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I cannot go back in time and do it, but I assume this exercise is not about it (I know, I am a genius).<br />
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I would like someone older and experienced to listen to what I have to say and how I feel about 'life' and 'the world'. To confront myself with someone who could help me navigate through life better or at least, more aware.<br />
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That's why I started doing this. I am looking for people that are 25, 20, 15, or whatever their age is, BECAUSE AGE IS IRRELEVANT, and I am trying to ask them what they think and feel and add my thoughts to it, but gently. As every person is different and every experience has different meaning for different people.<br />
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I will be preaching and will be adamant about it. This is why most advice don't work. With all the advice in this thread (and on this forum), it's pointless. Because changing the world is not about giving advice to people that are ready for it, so are ready for it. It's helping people that aren't ready...<br />
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You cannot say 'this is what I would say to a 25 year old version of me' because you wouldn't listen. I wouldn't. No one would. Or the chances are really slim. Before you want to give advice to 'your 25 version', ask this person what he really wants or feels, and then add to it, maybe...<br />
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Dedicated to you: <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/74396/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="74396" data-username="@elusive97">@elusive97</a> and <a href="https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/members/72592/" class="username" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" data-user-id="72592" data-username="@Aurelius">@Aurelius</a>
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</blockquote>When I was 25, I had really good mentors -- and yes, I hung on their every word. By that time, I had to hell and back. If it weren't for some really good people who took me under their wings, I wouldn't be here today. Some of us really listened to those kind helpers and took their advice to heart. One of my mentors died when I was 51 years old. I had never made a career move without talking to her. I still miss her wise counsel and even-handed advice.<br />
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If I was to give my 25-year-old self advice, I would tell her to take a deep breath and relax. Now, from my senior point of view, I know that life is not all that serious. I now know that -- this too shall pass. I'm younger at my advanced 66 years than I was at 16. I would never want to go back to being young again. It was way too painful and I didn't know how to handle that level of adversity. <br />
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Now I can swat those problem people away in one or two sentences. I'm to the point where bad guys walk way around me. They don't want to tangle with me. And that avoids a lot of problems before they happen. But, I learned to be that woman with the help of a lot of good advice over the years. Yes, some of us were happy to listen when we were young and we're still learning and listening.</div>
