Seven years.
Seven years doesn’t sound like a lot of time. Seven years. Seven years ago I was just moving from Seattle back to Los Angeles. I was dating a man that I liked… and eventually I thought better of it and stopped liking him. Seven years ago I was struggling to put myself through college. I was working at coffee shop where I was the most popular barista because I was super nice, remembered everyone’s drink order, and occasionally wore low cut tops. Nevermind that last part, Mom . Seven years ago I was moving into a tiny… and I mean TINY, one room studio with no kitchen. I had a microwave that I rarely used. I read a lot of books, took a lot of painting classes, and drove a Buick. I remember feeling like I was working it out…. I guess I was.
So much has happened in seven years. So much has happened on this path that I couldn’t ever have imagined for myself.
Because so much has happened, and because so much will happen… I made a time capsule (which I keep accidentially calling a time machine).
Making a time capsule is brilliantly easy: invite over a friend (in this case, my dear/blonde friend Jill), gather some of the things that you love, label them, tag them, write your future self a note, take polaroids, pile everything in a fancy box… and let seven glorious, action packed, unexpected, adventure-filled years pass before opening it again. There you have it! A time machine!!
Inside every good time capsule are things that you love.
In this particular capsule I have encapsulated (see what I did there..?):
-my mom’s old watch. looking at it makes me feel five years old again.
-friendship bracelets acquired in friendship this year.
-jewelry that i love… and i’m ready to say hello to again in 2018.
-this year’s holiday card.
-a coin purse i adore.
and -a token from this year’s visit to The French Laundry.
Each item is tagged and reminisced upon.
It’s hard to think of what items I would have encapsulated seven years ago.
I can’t wait to forget about these little gems so I can open them to surprise in the future.
It’s really hard to forget about something that you’re too excited to forget about.
Does that make sense? No? Ok… cool.
Another integral part of the time capsule is the letter to our future selves.
Jill took her time with her future self letters. I think she got deep.
I probably wrote something about bagels and kittens… I dunno. My future self is already shrugging her shoulder is acceptance.
Do they have Polaroid pictures in the future!? Heck yes they do… because we encapsulated them!
There is something soooo romantic about a developing Polaroid. I don’t know what it is… but it gets me every time.
These Polaroids already look aged and weathered. Um… we just took them. No biggie.
Also… that blue sweater makes me look reeeaaaalllly hip-y (not hippie). Not to future self: you were hip-y, or something.
All the tokens go in the box!
Goodbye for now!
Jill put in some little gems that remind her of a crazy year of love, adventure, learning, and chapstick.
Sure, it just looks like a pile of stuff… but it’s a pile of oouuurrr stuff. That makes it important… mostly to us.
Signed, Sealed and Totally Hidden in my Closet.
Hiding something in my closet is essentially like digging a twelve foot hole in the ground and burying it. So rest assured, I will not happen upon this gem for a good long while.
Whatever… we all have our shames… mine is my closet.
Anyhow!
December. 2018. Champagne and newly discovered treasures. Friendship and reminiscence. And celebration! We’ll be living the future!
All of this time capsule talk is to say this:
Happy New Year! Joy of seven years ago would like to thank you for changing the course of her life. I’m so glad you come here and share the world with me. I hope the new year brings you hope, happiness, and bagels and cream cheese. But… before the future is upon us, box up some of the present past so you can remember where you are exactly now.
Love to you. Seriously. From deep down where it’s real,
Joy
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Doing a time capsule is such a great idea!
I love time capsules! I made one in kindergarten which I did not open until I graduated high school. It was so great to open it
Hi Joy! My name is Cierra and my Mother died when I was 11 and my old friend and I did a similar thing like you did. I moved in with my Aunt and Uncle in Mission Viejo, CA and my old friends from Los Angeles haven’t seen me in about a year. So for my birthday I had a sleepover and we did a a similar version of what you did. Know I’m 13 ( I will be 14 in January) and I play softball. I have a GPA of 4.0 and I’m in 8th grade. I have a great time with life and I miss my Mom deaply but. I mean live moves on and my Mother wouldn’t want me to NOT enjoy life. So I just wanted to share it brought up good memories! Thanks for sharing.
Happy new year, sweet Joy! Wishing you all the best for 2012…
Happy new year Joy. Thank you for being fabulous and continuing to inspire. I hope 2012 is even more exciting for you than 2011. xxx
Love your idea and also love you blog. So glad I found you this year. You are in inspiration. Hugs and Happy 2012!
A couple of years ago some friends and I did a similar thing, but we put a reminder on my calender on my computer for one year from that date and then listed where we wanted to be in our lives. We all had boyfriends (and one husband) that we were trying to get rid of. When we opened it the next year, we had all sort of made the changes we had wanted to and all three of us were dating someone new!
It was really fun and we’ve made it a yearly tradition.
Love this idea, maybe next year we will do this also….
Have a fabulous New Year sweetie!!!
xxoo,
RMW
Now if only I could remember where my 3-year old self put that time capsule….. :D
I would say I hope you have an amazing 2012, but I already know you will!! I mean, hello?! Cookbook!! I actually have your cookbook on my calendar… That’s right. Just so you know how big that is… I usually only write birthdays and anniversaries on my wall calendar!
I ordered it the second (like, for serious… the second) I saw your post. I didnt even read the post. I clicked the Amazon link, ordered it, then read your post! OK… I saw your post, squeeled with excitement (I was at work, BTW. haha), then clicked the link, ordered it, and read your post. Lol. Let the countdown begin!
Happy New Year Joy! Thanks for all the joy (and sugar) you’ve added to my 2011. I look forward to a 2012 full of Joy the Baker!
This is priceless!
I love this idea, but I’m sad because I hope you forget about ever posting this so you won’t remember what is in the box.
Oh my gosh! I have to do this with my bestie! Absolutely love this idea!
I need to do this with my boys. Maybe I can get my act together before Jan 1st. (although we won’t have Polaroids…) Thanks for the idea! I’m glad your path brought you here! I love to visit your blog, read your posts, sigh over your food styling, and smile at your lovely take on life!
Happy New Year!
I just LOVE this! Makes me want to make my own. I think a time capsule from even two years ago would blow my mind. :)
I had a teacher in 10th grade who had us write a letter to ourselves. 5 years later she mailed them to us. I will never forget that. She told us to write as much as we could in the letter. That letter was like a time capsule for us. It was so funny to see what we were concerned about in 10th grade vs 5 years later. Wonder what will be different for you in 2018. I’m sure it will be awesome just like you Joy. Happy New Year and thanks for what you do. I look forward to when you post your Blogs. They make me smile!
I love this idea! I might have to do this with my husband in 2012 – it’s hard to imagine how different our lives will be together years from now! Thanks for the inspiration :)
You reminded me that I made a time capsule in middle school…looks like I need to spend some time in my parents attic to find it!
Happy New Year!
Great post!!! Can I join you???? Loves…
i’m getting my boyfriend to do this with me! what a great idea.
best idea! here’s to another seven years of crazy/amazingness! cheers joy!
Great idea, Joy!!
I so wish I’d done this with my kids’ favorite toys when after they had outgrown them. I think I just got rid of them altogether. Now I’m wishing we had them.
Oh well, we’ll do it for the grandchildren…which I’m NOT expecting anytime soon. I think I should write myself a note so I don’t forget. Haha, but then I’ll probably forget where I put that note.
Can’t get enough of your blog and your writing!
happy new year, J. thanks – you know, for everything. especially the peanut butter bacon cookies. those were rad.
Cute idea, but I’m mostly interesting in seeing a big version of your holiday card! It looks too cute.
What a great idea! I’m just starting out on my blogging career as you were seven years ago and hope it will be as exciting as yours seems to have been. I think I’ll set up my time capsule and put my first post in it so I can see how it stands up to scrunity seven years later. Not well I suspect – lol!
i love this.
also, you have an electronic time capsule waiting for you. It’s called MySpace. I logged in to mine today for the first time in like two years and man, so many memories.
I might just do this when I’m spending New Years with myself, alone at home, tonight. And hopefully in seven years I’ll open it in good company.
Happy new year, Joy! Hope to see you in MA on a book tour!
Happy new year, Joy!Hope to see you in Michigan on a book tour! Your blog is great to read, it is pleasent to read and makes me feel good! Thanks. 2012 Happy baking.
You always have brilliant ideas, I love it! Have a very Happy New Year 2012!
Happy New Year Joy!
What a fun idea! I just might do this myself ;)
This is awesome! I have a letter to myself that we wrote in youth group that we are supposed to open when we are thirty. I keep it in my car and I have 7 more years until I am thirty. I can’t wait to read it! I want to do something like this with my friends too though!! :)
You have the most inspiring ideas!
Hi Joy,
I love the idea of a time capsule! You have had a lot of changes in seven years! I didn’t realize you lived in Seattle at one time. I live in Poulsbo….just a ferry ride away. Speaking of seven years, it was seven years ago on December 28th that my husband, son and I moved to the Seattle area from Florida. It was a big change for us but the best move we ever made. We LOVE the Northwest culture and lifestyle. Seven years of living in Washington State has been quite an experience. Be sure and come to Seattle on your future book tour, Joy! Hope you have a fabulous new year. xoxo Kim
Love this idea! Gosh, my oldest son will be driving by then. Aaaaagh! :) My kids (all boys) are about to turn 6, 8, and 10. Need to get started. Now :) Here’s to seven great years!!
You completely inspired me to make a time capsule on New Years Eve with my family. They loved the idea, and were throwing in all sorts of trinkets and momentos from the year (my 14 year old sister contributed a photo of Robert Pattenson). We tied it up and decided to open it in 2022. Thanks for the wonderful idea, it really made our New Years Eve special!
Totally lovin this idea! I think it would be great fun to do with my daughter. Maybe a 5 year capsule cause kids can’t wait for anything.
dude.
i cannot believe you are gonna not wear that ring for 7 years! THAT’S CRAZYTOWN.
Also- French Laundry!!!!
tons of love.
what a great idea :)
What a brilliant idea and a lovely post about it, too. Thank you for sharing your inspirations!
We should appreciate Present, because it will soon be Past. Happy New Year Joy. Thanks for your happiness.
Just saw your time capsule blog and there was my old watch. Your father bought me it on our train trip
honeymoon in Ogden, Utah. The band has been changed- after all that was 1979. It felt like I was opening
a time capsule as I recently scrapbooked our loose honeymoon photos with professional wedding shots.
So many memories!!!!
Yup, I know I’m only the 100th person to tell you this, but you’re a total inspiration. I’m going to go home and make the husband do this with me tonight. We’ve got a lot going on in our lives right now, and I’d love to look back five years from now and remind ourselves that we’ve come a long way and can get through anything. At least, I sure hope that’s what our future selves say!
This is a wonderful post, Joy The Baker. Two years ago, a tragic event changed my world. I wish I had made a time capsule. Two years later… life is so different. Perhaps now is the time to recognize treasures and encapsulate them. Thank you for reminding me. Wishing you all the best… and top sales for your new book too!
thank you for the kind comment!
I am so stealing this for a Teen program at my library later this year!!!! Thank you so much!!!!
Joy! My best friend and I made a time capsule! We’re opening it in 2022. Thanks for the great idea!!
http://passagehillstudio.com/2012/02/2022-time-capsule/
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