This is Day 4 of the 21-Day Journaling Challenge held in Nov 2011. The challenge is now over but you can do the tasks in your own time. Visit the overview page for all the challenge tasks.
Hi everyone – Welcome to Day 4 of 21DJC! :)
Yesterday’s question was: “What is your ideal diet like?“. It was interesting reading your responses. Many of you seem to be in tune with what’s best for your body, which is great! Many of you stressed on a diet that’s filled in nutrition and void of empty calories since the latter does not benefit our body. Many of you are committed to removing unhealthy, junk food from your diet; At the same, a diet with high fruits and vegetables is a common vision across the board.
Ultimately all of us are different and have different needs, so go for the diet that you feel best about. There’s no need to feel compelled on a certain diet just because of what your parents, society, health magazines, or TV say.
If you eat something only to feel bad about it afterward, whether physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, then it’s a cue that it’s probably not the ideal for you. This includes eating junk food on the spur of the moment, then beating yourself up over it or feeling “guilty” about it after that.
While you can argue that it’s a “treat” and you “deserve” it, the point is you yourself already acknowledge the food is bad and feel bad about eating it afterward. This in itself suggests a misalignment in your wants/needs that needs to be worked through, vs. allowing the conflicting behavior to perpetuate.
Either you have a candy bar because you *truly* feel it’s the best thing for your body, or you don’t have that. You can’t be thinking “this candy bar isn’t good” and still have that in your ideal diet. That doesn’t make any sense at all; it’s a contradiction in itself. Ideal means something that’s the highest of it all; something you acknowledge to be the best of the best for yourself.
In the end, your ideal diet should be one which you feel 110% emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually both in the short-run and in the long-run – nothing less than that. By having a clear idea of what your ideal diet is, it brings awareness to what you want to feed your body with. This makes it easier for you to achieve this goal in the long run.
While I have a vision of what my ideal diet is, I’m far from it at the moment – there are times when I go off track with my diet due to emotional eating, lack of my desired food, or circumstances. But the important thing is I always work on getting back on track. Being on your ideal diet may not happen overnight, but the important thing is you move closer towards it, and work on integrating it into your lifestyle, day by day. In time, you realize you are exactly where you want to be.
With that said, let’s now move to today’s question! ;)
21DJC Day 4
Today’s question is a fun one – one which involves some imagination and thinking outside of our current framework of time:
If You Are To Travel Back in Time to 3 Years Ago, What Advice Would You Give Yourself?
How old would you be 3 years ago? What was happening at that time? What would you say to yourself? And why?
(Today’s question can be found in #21 of 101 Important Questions To Ask Yourself In Life.)
Your Task Today:
- Reflect and answer today’s question. There’s no word limit – whether minimum or maximum. Write as few or as many words as you want. It’s all up to what you want to express!
- Share your answer. After you are done writing, copy and paste your answer in the comments area and post it there.
- Check out other participants’ answers. Other participants will be sharing their answers too, so feel free to read and reply to their answers. This is a group course, so let’s support each other in these 21 days.
((Images: Empty book for journaling, Time travel))
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Three years ago I was working full time as a school counselor. My son’s wife was getting over breast cancer surgery and chemo and was getting back to her work. My husband was suffering from kidney failure and was doing hemodialysis three times a week. It was a difficult time for all of us. If I could appear and tell myself something, I guess it would be that I should know this too shall pass. That we would get past that troubled time and that everyone would be better in three years. And it is true. I am retired. My daughter-in-law is cancer free. And my husband got a kidney transplant and has a new lease on life. So my advice would be to always remember that phrase, ” This too shall pass.”
Three years ago I would have been 21. As helpful as it would have been to myself back than to know half of what I know now about life, friendship and the power of positive thinking. I would not be who I am today without making some of those mistakes back than. Having made those mistakes I now appreciate the opportunities given to me everyday, the people around me and I wouldn’t be running with life and enjoying absolutely every second of being where I am right now. I really believe I needed to make all those choices 3 years ago to be making all the choices I am making right now!
Time machine has been invented. Its time to go back to Carly in grade 12. Oh the high school days are back! At this time 3 years ago I was 17 years old and thinking about what to do after high school. My future. I’m a very smart girl, ok well not VERY VERY smart…not 90s in my classes nowadays but I was always a mid-eighty average without trying very hard. High school was always very easy to me, I did the work and I passed with flying colours…no matter what! Even now in my third year at university I have an overall GPA of 74%, which I am completely happy with but I still don’t have to try very hard. I just really don think university was the stream for me, but being a smart high school girl I assumed that was where I should end up. I originally went into university for a major in English, but quickly realized this was not the kind of writing I wanted to do! I then switched to anthropology because people interest me like crazy! Everyone is so different, yet all people can get along in one way or another. I just love it! I was always very interested in writing, I’m a very creative person and love to write, but not academically! Academic writing that I have to do for my classes in university bore me! The first paper I wrote for my geography class in first year incorporated some amazing adjectives and I was proud of it! I got the paper back and guess what! The teaching assistant who marked it said to not use adjectives, as they don’t add anything to university work. That is when my dreams were crushed and I realized I wasn’t going to enjoy this place very much! Don’t get me wrong I’ve had a ton of fun, made some amazing friends, but I’ve only stuck around for the people I’ve met. Just yesterday I dropped down from an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree to a General B.A. so I can get away from this place one year sooner! I am quite excited! After that I’m going to get my certificate for teaching English abroad, and then travel for as long as possible.
This is what I say to you, grade 12 Carly, don’t assume just because you’re smart that you should attend university just because that is the norm! Don’t follow norms that are prevalent in today’s society…be your own person!
Thinking back three years ago, I was 19 years old and I was in my first year of school. A couple of change I would want to make: most importantly, I would learn more, read more, make more friends, and engage more in school activities. And I would find myself a part-time job.
If I were to travel back in time 3 years ago, I would tell myself to quit being so impulsive, and to just not mess with guys till I’m older. Focus on school, and if someone wants to start something with me, ignore them, and move on. It will only hurt me. And the friendships I have the most confidence in- put effort into them, but don’t give away all of myself.
I would tell myself to talk to my parents about how I feel because look where it’s gotten me. And to work hard at making a relationship with them.
I would tell myself to do things I enjoy, and do what ever it takes to make me see what other people see in me (a smart girl, a beautiful girl, etc.) because i’m blind when it comes to that…
And just remember that I’m a teenager. Enjoy the time I had being young, and stop *waiting* to grow up.
Leave. IT’s not going to get better, only worse. It’s not your job to preserve your son’s relationship with his father. So quit your job, pack your self and your son and go home to Mama. In the end you will be benefiting all the members of your family by doing so. Stop being a martyr to motherhood. Stop trying to do ‘the right thing’. Go. Now. And don’t look back.
I was just thinking about this yesterday even before the post came up!
I was thinking about three years ago while enjoying a milk tea with pearl. Currently, these milk tea cafe/shop are fad here in Manila. You see new shops sprouting everywhere. The demand is high and for sure the store owners are raking in money. I was thinking about it yesterday because three years ago, i was drinking this type of drink in Taipei. At that time, the tea drink is not yet popular in Manila. More of unknown.
While I was sipping the delicious tea drink bought for me by my Taiwanese friend three years, it never occurred to me to make a business out of it and establish it in Manila. I was just thinking what could have happened if I had that entrepreneurial spirit three years ago. It is just about learning more from my travels abroad and applying that concept in my country. A frozen yogurt business owner also shared to me that they just saw that idea in the U.S. then brought it in the Philippines. Made a certain customization to suit local taste and just like that; a good earning business.
The learning for me is to be more open to ideas and pursue one of my five year goals; to establish my own business.
In 2008, I celebrated my 24th birthday. I was new to Singapore, had about 1 year working experience as a conference producer in Singapore, already experienced overseas business trips (which sounded so cool to me!), had begun sending some money back to my parents in Indonesia, started my first and only blog, spent a lot of money for shopping and was in the search of finding the right community or group of friends. The latter part was not so easy. Although I had a lot of friends here and there in Singapore but I only had two or three that were really close to me.
Some advice that I’d like to give myself if I could travel back in time 3 years ago, probably, I should have been more less serious, kinder/friendlier and have more fun, especially with my ex-housemates in Serangoon Condo. Four of us only got close after the condo’s contract was about to expire and once it was, we all were scattered. I stayed put in Singapore and the rest of them moved to Indonesia and Australia. Although, in the end, we became close friends and still manage to be in touch from time to time until to date, but I regretted the one year that I wasted without really relating to or hanging out with them. I should have been more curious about their lives too, not too busy with mine. Just an update, now four of us are already married! *see how time flies – they were all students three years ago and I just started my career in Singapore*
Another advice that I’d like to give myself then was perhaps to start dieting more seriously. I was really chubby back then (Oh, God! I can’t stand looking at my old photos now). Lastly, I think should not have spent so much money for clothes too!
Keep up the good work, you have a correct destination: developing and growing your self.
Intensify the action, double reading, learning activity.
Be consistent for what should be done in the business field.
Try to let go and let the Universe take care of the rest, be more gratitude, be happy and feel good.
I believe travelling back in time Celes, is a fantastic idea and lovely to reflect on how much the world, the people and you have changed. It’s amazing. ;)
I would be 24 years old and just getting settled to the Gold Coast life… We moved from country town to the big city – for my husband and I, it was the biggest change in our life but somehow we were doing the same things before NLP, entrepreneurship and personal development entered our lives. We were almost out of debt, getting better money, thinking of having children, maybe buying a new house in two years time and I didn’t have to work but put time into charities. As you may know, this is not who I am anymore. I have changed so much… However, we got involved with high risk business adventure and spend big money, made plenty of mistakes and put ourselves further back in life (that is high liabilities). During that time it was the starting point of where we are heading in life and I was anal about everything. Meaning I was in denial, hung onto a failing business, trying to put the pieces together and move forward, but my mind was of monkey-chatter as in, I had three voices in my mind. Firstly, I am not a quitter, second you can make this work, work hard and put more time in to make things happen and thirdly, your heart and soul is not in this and you don’t have the time and so forth. You can imagine how hypocritical my thoughts were and how unbalanced I was during those 2 years of stress and worry. Honestly, I was so stretched and out of mind, just deciding what was best. Luckily, the business changed and so did its values/beliefs and I walked away from it, because it was heading in the direction that was in discord to what I believe and feel – that was the turning point for me. I learnt valuable things during that time.
Looking back at what I have mentioned above, I can see a few things (which I have not mentioned as it’s too private) but what I can say is this:
1) Why did you let society and others control your life and life’s decisions? – They only know what their experiences have taught them, what society as taught them and what their parent and their parents have taught them…. So on! They will forever to continue be who there while you prosper and live a fulfilling life. It hurts but life moves forward and so should I.
2) Why did you get involved with fake people and promises? – I thought it wasn’t at the time and I didn’t have the knowledge that I know now to make business decisions and decisions for myself and our future. I couldn’t say ‘no’ because I never said ‘no’ before to anything in my life. I had no confidence.
3) Why didn’t you get advice about what you were getting into? – I had no support because everyone and everything around me at the time was, work, work, work and more hard work. You work in a job, pay your utilities, have a family, retire and have nothing left when you’re sixty. This is the family and friends I had at the time where everything was so grey, doom and gloom but with good things.
4) How could you not listen to your heart? – I ignored this part of myself for a long time due to my pride and arrogance. I remember when I was about 5-8 years old; my family went on a holiday to Coffs Harbour. On one particular day, we all went, except my Mum who stayed on the beach, paragliding with a boat and professionals. My Dad was coming down and I was gearing up to go… I had this very determined face, (even though I was terrified) that read: “Dad’s going up, I’m going up too!” This story will always stick as a family joke, laughs and all but there is truth about who I am and it reminds to be truthful to myself and listen to my heart and not my head.
5) Sometimes, you have to let go of things that are not meant to be for you but learn from the experience and move forward. I did. Valuable learn and a hard one at that.
My advice to myself now, would be: listen to your heart, follow through, learn to let go of things that burden you and move forwards with your head held high.
All the best,
Ezza ♥
Sorry I stuffed up the html coding to close on the questions and answer. I apologise if its hard to read, guys xx
Be Yourself, Only Better. All the best.
@ Ashok – THANK YOU THANK YOU. I appreciate your kind comments and wisdom. I will surely remember: “Be Yourself, Only Better”. I believe it will become a motto for me to remember and remind myself during adversity. All the Best too ♥ ♥
Hi Ezza
Thanks for sharing such a detailed analysis. I have learned many valuable things from you today.
Have a nice day :)
Hi Iva,
Thank you honey – I appreciate your supportive and beautiful comments. ♥ Iva I’m so happy that you learnt many valuable things from my journal entry/comment. It has made me who I am today and I am grateful of the experience even if it was laced with adversity and truths about life and values. I had learnt alot from the experience and I am glad my experience has taught you.
I pray you have a lovely day too Iva!
P.s I am having a fab day!
All the Best,
Ezza ;)
Never say anything negative at my job at work to anyone. Move to be closer to the job. Make lasting friendships at work but only say personal things to people outside of work. I would always have a smile on my face or take breaks outside if I started to feel stressed.
Put myself and my work first, before my significant other.
I would be more careful in understanding my health and put it first.
I would find healthy ways to relieve stress such as massage, exercise, music, art, etc rather than spending money.
3 years ago, I was going through a deep depression upon learning that my husband and I were unable to concieve. I would have advised myself to not worry so much about whether I will ever have a baby because I can live a full and joyful life without having children. I would tell myself to just go ahead and engage in the activities that I enjoy because my creative interests are very healing and theraputic for me. I would have assured myself that I can and will make peace with it, and to focus on the positive aspects of not having children (there are many). I would have told myself to “keep the faith” and trust myself, my body, and the Universe. And I would have told myself that I will adjust to my circumstances – whatever they may be – that everything will be OK – better than OK!
Dear AH888,
I cannot imagine what you went through but I understand what it is feels like not to be ale to conceive. It is a hard and painful time for any woman and their partners. We tried many many many times but there is nothing with either of us. For us it was obvious that my body and I was not ready to have children and looking back at this, I am still not. I do not know if we will ever have children but there is hope. There is always hope even though it feels there is none.
There is so much in life you can do and give. I believe maybe you have found this and I want to congratulate you on finding this. I pray that you will always find peace within yourself and know that it is not your fault and hold onto what you have in life and know you are very blessed and grateful for what you have.
Your story has touched me deeply and you will be in my thoughts.
All the Best,
Ezza ♥ ♥
Dear Ezza,
Thank you so much for your compassionate reply. Although it’s taken me a long time to get there, I, too, believe in the power of hope.
I will also keep you in my prayers and in my heart. I am grateful for the many blessings in my life, including this incredibly talented and supportive community.
Be well, and sending love and light to you,
AH888
Three years ago, I would have been 25 years old and somewhere feeling lost. That’s not to say I’m not still feeling lost now, but I think I have a better sense of direction now. At that time, I was still working as a software developer and I guess somewhat content.
I’m not really sure if I would have much to say. I believe that we all take our own path and I haven’t really made any judgments/decisions about the past 3 years that I think I could have done any other way. I did take a huge leap though about 2 years back, and maybe I would tell myself to be less afraid and just go back to school (earlier). I would try to teach my past self to be less paralyzed by fear.
Now if I could actually give myself cheats and insight into the reality of the future/present, I’d give my past self information about the present that could be used for financial gain, like lottery ticket numbers and stock market data. =P
yes.. to be less paralyzed with fear. that’s a good one!
I would advice that I spend time connecting with myself deeply and discover my true strengths. Do more of what would enhance my strengths and less of fretting and worrying about things that are beyond my control. Eat more healthy and get more exercise. Do more meditation, regularly. Spend quality time with wife and daughter. Try to work on the bucket list. Spend more time on business and ensure high quality products and high quality life for employees.
Absolutely. You should invest in yourself! :)
Ashok I believe you will be amazed at what you will find and learn about yourself. I believe eating healthily, exercising and mediation are therapeutic for the body, mind and soul. You have the answers within. You already know the answers. Be courageous. Be victorious. All the Best, Ezza ♥
Day 4:
The first thing that comes to mind is, “Don’t do it!” But that is just a humorous defense mechanism for a rough patch.
Honestly, I would tell myself this: Do not wait. Just buy the tickets to London and visit your friend. It will be worth it in the long run even though it seems like a lot of money. And while you’re at it, do not wait to mend the other friendship that is spiraling out of control. Own that it might not be perfect, but it is still worth the effort! And make sure to be generous with your attention and time… and money. Call your brother. Listen to your grandmother, really listen. Make time for yourself each day to workout/meditate/read – even 15 minutes will do. Don’t forget to floss.
if i can travel back to 3 years ago, i would told myself to make good use of the time and be more concentrated.
Time management and concentration is what I lack.
I can grab and learn more things if i am not very easily get distracted.
I would gain more experience and achieve all my goals if I make use of my 24 hours a day.
This is another easy one for me – 3 years ago I was about 15 pounds thinner so I’d advise myself not to slack off the points counting because one slack leads to another, which leads to another and before you know it, you’ve fallen off the wagon completely and on your way to fat town!! I had made a promise to myself 5 years ago to lose 50 pounds by the time I was 50 and I did it!! But it only took me a year and I maintained for about another year before the slacking began… so now I’m back on track, but I turned 50 without being at my goal weight and it makes me sad. I try not to beat myself up too much about it, but i hated having to size up this fall… hopefully all my new, bigger clothes will be too big soon!!!
Margaret, everything ALWAYS works out for you……Never worry, never fear, never look back—you always got what you asked for, and you always will….Watch your thoughts, they create your world…..You are loved and watched over, always…..
Three years ago I was 35 and running around spending money on shoes and handbags and other frivolous things. I had no idea that my life would change dramatically in those 3 years, starting with the passing of my grandfather, and my mother almost dying. The lessons I learned were invaluable. So I would tell myself:
1. No matter what, don’t lose your faith, God always comes through.
2. Finish your degree, you will need it very soon for your dream job.
3. Take care of your health. High blood pressure at 38 is not good!
Don’t gain the weight back.
Stop buying expensive wine and spending money. Save for a rainy day. (It sure is raining now)
Read (more books). Run (more km). Relax (more often).
I’ve decided to add one more advice: go for a dental check-up.
This is rather a simple question, there is nothing that i would regret and the pass is a library of my personal moments.
1) Complete my study
2) Take action on yearly personal improvement plan
3) Start my online business/blogging
Three years ago I would tell my self:
Advocate for your health, doctors do miss things and my doctor’s nurse practitioner found need to send me for extra tests three years later (4 months ago) I have had surgery for the same thing twice in the past 45 days. and am facing other health concerns that just showed up in the tests they recently did. Listen to your body and know that it tells you when you are ill, some doctors will tell you its all in your mind, or its due to this other condition.
Then I would stop smoking, exercise and eat healthier. What I am doing now.
I would tell myself:
EVERY DAY YOU DON’T SPEND LIVING, YOU SPEND DYING. YOU ARE NOT GUARENTEED TOMORROW AND TODAY IS A PRESENT, DO I WANT TO SPEND MY PRESENT DYING OR LIVING?
i CAN DIE ANYTIME SO WHY NOT MAKE EACH MINUTE TODAY A LIVING MINUTE.
And I would take risks, not to end my life, but to not have regrets because I spent my life dying instead of living.
Oh the wisdom of even three years!
3 years back, I was just an eighteen year old girl stepping out from home into a foreign country, a foreign world – beginning my undergraduate studies on my own, more 30 000miles away.
‘Don’t be afraid. Don’t worry too much. Don’t cry, there is still tomorrow,’ This is what I will say to myself. I have no regrets for what I’ve done, been through and experienced but more courage won’t hurt. :)
3 years ago. I was 28 years old. I was still of the mindset that we might have more children and spent many hours obsessing about it. My husband and I had just passer our 1 year anniversary of buying our house. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that children were not an option for us. That we while that dream would not come true, there are other dreams that can be realized. I would tell myself it was ok to cry over the loss of this dream, but to not dwell on it for too long.
I would also tell myself that good friends will come and go but great friends will always be there for you. I would tell myself it is ok to say no sometimes and that if someone gets mad at you for it, they shouldn’t be in your life.
The advice I would give myself if I were to travel back in time 3 years.
Firstly I just had to check what I was doing three years ago. So I checked on my Vimeo page to see what videos I’d made around that time. Ahh yes, and now I see.
Three years ago was 2008. I had made some nice videos that year. Around that time I was about to shoot a short film for a guy who’d contacted me from Brisbane. It was for a film festival called Tropfest and the movie made it into the finals. So I wouldn’t change anything about that, although I would assure myself that I had nothing to worry about when shooting it. Maybe I would tell myself to avoid the one the guy made the following year, which didn’t do so well.
I would also let myself know about all the essential video techniques I’ve only learnt about during the past 3 years. In order to avoid technical problems that made some of the work I do quite difficult throughout those 3 years until I discovered those solutions.
In fact, one I thing I would tell myself is not to focus too much on making an income from making music videos. Instead focus on ways of earning a passive income. One way may have been to focus on my sound design business. Or to begin concentrating on recording my own music again, to focus on just using one software package to record the music and how to go about it. Techniques I’ve I’ve been refining over the past few years. If I was to continue shooting videos for people, that I should just stick to the cinematography side of things.
Simplifying my life, that’s another important recommendation. Start early removing all the junk I no longer need. To sell everything on eBay asap, which is something I’m only just about to begin doing now. That way I could already begin clearing out the back shed freeing up more space to use it as a greenscreen room I could use to shoot videos which would be permanently set up ready to go. I’d tell myself not to be afraid to sell my Star Wars collection, my record collection, some of my parents belongings and other sentimental items, as these are things I don’t need that are just wasting space.
If we didn’t already have tiles on the floor back then, I’d make sure to tell myself to get the studio tiled as well, just to save having to get it done again later. There are also a lot of other similar and minor trivial things I would recommend doing. Which include other home improvement tips that my wife and I would benefit from.
Something else I’d make clear would be the people I should be following. Which friends to connect with and those I should look to for inspiration. To make sure I let myself know about websites such as celestinechua.com I wasn’t familiar with back then. And also alert myself to the people I would be best avoiding at all costs. Along with certain websites and blogs I shouldn’t waste my time visiting. I would even encourage myself to set up a decent blog I can use to teach people something, and to post to it on a regular basis.
As far as food goes, I would certainly get the message across to quit wheat gluten and chocolate and caffeine, along with a few of the other points I raised in my ideal diet journal entry from yesterday. All quite important. I would even recommend a long fast like the 24 day fast I did, but maybe only for two weeks. To also let myself know about any recipes I’ve only discovered in the past year or two that I enjoy a lot, but are still healthy.
And I think that just about covers everything. The main thing though would just be to inspire myself to be the better person I need to be. To take action and make the effort to do what needs to be done. To be better than the person I am today even. To avoid any short cuts that may appear along the way, as they never work out. And not to try doing too much at once, but to focus on the task at hand, complete it and then move onto the next.
Very correct dear Cloudio….
Everyone makes mistakes in his / her life….the best thing would be that we should learn from our mistakes and should not repeat the same again. :)
I am so perfectionist, if I can travel back to this morning I would change at least 100 things.
That’s why if I can travel back to 3 years ago, I probably wouldn’t change a bit.
Everything happened to me, it was for a reason: give me opportunity to grow.
Think about the movie “sliding doors” or the zen story “maybe”.
Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum: you make mistakes so you can learn from them. Just avoid repeat the same twice.
Still I would like to think less about the past or the future, and just live more intensely the present moment.
Very correct dear Cloudio….
Everyone makes mistakes in his / her life….the best thing would be that we should learn from our mistakes and should not repeat the same again. :)
which unfortunately it is not so easy, since we keep repeating over and over the same mistakes
Hey guys! The question has nothing to do with whether you regret the past 3 years of your life or not – it also has nothing to do with whether you want to change what happened in the past 3 years. It’s about identifying the key lessons we’ve learned in those 3 years – so we can apply them onward to the future. If I were to reiterate the question, “What advice would you give to yourself 3 years ago?”. Even if you are to say to your younger self: “Continue whatever you are doing now”, that’s also a piece of advice.
But I believe all of us have probably distilled more lessons in the past 3 years than to just tell our younger self “Do whatever you’re doing now”, aye? Just food for thought.
Hope that helps!
Thanky you for clarify!
Ok I’ll rewrite after Celes clarification.
I would tell to my 3 years younger me not to obsess in finding a place where to settle down, because my intimate nature is nomadic, and while you get tired of traveling after years, there is no place on Earth I will not get uncomfortable after a while.
Ditto for the search of a twin soul: there are times where you need more the help of a person, who can stay on your side and understand you, but even if you think you have found her, she may be not ready or willing to stay with you. Go over!
Three years ago I was very depressed and unhappy. I “made” myself go to school in a foreign country even though I didn’t really want to, I didn’t feel inspired and I wasn’t able to take in or appreciate what was taught there. I paid a high tuition (student loan) and I managed to almost get all A’s (I got a couple of B’s only because I was absent from class, the reason why is I would get panic attacks and I just couldn’t make myself go there, it caused me too much anxiety). I did have a fairly good time with both my siblings that were also studying abroad at the same school as me and we shared an apartment together. However, my ex-husband also lived with us pretty much that whole period (that’s also when we decided to get married) and it wasn’t until a year and a half later that I realized the two of us shouldn’t be together. I had some major self confidence issues three years ago, but mainly I just wasn’t happy at all in that relationship. In the end, I wouldn’t change anything, because based on every decision and every step I’d taken earlier in my life, I met the special someone who I actually belong with. I couldn’t have a better relationship than the one I’m in today – and it just keeps getting better too!
Looking back, I would tell myself these three things;
1) Don’t worry so much about everything
2) It will all work out in the end
3) You really are very talented and beautiful inside and out
Well said Mrs. Silver….
Everything would work out in the end if we stay positive and happy inside. :)
I would be 36 years old 3 years ago. A lot of changes would be taking effect in my life at that time. I would like to say to myself that whatever I plan for my future, I should stick to it and do not waste a single moment of my life doing work which is least important. I would tell myself to give priority to most important things first. I would tell myself to be more practical in life and do not get emotionally involved with everyone / everything. Would like to live my own life instead of handing over the remote control of my life to someone else.
Because, what I planned 3 years ago didn’t gone as per the planning……I wasted a lot of my time doing unnecessary or less important work which I do not want to repeat now……3 years ago I get emotionally attached to everything / everyone, due to which I was unable to take practical decisions…..this is what I do not want to repeat in my future……3 years ago, I always compromised my lifestyle, I spent my life to always make others happy by fulfilling their unending demands…..due to which I forgot to live my own life as I wanted to.
In all, I wasted a lot of precious time and learned a lesson from it. Now I’m much more practical then ever and do my work as planned and trying to live the life which I always wanted to. :)
Hi Kamal, I had a similar thought about having wasted precious time, then I thought of a quote I read somewhere. I can’t remember the exact words – but basically saying that the journey is as important as the destination.
So maybe I’ve wasted some time, and delayed in learning some lessons. I have not yet reached the destination, but the journey has been also been enriching and helpful in making me what I am today.
Hope you achieve your goals and live the life you want!
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