If you could write a note to your younger self what would you say? You can talk to yourself as a young child, a student, or early in your career. Or all of the above. Share your hard-earned wisdom and your knowledge of the future.
What would you say about your choice of career? Would you recommend a different college? A different major? A different career?
What would you say about getting a job, going solo, or getting a partner? How about your specialty?
What advice would you have about networking, advertising, speaking, writing, and the Internet?
Would you tell yourself to travel more? Pursue a hobby? Start a business? Follow a dream?
What would you tell yourself about what’s important, and what’s not? Would you recommend taking more chances? On what?
What books would you tell yourself to read?
Is there something you would tell yourself to avoid? Do differently? Start earlier?
What would you say about dating, marriage, and children? Would you tell yourself to take better care of your health? What specifically would you tell yourself to do?
Your letter, of course, isn’t really a letter to your younger self, it’s a letter to your current self. It’s a way to get you to explore what’s important. You may not be able to undo what you did in the past but you can start your future today.
I’m doing things today I always wanted to do but never “allowed” myself to do. I made excuses about why I couldn’t, told myself there was no money in it, or convinced myself it would have to wait. Five or ten or twenty-five years from now, I want to be able to say, “I’m glad I did,” instead of “I wish I had”.
It’s not too late to follow your dreams. You’re not too old. You can start a new career, a new business, a new way of doing things. You can get healthy. Be happy. And live the rest of your life doing what you want to do.
