A letter to my future self
Lessons I need to remember about How To Live
As I sit down to reflect on the journey we’ve been through, I find myself filled with a deep sense of appreciation for the quiet, daily moments that have carried us this far. It’s easy to get caught up in the larger visions for change—the ideas that push us to challenge systems and build a better world—but I want to remind you of something equally important: the richness of daily life. The small, sometimes overlooked moments that fill our days with meaning, purpose, and connection. This letter is an invitation to pause, to breathe deeply, and to reconnect with the grounding rhythms that sustain us.
Paulo Freire taught us that critical consciousness is not just a tool for liberation on a grand scale; it’s also about how we see ourselves in the world, moment by moment. It’s in the way we greet the morning light, the way we notice how our body feels when we rise, how we approach the tasks of the day. Reminder: In your daily routine, be mindful of the small decisions that shape your inner landscape. When you wake up, pause. How are you feeling in this moment? Notice your breathing, your thoughts, and the subtle shifts in your body. Freire’s teaching extends here, inviting you to see the patterns of your life and ask: Are my choices today reflecting the person I’m becoming?
From bell hooks, we’ve learned that care is both ordinary and extraordinary, present in the way we tend to ourselves and the way we cultivate relationships. Reminder: In the simplest actions—pouring a cup of coffee, sharing a meal, sending a text to someone you care about—be aware of the energy you bring. Am I showing up with love, or am I rushing past these moments? Hooks’ teachings ask us to cultivate care in every gesture, to slow down and recognize that these seemingly insignificant acts carry the weight of connection, love, and presence.
Audre Lorde reminds us that living authentically doesn’t always look like grand declarations of self; often, it is a quiet refusal to be anything other than who we are in each moment. Reminder: As you move through your day, take note of the moments when you feel like you are shrinking to fit someone else’s expectations. These could be fleeting—perhaps a passing remark in a conversation, a hesitation to express yourself fully, or a habit of holding back. Lorde encourages us to reclaim those moments, however small. Am I standing in my truth today, even in the smallest interactions? This kind of daily authenticity builds the foundation for larger, more visible acts of self-expression.
Angela Davis’s teaching about revolution as an ongoing process is especially relevant to how we approach the mundane tasks of life. The revolution is not just political; it’s personal, woven into our habits, our rituals, and the way we care for ourselves and others. Reminder: Even when life feels repetitive—emails to answer, dishes to wash, meetings to attend—there is meaning in the repetition. Ask yourself: How am I finding grace in the mundane? Am I allowing space for renewal, even in the tasks that seem ordinary? Davis reminds us that transformation happens in small increments, and those increments are found in the rhythms of daily life. Allow the mundane to be sacred, a space for reflection and quiet growth.
James C. Scott’s insights into hidden forms of resistance invite us to see the subtle power in our everyday choices. Reminder: Resistance can look like taking a break when the world demands you keep pushing. It can be found in the decision to slow down when everything around you accelerates. Ask yourself: Am I honoring the small acts of defiance that preserve my well-being? Whether it’s turning off your phone for a while, choosing to read a book instead of scrolling through social media, or simply stepping outside to breathe fresh air—these small moments of resistance are acts of self-preservation and agency. They are the quiet revolutions that build our resilience.
Michel Foucault’s understanding of power is not just about systems and institutions—it’s also about the way we structure our own lives. Reminder: Consider your routines and habits. What power do they have over you? Are they serving your growth, or have they become unconscious repetitions that limit your potential? Foucault challenges us to examine the forces shaping our behaviors, even the ones we think we’ve chosen freely. Take a closer look: What small shifts could I make in my daily routines that would give me more freedom? Maybe it’s waking up earlier to have a quiet moment before the day begins, or creating a ritual to wind down at night. These small changes can reshape the entire tone of your life.
Frantz Fanon urges us to recognize the internalized narratives that limit our sense of possibility. Reminder: Throughout your day, notice the stories you tell yourself. Are they stories of limitation, or are they stories of possibility? Pay attention to the thoughts that arise when you face a challenge—whether it’s something as simple as feeling overwhelmed by a task at work or navigating a complex conversation. Ask yourself: Am I approaching this from a place of constriction or openness? Fanon’s wisdom reminds us that personal liberation is as much about shifting our internal dialogue as it is about external change.
Judith Butler offers us the understanding that identity is not fixed; it’s something we continuously perform and redefine. Reminder: As you go about your day, notice how you inhabit different roles. Maybe it’s the role of a leader, a friend, a partner, or even a stranger in a public space. What performances feel authentic, and which ones feel like they are imposed upon you? Butler’s insights invite us to bring consciousness to these shifts in identity, allowing ourselves to embrace fluidity and change. Ask: Am I giving myself permission to evolve throughout the day, or am I holding onto a fixed idea of who I should be?
Antonio Gramsci reminds us that our thoughts are influenced by the dominant ideologies around us, but we have the power to challenge and reshape them. Reminder: Pay attention to the ideas that dominate your thinking throughout the day. Which ideas come from within, and which ones are absorbed from external influences—media, culture, social expectations? Gramsci asks us to be active participants in the shaping of our thoughts. Am I questioning the assumptions I’ve inherited, or am I passively accepting them? This is where the work of true intellectual freedom begins—not in grand gestures but in the way we shape our thoughts and beliefs daily.
David Graeber encourages us to dream, but his teaching isn’t just about the future; it’s about what we choose to create in the present. Reminder: In your daily life, carve out space for creativity and imagination. This doesn’t have to be grand or structured—perhaps it’s a moment of daydreaming, sketching an idea, or simply allowing yourself to think beyond the constraints of what seems possible. Graeber invites us to make space for play and wonder, not as a luxury but as a necessity. Ask yourself: Am I making enough room in my day for creative expression and joy, for imagining the life I want to live?
In Summary:
Freire: Be mindful of the small decisions that shape your inner world—start each day with reflection.
hooks: Cultivate care in the everyday—slow down and show up with love in each gesture.
Lorde: Live authentically in every small interaction—reclaim the moments where you feel yourself shrinking.
Davis: Find grace in the mundane—allow repetitive tasks to be moments of quiet transformation.
Scott: Honor small acts of defiance—your daily choices to rest, slow down, or disconnect are forms of resistance.
Foucault: Examine your habits—are they freeing you or holding you back? Make small shifts where needed.
Fanon: Notice your internal stories—choose ones of possibility, not limitation.
Butler: Embrace fluidity in your identity—allow yourself to evolve throughout the day.
Gramsci: Challenge your inherited assumptions—be an active participant in shaping your thoughts.
Graeber: Make space for creativity—let your daily life be filled with moments of imagination and joy.
This letter is not just about big ideas or grand efforts—it’s about the life we live every day. The small rituals, the fleeting thoughts, the pauses between tasks—these are the spaces where meaning is created, where growth happens, where we find ourselves again and again.
I hope you remember to honor the richness of daily life, to find beauty in the small things, and to know that every moment, no matter how ordinary, carries the potential for transformation.
With love and presence,
Your past self