Advice to my Older Self

 

Advice to my Older Self

Recently, I asked many people what advice they would like to offer to their younger selves. One person asked me what advice I would give to my older self. Hmmm, I hadn’t thought of that, and it is an interesting question.

Obviously, giving my childhood-self advice is simply a fantasy, but I could perhaps tell my older self some things. I could write myself a letter and put it in an envelope marked, “DO NOT OPEN UNTIL 2030!”

Or I could take a more short-term approach. Tomorrow, I’ll be a day older than I am today. Okay, Tomorrow-Self, go out for a nice long walk, and enjoy being present in the moment. Smile and say “Hi” to a passer-by. Listen to the birds singing. Notice the colors, patterns, and textures all around.

But what about my 20-years-older self, the person I will be in the year 2042? What advice would I give to her (and what makes me think I’ll be any more open to receiving advice in 20 years than I am now)?

Assuming I am still alive and mentally sound in 20 years, I might say to myself:

"Take care of yourself, both mentally and physically. Do the things that are meaningful to you and never be afraid to try something new."

What advice would you like your older self to remember?


A Cicada nymph emerges from underground, sheds its old skin, and is transformed into a flying adult. Photo by L Bowen 2022

Comments

  1. Rev. Dr. Rosemary HydeJune 21, 2022 at 9:24 AM

    Wow -- that photo is totally amazing!! And the thought that one might emerge as a flight-endowed being from the experiences of one's younger self is, I think, right on! The biggest advice that I would have liked to be aware of at a younger age is the importance of detaching from all the physical doubts of my younger self, and learn the importance of trusting the Universe's unchanging goodness and help from the part of myself that is spiritual, not physical. As we age physically, things look less and less promising in terms of physical strength and ability, but the more aware one becomes of spiritual strength and ability, and the power of love to change everyone's experience, the more filled with joy and fulfillment one can become.

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