It’s my birthday today! I thought up a rather fun way to spend some time celebrating. Here’s my game:
Think of your age 10 years ago, 20 years ago, etc. and write down all the things you appreciate about the younger “you.” Spend some time pondering what’s been constant, what’s changed, and how that younger “you” contributed to who you are now. This is an exercise I’m designing for a speech on Living Your Life for younger people. If you’re willing to share, please chime in. What did you like about younger-you? What’s been constant? What’s changed? (What, that you thought would be constant at the time, changed?)
Stever, the one thing I thought would never change is my view of everything: politics in general, people, our US government, etc.
As I have grown older I see that politics has changed dramatically, people are not always the idiots I assumed them to be and our government has changed as well. There is only one Germany, Russia is arming the Middle East instead of threatening us themselves, people are just making due with what they have and instead of setting aside a national day of prayer our leaders have all but eliminated it from any public part of our lives.
To your point, it is brilliance in youth that makes them optimistic that the future can be changed but it is the harshness of experience that shows us not all changes are for the best. The important thing is to be flexible in our beliefs – not wishy-washy but rather willing and even eager to consider the merit of other points of view and then to take all the information, combine it with out experience, moral/ethical convictions, and reasoning ability to decide for ourselves what we see and feel. We must be careful that we don’t just believe any new voice we hear, but we should always consider it based on everything else and see if there is merit in what that voice says.
Many youth I speak with are like sheep, blindly following anyone who has something to say and others seem to not be informed enough to make a decision. It’s important to educate yourselves about a point and then decide, fully informed, what your stance is. Never accept it just because CNN, your teachers, the protester getting signatures door to door, or your best friend says so. Nor should you reject it without careful consideration.
Always respect people of a different belief, whether you agree or not and whether you think they have a brain/heart or not… they are people too and should be respected. Tell them how you feel and maybe they will change their mind but just be a witness to your belief, don’t try to make them change their minds… it never works by force.
This is what I would try to convey to youths today. Hope it helps!
Me-of-ten-years ago? Heck, not even me-of-five years ago. Ten years ago, I figured I’d be heading the department of a financial services company and pulling in a lot of money. Now I’m finishing grad school and looking forward to being a librarian. And if I look at me-at-10, I wanted to be a teacher or a missionary. So much for foresight.
I should point out that I had a major epiphany about where I wanted my life to head, so I headed that way. I got tired of making people monetarily rich, and decided I was a lot more interested in making them informationally rich. Not a single day goes by that a patron doesn’t learn something new because I was able to help point them in an unexpected direction, and that has been such a gift to myself. A gift I still want to get paid for, incidentally.
Happy Birthday!
Let’s see: In 2000, I was a Size 3 marriage counselor living in Colorado, recovering from a divorce (but enjoying the Divorce Diet) only dreaming of actually getting paid to write. Now I am NOT a Size 3, I live in the Midwest, I’ve run a half-marathon, and trade words for cash. Yep. What a difference ten years make.
What an excellent question! Thanks!
What’s stayed the same (over the last decade): work industry, good friends, love of travel, family bonds, volunteer involvement
What’s changed: I don’t travel internationally as much (though want to) – have started exploring domestic travel, my serendipitous relationship with my significant other who started as a friend, more confidence, increased experience in the same work industry, more money, home ownership, loss of a pet (that really changes you), increased volunteer involvement, having to learn to manage time
I see value in the experiences of my younger self. 10 years ago I had many of the same good friends, was as social as I was now, though was a bit more insecure in who I was, which I see as natural in youth. I like how things have ended up and can only assume it was the relationships I had then and that I still have and the experiences and choices (good and bad) I have had over the last 10 years that greatly contributed to my confidence and the good place I have evolved to. I look forward to the next 10!
My younger me could strap on a pair of running shoes and jog off any problem or concern. The older me has to make arrangements or appointments to fit in exercise. My writing suffers because of this!
Short of acquiring a few new skills, I am exactly the same person that I have been since I was little. I am stubborn and loyal (although my stubbornness has probably been the reason that my friend base has decreased). I have my opinions and I am not sorry for them. I still don’t fit with any one religious belief or political party and I have my hands in so many projects I don’t even know where I am half the time.
There’s been drama. But that’s how life is. And I am still the same person after all of it.
Stever,
Belatedly, a very happy birthday to you!
Ten (or even five) years ago:
My decisions were easier. I could follow my heart and take pride in pursuing the ideas I felt most excited about, backing the leaders I respected the most, and impacting the people I felt most passionate about. Every experience was new and entrepreneurial, and that in itself made it worth being part of.
Today:
I’ve been anchored by friends, corrupted by concepts like elaborate planning and opportunity costs, and look for a level of precision that’s only fooling myself!
The good news? I now know this, and want to do more of what makes me happy