A letter to my 19-year-old self
Sheldon Cooper is not the only one crazy for a time travel machine. I need one to send a letter to my younger self, timing it such that it would reach the younger me on the eve of my 20th birthday.[ Day 10 of “One Day, One Blog”]
Dear Mini-me,
Don’t freak out. This is not a prank by your classmates. Yes, this is a letter from the future …from your older self. First of all, stop crying that you will never be a teenager any more. I am not even sure why you are upset — you hardly caused enough drama to live up to the badass name teenagers have. If anything, you went a little crazy in your twenties.
- Stepping into your twenties is not the beginning of old age. You are young. Very young.
- Stop worrying that you are too fat ( Trust me, it gets a lot worse)
- Don’t care about what the neighbors say. Learning to ignore them will be a valuable life skill. No sarcastic comment will ever penetrate their thick skin. ( Just a heads up — Now they comment on your choice of clothes and career. Then it would be to get married. After you do get married, they will harass you to have a kid. Then a second kid. They will be shocked if you don’t build a house. They will be shocked if you continue working after having kids. They will be shocked if you quit your job too. You get the drift… )
- I am so happy you are having an amazing time at your college. See those 3 guys in the next class — you will one day start a company with them. (The tallest one in that — he will be your CEO..and no, his eternal optimism is not a disease he will grow out of ; one day you will be thankful for it)
- Go visit your Grandmom more. She will not there forever.
- If you feel there is an injustice being done, speak out more. ( That creepy guy who gets too close for comfort — slap him. Else it will be a lifelong regret. Trust me)
- You will soon get a job. Start saving money early on. As your paycheck increases, don’t increase your spending. Increase your savings. And invest wisely.
- Learn a new language.
- Exercise — this is a habit you need to cultivate from early on.
- Don’t fight with your brother so much. He is going to be one of your best friends, one day ( Yes…it may not seem so…but trust me… Oh, and while you are at it, don’t be a sneak and tell your parents that he is watching one too many movies. He is preparing for his career)
- It is OK that you are shorter, darker and fatter than you want to be — there is no one else like you. You are pretty awesome!
- Don’t be so sensitive. Learn to laugh at yourself.
- You can develop any skill as long as you have the discipline to work hard at it. Learn the value of discipline.
- Write everyday. Just make sure to hide your journal from your “nosey parker” siblings (How do you think your Mom found out about your latest crush. Ask your sister)
- Travel more. Don’t let go of any chance you get to travel. Travel alone whenever possible.
- Just because you want something really really bad, you may not get it. Because the time may not be right . Or something better may be on the way.
- There will be times when your love for God is tested. But love him anyway.
- You don’t always need to act like a tough nut. It is ok to show your vulnerability to your friends.
- Don’t ever use fairness creams. They propagate a crime against self-respect.
- Please, please …. Learn to cook.
- Tell your Mom that you love her. Every day. Twice a day if possible. There will be a time when you say it aloud but she may not be around to hear that.
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Friends, this is the Day 10 of my odyssey to write one blog EVERY DAY for the month of May 2017. “One Day, One Blog”
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