Inspired by the viral 10-year challenge on social media, when people show the world what they looked like 10 years ago, I decided not to share my photos of that time.
Why?
Because there was nothing to be proud of. Just an overweight teenager from a small town in Ukraine, with a fixed mindset and no goals in life.
With lots of complexes, fear to make mistakes and to be judged by others.
And...
With big dreams and huge ambitions to change her life at that moment.
Looking back at myself in the past, I created a list of hints which I would give her 10 years ago.
So that!
I want to share with you, my readers. Perhaps, this list would be helpful for you to avoid the mistakes I did.
You are an individual
You have your opinions, your own interests, and your personality.
It doesn't matter what others think about you and what they say is better for you. You are unique. Don't compare yourself to others.
Prove yourself to yourself—not others. And follow your dreams.
Read books
Now you have time for that and a lot of time. It will bring many benefits for you like increases verbal and writing skills, will help to articulate your thoughts and will enhance the most essential ability: problem-solving skills through training the brain to think in sequence and to link cause.
Loneliness is priceless
Enjoy it, because in a while, in adult life you will not have that amount of time to know yourself better.
Take care of yourself
Every day for a happier mind and body.
Your body and mind are the most valuable assets. To get through each day and succeed in life both need to be kept in good shape. You want to enjoy life and focus on goals instead of your illness.
Avoid toxic people
This is a kind of people who might resent your progress and achievements and judge you for any reason. Perhaps, they think you will be no longer in their life if you improve yourself too much.
Just stay confident and own your own faults and the things that make you shine. Cut toxic people from your life.
Conclusion
Despite all, I cannot say that I was a bad person or regret about lots of things, in general, I have done or haven't. It's life, and it's normal to screw up and learn from own failures.
I always keep in mind that everything could be changed apart from death. Take your destiny into your own hands and build your life from scratch.
What would you tell yourself 10 years ago? What advice would you give to yourself in the past? Do you have any regrets about anything?
I am so curious to read your story and know what is changed from that moment.
Photo by Mikito Tateisi on Unsplash
Top comments (22)
Dear past me,
Stop playing computer games and start doing something productive!
Thanks,
Future me
My mind is telling me no... but my body.... MY BOOOODY IS TELLING ME YE-YEAAAH!
Dear past me,
Play more computer games. You'll be fine
Oh, yeah 😅I feel you. I also played lots of computer games in the past 🤦♀️
It is a great post and a good topic. I believe this what you wrote is the only true comparison individual should go through.
You should not compare your self with other people or their achievements, but you should definitely compare you and ’yesterday you’. This method is the only one which brings you true numbers, real achievements and of course feedback on you.
You are so right! Today we should be a better version of ourselves than yesterday 🙂
Great post, I love this! I recently posted about some of my fears and insecurities and how I needed to over come them. I really like that you just laid it out simply on how to improve. Thanks for sharing!
You're welcome! I will check out your post 🙂
Very well put Ilona, and quite similar to the philosophy I ask my children to think about:
Thank you 🙂Excellent points to think about 👍I wish my parents did the same when I was a child.
Hi younger me,
2009 will be hard and at some point you might not know, how to go on, but you will make it.
You will marry the love of your life, but PLEASE ... when you have that Ring, wait for the right moment before you propose. I know you cannot wait any longer, but there is no need to rush this. She‘ll say yes anyway, but that will not be last you hear about it. 😳🥺
Otherwise, even when it does not seem like it sometimes, it will work out at the end.
Thinking back, I would say:
Be gentle. You can be kind, caring, and helpful, but still not gentle, and people will come to you and like you, but still be afraid of you, which is hard on them. Be gentle, too.
Drop out of grad school sooner rather than later. If you don't have a clear path straight to the PhD in the next two to three years and an advisor who's getting people through that hurdle in a timely, orderly manner, the opportunity cost is too high.
Some people are okay living alone. I am not one of them. Some people are okay working in intellectual isolation. I am also not one of them.
Thank you for your words! Great thoughts! 👍
I would tell myself:
It's totally okay to not know what you want to do as an "adult" yet. The people who tell you to hurry are wrong, you're crazy intelligent and in time you'll find yourself and be successful.
Thank you for sharing this!
You are welcome! 🙂
Thanks for sharing <3
It takes courage to write a letter like this and it definitely shows some mental maturity. Keep up the good work and be awesome! ;)
Thanks a lot! I'll do my best 🙂