What to put in my time capsule?
post by justinslud · 2020-11-25T04:21:51.052Z · LW · GW · 2 commentsThis is a question post.
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In a few weeks I will open a time capsule I set for myself 5 years ago. I'm extremely excited and want to celebrate by setting myself a new time capsule to open in 5 years from now.
The difficult part about making the time capsule is what to include. Since I have not yet opened the original capsule, I don't know how myself from 5 years ago chose what "artifacts" to include.
I feel like whatever goes inside the capsule should be a "snapshot" of life at this moment for me. However, I will still have access to all my writings from around this time that are not in the capsule. So I want to include things from my current life and also things from recent past (anything within 2 years is in this "stage of life").
Here is a breakdown of what I plan to include:
- school papers
- various small items and papers from recent past
- photos
- USB stick with a video to my future self
- document detailing all the artifacts listed above
- letters from other people. I have not yet asked them to write anything but it could be fun.
- letters to other people (that I write down and deliver to them in 5 years) Like the previous idea, I have no idea how it might go.
- list predictions about future self
- letter to future self
- my hopes for future self
- detailed description about my current mental models of the world
- what activities, hobbies, habits I'm currently engaged in (and have done in recent past). For example, what I do to exercise, what songs I listen to, what foods I always eat, etc.
- things I may forget or would love to be reminded of. For example, inside jokes with friends.
- questions I want future self to answer upon opening the capsule. For example, "How have your thoughts on X changed in 5 years?"
What do you think of this list? What do you recommend adding or doing differently? I'd appreciate any ideas on how to carry out experiments like this over long time frames.
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comment by Viliam · 2020-11-25T23:55:18.165Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
I wrote myself a "letter to the future" once, but was completely disappointed. First, there was no surprise; I remembered everything, more or less. Second, I was quite immature when I wrote it, so when I read it, it just made me cringe.
What is the advantage of putting items into the time capsule, as opposed to... just keeping them, outside of time capsule? I like the idea of making a video for yourself, because the alternative is not making it.
detailed description about my current mental models of the world
This may be interesting, because when people change, they often underestimate how much they changed. Like, if you start/stop believing X, it is convenient to edit your memory of the past to make it seem like you always believed/doubted it.
Replies from: mr-hire↑ comment by Matt Goldenberg (mr-hire) · 2020-11-26T00:16:58.706Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
ss. Second, I was quite immature when I wrote it,
I sort of like this aspect of looking at my past writings. It shows me how much I've grown.