THINGS I WISH I COULD TELL MY
YOUNGER SELF
1. Life is good. Not always, but mostly.
And when it is not so good, be assured it
will get better.
2. It's a good thing that we don't know everything that's going to happen to us. If
I had known all the pains and heartaches
I would encounter in life, even amidst the
joys and victories, it would surely have
been too much to bear.
3. If you tend to be shy, try your best to overcome it. Take it a step at a time, but
work at it. It is a gift to get to know new
people, especially those who are
different from you in some way, culturally,
ethnically, religiously. Pushing yourself
out of your comfort zone may be painful for a time, but the benefits are
everlasting.
4. Your hard work in school will be worth
it. But come on, don't kill yourself.
5. It may not be easy to stand up and
speak out for what's important to you, but you will be amazed how empowering,
and important, it can be.
6. Keep exercise, eating well, and healthy
living in balance. Schedule rest and
recreation regularly. The older you get,
the more you'll understand why. 7. Accept yourself as God made you. I
spent too many years fighting this battle
and it took a long time to surrender, and
by that time it carried extremely painful
ramifications. God does not make
mistakes. 8. You are not the only person in the
world who feels this way, whatever "this
way" is that you're feeling. See if you can
connect with some others so you can
support each other.
9. You are terrific just as you are. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't work on your
rough edges and areas of ignorance and
inexperience.
10. You are on a journey, which means
things will change. Even important things
will change, sometimes shockingly. But it is a nevertheless a good journey, and it's
worth every step.
11. There is no one person in the whole
world who is the one-and-only person
God has selected for you to be with
forever. So don't waste time thinking you have to search for that one ideal person.
Open yourself up, be patient, and it will
all work out.
12. When you do connect deeply with
one person, be serious about it. Work at
it. Be open and honest with your significant other. It is a rare and
wondrous thing to be in relationship, so
make every effort to preserve and
improve and deepen it.
13. But sometimes, for any number of
reasons, it is time to move on, for your sake or theirs, or both. Recognize this.
14. If you are alone, you won't always be,
unless you don't make any effort
otherwise. Make the effort.
15. Your parents truly love you and want
the best for you. Listen to them. Trust them. Love them. Honor them. But realize
you will soon be on your own, and that's a
good thing.
16. Stop watching so much TV. Read
more.
17. Work hard and carefully to figure out a career you will love. This will involve
trying different things, new things.
18. Try not to be so gullible. Trust, but
verify -- with independent, objective
sources, not mouthpieces for particular
viewpoints or axes to grind. 19. Children are a blessing and a joy.
Just keep in mind that they will break
your heart and scare you to death more
times than you could ever imagine.
20. The church (or any religious
configuration) is composed of human beings, and so it possesses many human
failings, which often reflect your own.
Surrender to this.
21. Avoid people with closed minds, who
tend to be negative.
22. You will have a tendency toward complacency. Resist this.
23. Be curious. Try new things. Strive for
something that stretches you. Of course,
there's a limit to this, so be careful.
24. Travel as much as you can, especially
to distant places. This will add incredible dimension to your life.
25. Sing more. And if you're not that good
at it, join a choir or take some lessons.
This life needs all the music it can get.
26. Do something artistic. In fact, try lots
of different things in different media. There is something primally meaningful
and life giving about creating a thing of
beauty.
27. Engage in self-reflection, but don't let
it become self-deception. Sometimes you
will need to talk things over with a trusted counselor.
28. Don't ruminate on how others have
hurt you. Feel your feelings, but let them
slip away. Move on.
29. Forgive. Forgive. And forgive again.
You may never forget, but for your own sake, forgive. And try to forget.
30. And don't forget to forgive yourself.
31. Be grateful. Gratitude leads to more
happiness and wellbeing.
32. Bless others. Be a positive influence
in any way you can. Even simple little helpful acts can make others -- and you --
much happier.
33. Don't take yourself so seriously all the
time. Laugh. Often. Laugh from your belly
whenever possible, letting the tears run
down your cheeks. 34. You can't pray too much.
35. Sometimes bad things happen to
good people. Sometimes very bad things
happen to very good people.
36. There are some people in your life
you will never understand, and maybe not even like. Make the best of it. But if
you realize they are harming you, avoid
them. Don't let them suck the air out of
your spirit.
37. Nurture an active interest in public
affairs and the common good. Work at whatever level you can to make your
community and nation a better place. But
be careful that you don't let politics with
its vitriolic ineffectiveness sidetrack you
from the bigger picture.
38. Write. It will be difficult to find the time and energy at times, but it is a vital
creative pursuit.
39. Technology is cool and can help you
do fun and interesting things. But keep it
in perspective; don't let it consume you.
Life in the real world is far more meaningful and important. And fun.
40. Don't be afraid to tell someone you
love him or her, as long as you really do.
41. Some people will give you good
advice; listen to them. Others don't know
what they're talking about; learn to distinguish between the two. You will
know in your gut when others' advice is
sound.
42. You are just one infinitesimal speck
of existence in the vast canvas of reality.
Realize that. At the same time, God values you infinitely, and so should you.
43. Good things in life take a long time.
44. Learn from your mistakes. And live so
that someday you won't have to wish you
could tell your younger self anything.
45. God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD TELL
YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
