember yourself from the past, who felt indignation for any reason.
Previously, we were embarrassed to approach a person, but today he is our friend. Previously, the dream of becoming an actor was crazy, but today we are filming a series, and there are ideas to move forward. Writing a letter to yourself is, without exaggeration, the most important task you can do right now. Today, the head is filled with valuable information, genuine experience, and a sincere state. All this cannot be missed, so we take the hot situation and compose a message to ourselves in the future.
Take a character test
A letter to yourself is usually written at special times : after graduating from school, university, wedding or coming of age. There is no point in waiting until your next birthday, otherwise thoughts tend to fade away. Future us will definitely have thoughts about the past, that is, about the time that we are living at the moment.
Now you are reading this text, and 20 years later you live in another country or are a great inventor. It is important to scale your perspectives and learn to live openly. If you allow yourself to look “for later”, then it will be incredibly pleasant to read these lines many years later, to realize “how wonderful it was or how everything was not done in vain. It’s good that I thought of it then.”
Letters to the future are needed for the following:
- A person analyzes his priorities. If quite recently the goal was to acquire a higher education purely for work, then now you realize the value of education for starting a personal business. Prioritizing helps you focus on more important things to shape your future. Do you have an idea to learn a foreign language? Great, you may need it to move to the USA or England. You need to pay attention to your primary goals for future success.
- A letter to yourself is gratitude in its purest form. “Thank you for the fact that I can write these lines now and share with you 10 years later when you read this. I thank you for the courage that made you successful." “I am grateful for your responsiveness, because today you helped a person. You’re great for not doubting yourself and the “future” you will be happy with these lines.” Words of gratitude to yourself, circumstances, family, and God give you goosebumps. Do not ignore those feelings that are now directing you to act. It is such a gift to walk through everything with gratitude and give yourself hope!
- “Photographing” yourself in your personal biography. We will not be able to remember that the “Moonlight Sonata” is now playing, which makes us cry. We don't mention that today we saved a kitten from death, and they thanked us for it. The present moment may be lost without a trace, but it is the best memory at the dawn of its time. Remembering, experiencing feelings, leaving them in relics - all this records our movement into the future. PS Why not start collecting valuable “pieces” of the past. A movie ticket for today's show with friends, a photo with a signature from mom, a souvenir from Thailand or postcards from school.
- Study the problems. In the future, a person may not realize that those experiences in the past were necessary. Quarrels, breakups, depression, challenges to yourself or society - any problem could have shaped us into who we are today. The man would not have felt like a leader if he had not resolved a conflict in the company that cost him his reputation. The girl would not have created a strong friendship if she had not refused “pseudo” friends who lie behind their back. Today we accept a challenge, and then it allows us to cope with great difficulties or anxiety.
Take a personality type test
English phrases for writing a story about yourself
So, we have told you what an essay about your life in English is like in terms of content, now let’s move on to the difficulties of grammar and translation. After all, it’s not enough to write an interesting essay; you also need to present it correctly. Typical words and phrases of the English language, which are often found in the stories of schoolchildren, students and adults about themselves, will help us correctly format the story. And in order for the information to be readable and easily perceived, we have divided speech clichés into several thematic subsections. Let's look at each of them in detail.
basic information
This is the opening paragraph of the essay in which you greet the listeners/readers and briefly say the most important things about yourself. As a rule, this is the first and last name, age, city and country of residence. Compiling such a short story about yourself in English takes a separate paragraph, including only a couple of sentences. It’s not difficult to write, but each style of storytelling has its own characteristics. Therefore, we will give a few introductory phrases to tell you about yourself in English with translation.
English expression | Russian translation |
First of all let me introduce myself. | First of all, let me introduce myself. |
Let me introduce myself, my name is… | Let me introduce myself, my name is... |
Let me tell you a few words about myself. | Let me tell you a few words about myself. |
My name is... | My name … |
My surname is… | My last name … |
I was named after my great-grandfather. | I was named after my great-grandfather. |
You can call me... | You can call me … |
People usually call me... | People usually call me... |
I was born in …(year) | I was born in ... (year) |
I was born on the… (date) | I was born... (full date) |
I am…years old. | I am... (years old). |
I am... (age) | I... (age) |
I will be… (age) next summer. | I will be ... (years old) next summer. |
I will be… (age) in two weeks. | I will be ... (years old) in two weeks. |
I was born in Russia in … (city) | I was born in Russia in ... (city) |
I am from… (country, city) | I'm from ... (country, city) |
I come from… (country, city) | I came from ... (country, city) |
I live in… (country, city) | I live in ... (country, city) |
My home town is located … | My hometown is located... |
My home town is… (description) | My hometown... (characteristic) |
Family
Relatives, friends, close circle - this is the topic without which an essay about your life would definitely be incomplete. Of course, you shouldn’t devote listeners or readers too much to the family history and describe everyday situations in detail, but you need to briefly write a story in English about relatives or close friends. Most often, essays report on the age of relatives, their qualities, professions and hobbies. Again, for a story about a family, one paragraph of text with a few sentences will be enough.
English expression | Russian translation |
Now let me tell you a little about my family. | Now let me say a few words about my family. |
I live at home with my parents. | I live in a house with my parents. |
I live with my husband (wife) and children. | I live with my husband (wife) and children. |
My family is small. | My family is small. |
My family is big. | My family is big. |
My family is not very large. | My family is not very big. |
I have a big family. | I have a big family. |
I have a mother, a father, an elder sister and three younger brothers. | I have a mother, a father, an older sister and three younger brothers. |
I come from a small (large) family. | I come from a small (big) family. |
There are (number) of us in the family. | In the family there are... (number, eg five, four). |
I have a lot of relatives. | I have many relatives. |
My parents have one more child (or number children), besides me. | Besides me, my parents have one more child (or more (number) children). |
I have neither brothers nor sisters. | I have no brothers or sisters. |
My father's name is… | My father's name is … |
My mother is a … (profession) | My mother's profession is ... (profession). |
My elder brother (sister) is married. | My older brother/sister is married. |
My mother/father/sister/brother likes… | My dad/mom/sister/brother likes... |
All members of my family like… | All my family members like... |
All members of my family…(description) | All members of my family... (description, e.g. kind, helpful, etc.) |
My family always supports me. | My family always supports me. |
I am happy to have such a friendly family. | I am happy to have such a friendly family. |
Education and work
Other English topics: Canada in English - example of a story with Russian translation
You also cannot write a story about yourself in English and not share information about your current place of study, work or profession. The following phrases will help you write this paragraph.
English expression | Russian translation |
I go to school/gymnasium/lyceum number … | I attend school/gymnasium/lyceum number... |
I am a pupil of (number) form. | I am a student of ... (number) class. |
I am in the… (number)th grade now. | Now I am studying in ... (number) class. |
My favorite subjects are… | My favorite subjects are... |
I am good at… | I have good academic performance in... |
I try to get on well in all the subjects. | I try to study well in all subjects. |
I'm doing quite well at school. | I do well at school. |
After school I plan to enter the University. | After school I plan to go to university. |
I would like to become a …(profession) | I want to get a profession... (name of profession) |
I want to be a …(profession) in the future. | In the future I want to become ... (name of profession). |
I finished school in … (year) | I graduated from school in ... (year). |
I am a student. | I am a student). |
I am a student of the faculty of economics. | I am a student of the Faculty of Economics. |
I study history of East Asia. | I am studying East Asian history. |
At University I study many subjects. | At university I study many subjects. |
I am a third year student of …(University/Instinute) | I am a third year student... (name of university, institute) |
I am in my first/second/third year. | I am a freshman/sophomore/third year student. |
I graduated from University in (year). | I graduated from university in ... (year). |
My major is... | My speciality … |
[/sayit]I graduated with honors.[/sayit] | I graduated with honors. |
Now I am looking for an appropriate job. | Now I'm looking for a suitable job. |
I work as a … (profession) | I work... (name of profession). |
I work for (the name of the company) | I work at ... (company name) |
I am unemployed at the moment. | I am currently unemployed. |
Personal qualities
Be sure to include a list of personal qualities and character traits in the text about yourself in English. But this must be done quite carefully so as not to create the impression that the speaker in the story in English is praising himself or, conversely, suffers from low self-esteem. The table below will help you choose the right words for your essay.
English expression | Russian translation |
As to my appearance… | As for my appearance... |
I have blue eyes and dark hair. | I have blue eyes and dark hair. |
I am quite tall. | I'm quite tall. |
I am slim. | I'm slim. |
My hair is curly. | I have curly hair. |
My eyes are brown. | My eyes are brown. |
I know that telling a lot of nice words about yourself is not modest but I am … | I know that it is not customary to say a lot of good words about yourself, but I... |
My friends say that I am quite handsome. | My friends say that I am very handsome. |
My friends find me rather attractive. | My friends find me quite attractive. |
As of my traits of character… | Speaking about my character traits... |
My best qualities are… | My best qualities are... |
cheerful | gaiety |
responsive | responsiveness |
creative | creativity, fantasy |
faithfull | fidelity, devotion |
ambitiousness | ambition |
purposeful | determination |
leadership | leadership |
Sometimes I can be lazy. | Sometimes I am lazy. |
I'm trying to be kind and polite. | I try to be kind and polite |
But at the same time I am touchy and stubborn. | But at the same time, I am touchy and stubborn. |
I am very emotional person. | I am a very emotional person. |
I am a communicative person. | I'm sociable. |
I appreciate sincerity and trust. | I value sincerity and trust. |
I like to discuss with polite and intelligent people. | I like to discuss with polite and educated people. |
Hobbies
And finally, in a separate line, or rather a paragraph, in the text you should mention your hobbies, interests and interests. Therefore, we suggest that you include sentences from the following table in the story you compose about yourself in English.
English expression | Russian translation |
As for my hobbies… | Regarding my hobbies... |
Now I would like to tell you about my interests. | Now I would like to talk about my interests. |
I am fond of… | I am fond of … |
I am a very versatile person. | I am a very versatile person. |
I go to the swimming pool. | I go to the pool. |
In my free time I play soccer. | In my free time I play football. |
I like fishing. | I love fishing. |
In my spare time I'm watching movie. | When I have a free minute, I watch movies. |
I'm interested in literature. | I'm interested in literature. |
I devote much time to learning English. | I devote a lot of my time to studying English. |
I give considerable attention to computer science. | I pay a lot of attention to computer science. |
I go in for sports. I play hockey. | I'm involved in sports. I play hockey. |
I am keen on sport and take part in different competitions. | I am fond of sports and take part in various competitions. |
In summer time I like windsurfing. | In the summer I like windsurfing. |
I enjoy skating in winter. | In winter I skateboard. |
I go to the gym. | I go to gym. |
I like to spend much time with my nearest and dearest. | I like to spend time with my family and friends. |
I have many hobbies... | I have many hobbies… |
reading | reading |
singing | singing |
dancing | dancing |
cooking | cooking |
I am very fond of traveling. | I like traveling very much. |
I have a lot of friends. | I have many friends. |
When I have some free time, I am surfing the Internet. | When I have a free minute, I surf the Internet. |
I like walking with my friends and have fun time. | I love going out with friends and having fun. |
I like to sit by the fire with my friends. | I like to sit around the fire with friends. |
I spend my free time riding a bike. | I spend my time cycling. |
I am not interested in watching TV. | I'm not interested in watching TV. |
Other topics that may be of interest:
- Story about a friend in English
- A story about your favorite toy in English
- A story about a cat in English
- Story about a family in English
- A story about a famous person in English
- A story about “My favorite sport”
- A story about my free time
- Topics “My favorite food” in English
Other English topics: Three forms of the verb keep - grammar, translation, example sentences
How to write a letter to yourself in the future?
Letters to the future are not a dry report that “I ate, listened and spoke today, and I also found money.” You need to be able to compose them, like a work that will become a bestseller in the future. This moment should be solemn, so the atmosphere should not burden or limit your creativity. What needs to be done to compose a message to your “heir” from yourself as an “ancestor”. The sequence is as follows:
Letter format.
What do we want to do this on? What color pen, or maybe a felt-tip pen? Maybe there will be stickers or our drawings here? It is worth thinking through everything down to the smallest detail - from the structure of the paper to the envelope or box where the message will be placed. Modern technologies make it possible to write it electronically.
On the selected day/month/year, a letter will be sent to your email address - we keep up with modern technologies. But there is nothing more soulful, more original than paper placed in a bottle, closed with a cork. If you have a yard, you can bury the relic in an insulated jar or leave it collecting dust in the attic.
Time period for reading the letter.
It’s more logical to open a letter to yourself when you have completely forgotten about it and don’t remember a single word you wrote. It’s all the more pleasant to read this, like the discovery of a “long-forgotten treasure.” The best period for nostalgia is five years or more.
If the letter is being written for a specific occasion, for example, turning 30 when you are 28, then everything is individual. If you open the message six months or a year later, the effect will not be so strong. You should not turn on the “impatient” mode and go towards the attic for any reason.
Make a list of everything you want to display.
What influenced you most during this time? What ideas inspire development? What do you dream about, what do you want to do in the same 10 years? Your current mood and goals are needed to shape your “former” image in the future. Right now you may be surrounded by many people who influence you, busy working on a new project, or researching a conspiracy theory. It is important to display as much as possible of what you want to share. There is no need to hide your true face or pretend - you should be honest and take responsibility for your words.
Take the self-esteem test
Don’t set yourself “strict” conditions.
“Here, I’ll write in a letter that in 15 years I will become president.” 15 years later, you are a good political scientist, but no Barack Obama. You shouldn’t choke yourself with a firm word that has the right to change in any direction. You cannot allow yourself to be disappointed in your abilities and give yourself instructions.
The letter erroneously states: “If you have not achieved this, then you lived in vain. If you’re not this one now, then why did you walk for so long?” Everything is achieved after a certain experience and, if necessary, it will definitely happen. There is no need to reproach yourself with control. Pleasant motivation, and that’s all!
Give yourself sincere advice.
It is important to write the message in a friendly manner and with an “easy mind.” Tell yourself what not to do if “such a situation arises or you think about it.” To say “but you remember it was like this, so don’t get lost in the little things, keep your tail on the gun.” Advice from the heart is like an oath of allegiance to your new generation.
Why not write a list of questions that can be answered. “You were misunderstood in society and made to look like a fool” - “In 2010, you went on stage and gave a speech that showed your confidence in your beliefs.”
Ask yourself about the debt.
Letters to the future are the best way to ask yourself to make an important contribution to something bigger. Are you thinking about charity now? Ask them not to forget to contribute to charitable foundations, go to community cleanups, and take care of homeless animals. Do you want to travel? Tell yourself to learn a foreign language and motivate others to do the same. In the present tense, we are the ones who contain a sea of ideas that require continuation. Don’t stop there—the “future” you may learn such a lesson about you. We take responsibility for our actions and appreciate the opportunity to make the world around us a better place.
You have a big choice - write a letter to yourself or leave this idea for better times. There will be no better time than now, and this minute will never happen again. Now you are like a diamond waiting to be cut. Value your memory, know how to use it - in the future you will definitely not regret reading this article. Want to inspire others? Share this article with your friends!
Take a psychological age test
Essay sample
Dear future me! I decided to write you this letter so that in a few years you can read it and remember where your journey began .
Today I turned 11 years old. I am already a fifth grade student. Middle school seems more interesting to me, because now we study not mathematics, but algebra and geometry, and solve difficult problems.
I made a friend. His name is Artem. He studies at a different school and is a whole year older than me. He also plays football for his school team. Artyom takes part in competitions between schools and says that it is a lot of fun. I also want to start playing football.
Now that I am grown up, I hope that you have fulfilled your dream and are having a lot of fun competing with other kids!
My parents promised that after the New Year I would be able to get a dog. If I had a dog now, I would love it very much, play with it constantly and we would walk together for a long time. I would like a dog right now, but mom says I need to learn patience. I'm an adult, have you learned patience yet? I hope so, because so far I’m not doing well.
Yesterday in literature class we were given an assignment: to write an essay on the topic “I am a descendant of great ancestors.” I thought for a long time and wrote that my great ancestors are my parents, whom I love. The teacher gave me an A and read my essay in front of the whole class. I'm good at writing.
The teacher says that I have great potential to become a writer. I thought it was interesting, so I had a new dream. When I grow up, I will write books. But for now I’m only a schoolboy, and I still have to wait a long time until I grow up. The teacher says that the best way to practice is to write more essays and letters.
I want to seal the letter, put stamps on it and send it by mail, so that I can then open it and read it as if it were a real message from a person who is very far away from me.
Goodbye, I'm an adult!