Notes to My Younger Self; Eleven Things I'd like to say.
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“Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.”
–Bob Dylan
Time goes so very fast doesn't it? I remember hearing this when I
was younger and not really paying it much attention, but the older I
get the more true this seems to be.
I am a creature of habit, I always have been. And while I have moved
away from Buffalo, NY—the city of my birth—a few times, and have
done a bit of traveling, I have always called it home. I live in the
eclectic and somewhat bohemian neighborhood known as Allentown—a
village within the city—and I know its streets like the back of my
hand. Some of the businesses I have patronized for decades. And this
is what I was thinking while I was out for a couple beers the other
night at one of my favorite watering holes.
As I leaned against the bar, which is so old that it in itself is
leaning, I thought about the three decades that I've come here. In my
younger years I would visit late-night for serious partying, but
these days it's mostly just a beer or two in the early evening. And
I'm not sure what made me think of this one night in particular, but
I did. I was likely about 22 or 23 at the time and had driven here
from the suburbs by myself. I was still living in my parent's house,
though they had both passed away by this time. Anyhow, I'm not sure
why I remember this night—as nothing out of the ordinary
happened—but it came to mind. I can even remember what I was
wearing...parachute pants (remember them?) tucked into combat boots
(keep in mind this would have been the early eighties and I was
heavily influenced by The Clash...watch this video). And on this night I was leaning
against the bar just a few feet from where I now stood, albeit 30
years later.
In those days the thought of being 52 years old would have been
inconceivable...an old man. At the time I thought I was so grown
up—I've often felt older than my years—but in retrospect I was
just an uncertain young man. I was rebellious, crazy, and wild, but I
also carried the weight of the world on my shoulders; and I had so
much unresolved grief. But no one probably knew this because even
then—just as now—I had the ability to put on a different facade,
the face I believe people want to see. And now—so many years
later—I had the fantasy of going back and offering my younger self
some useful advice.
I imagined standing next to my younger self and having a beer and
gently telling myself things that would help me along the way. After
all, who would know better than me? Many people write themselves notes
(I know that I do)..a sort of “note to self” so they don't forget
something. Well this is a sort of note to self in the retrospective
sense...truly trying to remember who I was meant to be as I walk this
planet.
It is said that with age comes wisdom. While this may be true, I at
times still feel like that uncertain and confused young man. But
being more than twice as old as I was then, and knowing myself better
now than I did then, I feel I would have some good advice to offer my
younger self. And these are some of the things I would say (in no
particular order).
1. Don't worry. For the most part everything works itself out. If you
have your health that is enough. You may have heard this a thousand
times but it's truer than true.
2. Cherish relationships. Family, friends, acquaintances, all of
them. Over the years people drift apart or in and out of your life.
People get sick and die. Cherish them all because you never know when
the next time you'll see each other.
3. Spend your time wisely. When you are younger there is so much time
for everything. But as you get older you will realize that time is
your most valuable commodity. Spend it wisely.
4. Be kind to people (everyone) and don't hold grudges. The only one
you will be hurting is yourself.
5. Don't take yourself—or life—too seriously. As you start to
fall into certain roles (because you will whether you like it or not)
don't take yourself too seriously. Life can be so fleeting and the
years go by quickly. Enjoy it.
6. Relax. Yup, it's that simple. I know that you are a driven person,
and a creative person, but allow yourself to relax now and again.
Just...do nothing.
7. Don't suppress your creativity. You are an extremely creative
person (we all are) and as a child it is expressed so freely, but as
we get older this is sometimes stifled (and in so many ways).
Creativity is what makes our souls jump within these bodies that we
currently occupy. So just do it. Create. Write, draw, paint, play
music...whatever makes your heart sing.
8. Live in the present moment (and enjoy the journey). I don't mean
to keep harping on this but it is true, life can be so fleeting so
just enjoy every minute of it. This, I truly believe is why we as
eternal souls have incarnated into these human forms...to experience
life. All of it; the good and the bad. It's not about the
destination but the journey itself. Enjoy it. Every minute of it.
Never lose your sense of wonder. Embrace it.
9. Don't try to be someone you are not; be yourself always.
Throughout life people will try to fit you into certain roles and
identities, and you yourself will try to make yourself fit into roles
and identities that you are not meant for, but don't do it. Be
yourself. Always. It may be difficult sometimes—really
difficult—but just be yourself. To everyone and all the time. Years
from now you will be happier for it. Be your authentic self.
10. Embrace the fact that you are an introvert. It will take you many
years to accept this, and many more thereafter to realize you are an
INFJ (sometimes INFP)...one of the quirkiest and most obscure
personalities to visit this planet. But the sooner the better. Don't
just accept this, embrace it. Once you figure this out things will
fall into place much easier. You'll be a better person all around.
11. Be grateful for everything. Seriously. Even when it seems
impossible or undeserving. Just be grateful. Everything is a gift.
So of course I could go on for pages having this imaginary
conversation with my younger self. Offering the younger me advice on
how to navigate the years ahead. But as I was typing I couldn’t
help but think...if I am writing and conversing with my younger self
30 years prior, what I wonder will I want to tell my current 52 year
old self when (hopefully) I am 82, thirty years from now. But then it
came to me that maybe I'm already doing it...that much of what I have
to say to my younger self is just as pertinent now as it was then.
Now I just have to heed my own advice.
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is though
nothing is a miracle. The other is though everything is a miracle.”
–Albert Einstein
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