I wrote and posted this on June 8th, 2020 – and it’s wild because I’ve been thinking about these things lately – so I’m posting again.

Past Present Surfing

The Artist’s Way is a book on recovering the artist self by Julia Cameron.

Yesterday, I posted an assignment from The Artist’s Way in which I imagined myself as an 80 year-old – and all the activities I did from when I was 50 to 80. (Today I am 49). Then I wrote a letter to myself from the 80 year old me.

Today’s assignment is this:

Time Travel

Eight year old self to current self – What did you like to do? What were your favorite things?

When I was eight, my favorite things were listening to music, drawing, writing, climbing trees, walking in the woods, and reading. I absolutely knew I wanted to be an author (author was the word I used when I was eight), a teacher, and an artist. I discovered astrology when I was eight as well.

I imagined I would have a handsome husband and live in a perfect giant Laura-Ashley-esque house and have thick Laura-Ashley-meets-Ann-of-Green-Gables-auburn-hair and have four equally Laura-Ashley-esque beautiful children.  Ha ha!

I wanted to try dancing.

I hoped I would be beautiful someday.

Letter to my current self from my eight your-old self

Dear Holly,

Please remember all the fun things I like to do. I hope you will remember – ’cause right now things are hard for me. My sisters are so mean – telling me every day that I am fat and ugly and clumsy, and that I will never be loved.

So far, they are sort of right. I mean, I am pretty lonely and hope things will be better when I grow up. Will you send me love from the future? I know you already do.

I have so much fun when I can get away from everyone and can read or play in the woods. Or listen to music. I love listening to music.

I am in love with Mike Nesmith and Davey Jones form the Monkees. And Paul McCartney. And Luke Skywalker. Blondie and Pat Benatar are cool. It’s so much fun to sing and dance to them. And I love the Cars, too.

I discovered astrology while hiding in the basement. I feel like I understand what is happening to me a little bit better now.

I really wish you could play with me.

I wrote a book! It’s about dragons – and it rhymes! I drew pictures, too!

Come play with me!

Sincerely,

Holly (8 years old)

PS – I got all A’s in school again this year.

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The original post:

looking forward from the past

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June 7th 2026
Flagstaff, AZ

image: spring flowers © holly troy 2020