One thing in modern culture I have trouble relating to is kids not wanting to leave home. I couldn’t wait to get out on my own and live life my way, so on my 18th birthday, I was gone.
Fast forward 40-something years and I can tell you I have learned a lot of things the hard way. Like everyone else on the planet, my life has been a mix tape of bumps and bruises, trials and triumphs, love and loss.
Here is my list of what I know now that I would tell my younger self:
- Know God and stay close to Him. He is your anchor, your strength.
- Be true to yourself. Love and care for yourself. Don’t expect someone else to.
- People come and go through your life. Don’t obsess over what people think of you.
- Learn what is important and what is not. Let stuff go.
- Forgive and forget. Why punish yourself with a grudge?
- Time is not guaranteed and passes more quickly than you think.
- Live life intentionally, not just reacting to whatever happens. Be present instead of always looking ahead or behind.
- Pay attention to your health as it affects your quality of life as you age.
- Know your choices matter. Establish beliefs, morality, and boundaries, avoiding jerks with poor judgment and those who want to mistreat you.
- Take advantage of opportunities. Don’t let fear hold you back.
- Making mistakes is good. Mistakes teach and strengthen you. Mistakes don’t negatively define you as a person.
- Don’t put off what you want to do. Make a plan and do it. You may not have the time or resources to do it later.
- Always be open to change. Always be willing to adapt.
- Save money. Your older self will appreciate it!
- True happiness is in relationships. The most important things in life are not things.
- Some stuff is cool, but too much stuff is a burden and weighs you down with stress.
- Take risks. Don’t be afraid to fail. Everyone fails. Put on your big girl panties and try again.
- Pursue your dreams. Work at what makes you happy.
- Keep things in perspective. What seems like a big deal now is not so much later.
- Share what you learn with young people.
What would you tell your younger self? Please share in the comments below.
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.
Galatians 6:4 NLT
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.
1Thessalonians 4:11-12 NLT
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