The Day My Past Self Saved Me (And Forgot My Lunch)

When my past self takes care of my future self, my present self throws a full-on party. Say that three times fast.

Last week, it rained like the sky had a grudge. Not a drizzle. Not a light sprinkle. I’m talking sideways, torrential downpour energy. And me? I had no memory of checking the forecast — but apparently, last week me was on her game.

Not only did I check the weather, but I had the foresight to bring an umbrella into the office in advance. The problem? I forgot it in the car. But plot twist: past-me had also tucked a backup umbrella in my office cabinet. Come through, former me!

So there I was, dry and victorious, dodging puddles like a champ while silently applauding my prior self’s small act of preparedness.

But.

That same day? Present-me got humbled.

I had promised myself I’d make lunch the night before. I had the groceries, the intention, the mental note... but I forgot. So when lunchtime rolled around, I ended up eating a flavorless, overpriced sad-lunch that didn’t even scratch the surface of satisfaction.

Why? Because past-me dropped the ball.

And it hit me: we always catch up to ourselves.

Every decision we make — or don’t make — ripples forward. It either supports us or stretches us later. And when you’re juggling career, family, aging parents, midlife hormones, and trying to stay hydrated, those ripples matter.

This small moment got me thinking about the power of small habits. Not in a hustle-culture way. Not in a “get your life together” way. But in a compassionate, collaborative relationship with yourself kind of way.

We often talk about self-care like it’s a bath or a massage or a spa day. But real self-care is showing up for your future self in the tiniest of ways.

It’s:

• Throwing an extra protein bar in your purse

• Putting gas in the car the night before so morning-you isn’t rushing

• Sending yourself a calendar invite for something you’ll forget otherwise

• Leaving a kind note to open when you know you’ll need it most

These small acts? They matter. They add up. And they build self-trust.

Because when you consistently take care of your future self, even in small ways, you start to believe you’re worth taking care of. That you can depend on yourself. That you don’t always have to live in a state of reactivity.

And that feels good. That’s powerful.

Now let’s be real: sometimes, we’re not going to come through for ourselves. We’re human. We’ll forget the lunch. We’ll skip the prep. We’ll run on empty.

But the lesson isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.

So here’s your gentle reminder, from someone who’s still learning to show up for herself too:

• Set things out the night before.

• Pack the umbrella.

• Stash the backup snack.

• Say the kind thing.

• Do the small thing your future self will thank you for.

Because life will always have its chaos, curveballs, and "oops" moments. But the more we build habits that support our future selves, the less we live in survival mode.

Your future self is not a stranger. She’s you. And she’s worth the effort.

Keep blooming,

~April

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