If You Could Tell Your Younger Self One Thing What Would It Be

If you could tell your 4 years younger self 4 things, what would they be?

Four years ago, I was 10 years old.What would I tell my younger self?Spend more time with those that you love: Over these past four years, I lost three of my grandparents; two that I was extremely close to. My younger self never realised how quickly time was slipping by. Her grandma who was once only 60 years old when she was born is now 70, but she doesn’t take note of that. She doesn’t realise that in a matter of years her grandma might not be able to walk anymore, or talk, or see, or even be there with her. Please. Value your family. Be there for them and they will do the same for you.Don’t stress over money, popularity, friends, or what others think of you, focus on yourself: It might sound selfish, but it’s true. Believe it or not, my younger self was stressing over these things. She started trying to act ‘cool’ in front of her ‘friends’, and she spent wayyyy too much time thinking about people’s opinions of her. At the end of the day, sure, money is powerful, but its just paper. Sure, friends are great, but they might not stick to you forever. Sure, popularity can come in handy, but you don’t need to it be successful and happy.Do what you want to do: By this, I don’t mean ‘Do drugs, drink alcohol, party, etc’. I mean if you want to do something, say join the debate club, do it. You might never be able to do so in the future. Your friends might ridicule you for being ‘uncool’, but this is your life, not theirs. My younger self wanted to join the Battle of the Books/Novel Knockout (whichever you wanna call it; if you don’t know what it is it’s when a group of students read a set of books and attend this competition and must answer questions blah blah). She never had the guts to because her friends made fun of people in that group of people. Now that I am almost in high school and I’m trying my best to keep my grades up, it’s hard to make commitments like this.Lastly, be happy: I’d say this is pretty self-explanatory.Have a nice day :)

What would you tell your younger self about money if you could go back in time?

I joined a family business after grad school. Started another business. Had a few great years financially.Then the whole, isn’t it wonderful being in business together thing, melted down.Thankfully I’d been investing for several years which saved our bacon financially.We went through some lean years pastoring a church. Actually lean would have been a giant step upThen I started the business I own today. Struggled, made mistakes, had successes. And over twenty years built a great business.Occasionally someone will ask, “When do you plan to retire?”I respond, “Do I look like I need to?’“Seriously, I could if I wanted to. But I’ve got a great business. We make a great living. We can travel when we want. I enjoy it. So why quit?”But, at a time most of my friends are retiring and with plenty of wealth, I reflect occasionally on it all.These are a few things I’d tell my younger self.First, don’t get nervous. I’m a hell of a late bloomer.Most of my friends were well established in their careers making money. I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up.My wife would like to know when I figure that out.Second, if you just keep saving and investing you will probably build more wealth than you imagine.We just kept at it. Never stopped. Sometimes saved more than other times. Made some mistakes. But learned how to invest and kept on going.You don’t have to be a genius. Good thing for me. You just need to show up and take one step forward everyday.Third, if you don’t learn how to be happy when you have little money you won’t be happy when you have a lot.We had fun together, with our kids and our friends. Today we still have fun together, with our kids, our friends and now our new grandson. Woo hoo!I enjoy not having the stress of worrying about paying bills. But frankly, beyond that, I’m not any happier.I learned to be happy with what I had. Not unhappy with what I missed.I carry that focus with me today. At least most days.So there you have it. What I’d tell my younger self about money.Oh, and try not to be such a hell of a late bloomer.Yet, most important?Money can help enable happiness. But it doesn’t create happiness.

If there was one thing you could tell your younger self not to do that you did, what would it be?

I would tell myself to ask for help so you don’t end up cheating on your wife.I would tell my younger self that all the hurt and pain and confusion that we are holding inside is going to get the better of us, one day we are going to be weak and end up cheating on the woman we love and she will try so hard to make things work after that, but eventually she will stop loving us and leave.I would tell myself that the answer to getting relief to all these problems is to actually shit can the macho bullshit that men can’t show vulnerability, and to tell her how messed up you are inside. If I’m being honest, it still wouldn’t work, I was too stubborn and stupid back then to get it. I would listen to the advice, and try to solve it on my own because I didn’t want to even try to find the strength to ask for help.Sometimes the only thing that teaches a person a lesson, is when life jumps up, kicks your ass, and takes away the most precious thing you have. I always held this belief that I can do everything by myself, well that’s exactly what I got in the end, I’m all alone without a friend to help me, so I have to go through life now with just myself for company……and it fucking sucks.Men, don’t be like me. It’s not worth it, and it never stops hurting once you lose what you love.

If you could write a letter to your younger self, would you tell them what happened in your life, if not, why not?

For me, I wouldn’t. It’s because I know myself very well and if I get the information if the events that will occur, I would be a weak version of me. I would evade the problems instead of learning how to face them. To be honest, I went shit tons of shitty relationships and that toughens me up. It is what mature us all. I am already weak physically but if I were to reveal the secrets of universe to my younger self, I would be weak both mentally and physically

What would you say to your younger self?

Ok then let me go back just 6 years to a 20 year old.Dear Avishek,I know you are confused. You are scared. Wondering whether your life is a mistake, scared you gave up everything that was important to you.Friends, loves, interests. You lost them all.I promise you. It gets better. Not today. Not tomorrow. But it will get better. You will walk back from the edge. You didn’t fall, you just lost the road a bit.You lied to your more qualified friends about your marks? Don’t worry, you’ll be a national topper some day. And you will realize that life is more than just telling someone you did well. You will appreciate it by yourself.You saw your dreams of studying english crumble? Don’t worry, you will have the strength to teach bright minds pursuing those same dreams, and see as they turn failures into success under your guidance. Those tears you shed of loss once will be soon tears of happiness. And soon, you will be writing as well.You went out of connect with your friends and became a loner? Don’t worry, one day you will join something larger than yourself and you will fall in love with people again. You will make new bonds and you will reconnect with old ones.You thought you would never amount to anything? Don’t worry, you will soon be studying in a premier institution alongside bright minds and pursue a career you love.You think you will never fall in love again? Don’t worry, you will learn that it isn’t the only thing in the world. And you will believe one day you can repair the heart that broke. You will hope again.Final words. I’m sorry for trying to throw away that scared boy. I thought my past was a punishment that I had to hide. Something to shame the current me. With this letter, I promise you one thing - I acknowledge you.You were me. I am you.That pain, that terror - it is the same person who is typing these words today. And I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.But I know one thing. Thanks for having existed. You made me realize how much I needed to change. And need to be better every day.Thank you. And with tears in my eyes I say this, I forgive you. If there was anything to forgive you for.Yours sincerely,Avishek(A little older and hopefully a little wiser)