Three Things

[orikes]

There’s a meme going around where you note three things you would tell yourself if you could go back in time ten years. I’ve been pondering that a little, and I’m really not sure there’s anything I could tell myself ten years ago that would really change things. Most of the problems I have today are things I was aware of ten years ago, I just still struggle to overcome. Things like my weight, my procrastination, my financial incompetence. They’re definitely things I would like to change, but I was as aware of them then as I am now.

Going back twenty years might net a better result. At 17, I might stand a better chance of changing the bad habits I’d developed and was going to develop, whereas at 27, I was already pretty entrenched. If I only had ten years to go back to, I’d give myself some winning lottery numbers and invest it in ways that wouldn’t have gotten hurt by the crash after 9/11.

The three things I would tell my 17 year old self, though are:

1. You’re not as fat as you think and feel like you are, but if you don’t stop the self-destructive behaviors now, you will be. Get it under control now and you’ll save yourself decades worth of heartache.

2. Despite how well your parents seem like they’re doing right now, they’re financial fuck-ups and if you’re not careful, you’ll be exactly the same. Be smart about money now.

3. You’re a better artist than you give yourself credit for, but you need to forget about being an art teacher. Focus on graphic design and photography. That’s where your heart really lies.

Comments

[likewildfire.livejournal.com]

I hadnt seen this meme around, but wow did it make me think....

also, I didn't realize you were as much older than I am as you are. Silly internet giving me a weird sense of people!

[orikes13.livejournal.com]

Everyone guesses I'm younger than I am, even in real life. :) So yeah, I turned 37 in February.

[cori-chronicles.livejournal.com]

I would definitely tell myself the first one as well. :)

And perhaps the second.

And if you substituted Music for Art, number 3 would also apply. Sub music research and journalism for graphic design and photog... :)

I think those would just about do it for me, too. Probably add in something about just accepting myself for who I am, and stop being a chameleon.

Maybe we should just tell ourselves these things now, and look toward the future with optimism. Gotta start somewhere? I don't think it's too late. We shall overcome!

[orikes13.livejournal.com]

That last bit is the key too. :) It really is never too late to change. It may not get you the same result as it would have doing it earlier, but it's still worth it.