My 10 Year Plan For a Remarkable Life
2012 Patty wore the same glasses and the same necklace, it’s likely that 2032 Patty will too.
“patty
how do i manifest
do you do this?”
That is the text I received from a close friend on a Thursday night. Her and I are basically in a constant state of working on ourselves. I had read a lot about manifesting (and by that I mean I’ve seen a lot of memes) and it just never felt right to me. Whenever I tried, I felt like a total loser. Like Liz Lemon when she got her own talk show, “I’M A STAR! I’M ON TOP! SOMEBODY BRING ME SOME HAMMMMM!”
Then I read an essay in A Cup of Jo last week, “The Magical 10-Year Plan”. In it, the woman recounts a time when she and a friend found this exercise and wrote out their 10-year plans. It appealed to me because it focused less on goals, and more on how you want your life to feel.
“In it, you imagine the details of your life, a decade ahead of the exact point at which you stand. Unlike other forecasting exercises, this one does not boil to a tidy list of goals or even desires. Rather, it’s an act of lucid hallucination, like the ones I used to practice before bed. The questions you ask yourself are specific: How many pets do I have? What is my bed like? What excites me? How is my health? Then you describe a day in your life, 10 years from now, with as much courage as you can summon.”
Now THAT I can work with. This sounded like a ~sort of~ manifestation for me to try. I’ve always preferred a curated vision board over a neat checklist of goals. Basically, I’m approaching Summer 2032 Patty like a fashion designer approaches each season. There is a whole creative process, brainstorm sessions are needed and a narrowing down of the colorways is required. (I’m seeing a lot of green, blue, cognac, pinks and reds.)
I opened up a fresh page in my Google Drive and got to work. I wrote, “In Summer 2032, I will be 46-years-old” and then I slammed my computer shut and didn’t touch the document for a few days. Both the year, and the age, seem unfathomable to me. Like, I’m sorry, but weren’t the 90s just last week? Didn’t I just turn 21? Aren’t I still basically a child?
When I finally revisited the document, I started reading some prompts and going with my gut. The first prompt was, “Where do I live?” Hm. I see myself in the suburbs but near a city. I want peace and quiet, but culture (and good restaurants) nearby. It doesn’t have to be a city like Boston, something like Portsmouth or Burlington, VT would suit me fine. So, New England I guess. Then I wondered, “Would 2032 Patty feel like she settled in New England and lust after living abroad or somewhere new?” and I (or she?) immediately responded with, “2032 Patty has a job that allows her to travel a lot and she has the money to experience new places, but she likes rituals and being home too.” Wow. Okay, bitch. Get it.
After responding to more prompts, it oddly started to feel like I was interviewing 2032 Patty and not answering as current Patty. All of the responses began to flow right out of me and I made every decision with such confidence that it actually felt true. In fact, there were some things I wanted to implement immediately. For example, when reading “How do you want your life to feel?” my response was “Playful, peaceful, practical.” (From now on they will be referred to as the 3 Ps). WELL, WHAT AM I WAITING FOR? I can embody those feelings in my life RIGHT NOW.
Another odd realization was how much I was focusing on being alone. I was planning on living in a house alone with just my pets and it made me feel lonely. I don’t feel lonely on the day-to-day, but for some reason envisioning my future self as a solo act felt boring. So I decided to write in a faceless character, a partner, which is something I very rarely focus on. I thought about who I would want to be with when I’m 46. What are the behaviors that I’m GOING TO ALLOW IN MY LIFE? For the first time, maybe ever, I actually wrote out what I want in a partner.
I won’t share my whole plan because it’s wildly embarrassing. However, you can bet there are amazing Christmas parties every year that people travel to from far and wide. You can also bet the house is inspired by Christmas and 18th-century decor. The rooms are all themed, of course. Don’t even get me started on the fireplaces (yes, plural) and taper candle situation. There’s also an entertainment barn… with a stage for karaoke… and a dance floor… and yeah, it’s going to be pretty epic. 2032 Patty has her shit TOGETHER.
I truly don’t know what the next ten years of my life will look like, and by no means will I use this as a guide. However, the exercise in writing down what I want, what I value, and determining how I actually want to feel in the future is enlightening. I’m excited for the journey wherever it takes me.
“She says now, not knowing what horrible things await her…”
Shut up, 2032 Patty. No spoilers.