If I could meet my younger self, I would have a lot of things I'd want to tell him. I have made a lot of mistakes that I hope my younger self won't make, and I would probably tell him what life feels like in the future, beyond the illusion of brighter days ahead. I have experienced pain, joy, laughter, and tears, and in them all, I've learned, I've grown, and all I wish is that I could turn back the hands of time and make adjustments not just to my actions, but to my mentality and the things I invested much of my time doing.
With gratitude, I'll begin by telling my younger self how grateful I am for the height I've achieved—the accomplishments I have made, the resilience I have grown into, and the experience I have gained over the years. Every bit of the journey, regardless of how good or bad it was, is worth appreciating, because in them are lessons to learn and experiences of what is not worth the time. In doing so, I'm telling my younger self the importance of every moment and why it shapes what we've become, while encouraging him to enjoy the ride and see it as a tool to learn from.
Image generated using Gemini AI
While looking at my younger self, I'll tell him never to announce his success early in life. It was one of the mistakes I made. While it was done out of good intentions to take up some of the family's responsibilities, it was misinterpreted as wealth, and suddenly burdens that weren't meant for me were directed toward me. It never gave me room to grow; rather, it meant the dormancy of shouldering responsibilities that were never mine. So be quiet with your successes, build in silence, and never expose your wins until you've built strong roots to hold a big trunk.
Just like a father to a son, I'll encourage my younger self to fight for what they love despite the opposition. I've chosen peace over conflict in the past, sacrificing what I loved, and this only caused me pain whose scars never erased. So, unlike your older self, choose to fight passionately over backing down when it comes to fighting for what you love. Your future may forgive you for harm that results from such passion, but it may never forgive you if you choose to back down over fighting for what you love. So, dear younger self, stand for what you believe in, even if it looks stupid in the eyes of others, because your future is your responsibility, not anyone else's.
Posted Using INLEO
