In the never-ending stream-of-consciousness that is Twitter, a hypothetical was proposed: “You meet 16-year-old you. You have 10 seconds only. What do you say?”
And here is my wistful response, speaking as a white-bearded middle-aged man who can look backward on more than a few regrets (just imagine me studying the light shining through a glass of single-malt as my words slowly unwind in a Harrison Ford-style grumble):
Don’t be so afraid of making the wrong choice. Take the risk. If it doesn’t work out, don’t sulk, move on. Travel more. Write more. Give more serious thought to moving away for college. And above all, don’t just assume you’ll “get around to it someday.”
Why are these things so clear in hindsight?
Mine would be so much more direct: “You have anxiety. Get medication. Get therapy. It’s going to make a huge difference.” (I mean, I’m happy I have it now, but wow, what that would have changed for Young Me.)
That works too… 🙂