While working with troubled teens,I used to have them do the Ten Years in the Future exercise. I asked them to write a letter to a friend as if it was ten years in the future. Most of these boys and girls didn’t think about the next week,much less ten years to come. Like the Cheshire Cat says in Alice in Wonderland, “If you don’t know where you want to go,then it doesn’t really matter what road you take!” We had some great conversations as they really thought about what they wanted. For most of them, this was the first time they had ever thought this way!
But the real story is what happened to me. I did the exercise right along with them on many occasions, writing my dreams and visions in detail. In my letter to a friend, I had moved to the country, built my own home,authored a book,and started my own business. Over the next ten years, something magic happened.All my dreams and visions became a reality, almost as if arranged by an unseen hand. I did write books and start my business. We did move to the country and I did build my own home.
This letter to a friend will become a magnetic factor in your life. Your vision will guide you in your yearly goals, your monthly goals,and your daily activities. For example: “Leslie,I just wanted to make contact again and tell you about my life. I started my own gardening business in 2020 and it’s really taken off. ”
Remember to describe all the details as if they have already happened. Write to a real person who you think may still know in ten years. This will help make it more real for you.
Sit down and write your Ten Years in the Future letter today.
What can we learn from what the Cheshire Cat says?
A.You should have a goal. |
B.You had better not copy others. |
C.You may do what you want to do. |
D.You may have different ideas. |
It seems that the writer’s dreams and visions became a reality because the writer_______.
A.had put something magic in the letter |
B.could foresee what would happen |
C.was experienced in writing the Ten Years letter |
D.took what was written in the letter as a guide in life |
According to the writer,“Leslie” in your letter should be the person that_______.
A.does the same exercise as you |
B.will become your friend in ten years |
C.you know now and may still know in the future |
D.you can imagine when you write your letter |
Which of the topics are included in this passage?
a. The author’s own experience with the Ten Years in the Future exercise.
b. How the author got the idea of the Ten Years in the Future exercise.
c. How to write the Ten Years in the Future 1etter.
d. The author’s experience of working with troubled teens.
e. The difficulty in dealing with troubled teens.
f. How to improve your letter writing skill.
A.a,d,f | B.a,c,d | C.b,c,d | D.a,c,e |