A Run-in With Yourself!

The tunnel is long and dark. You’ve been traveling for a while now wondering where it’s leading you. Every step you take feels heavy, exhausting. At last, you reach the end. There, you are illuminated by a brilliant white light. But that’s not all you see.

When you look closer, you are stunned to see You! But wait . . . it’s You Then, twenty years ago. You stare at yourself in awe. You look great—relaxed, full of energy and vitality. You realize that the You Then is asking for advice and guidance.

You think back on your life. You’ve had numerous jobs, but none that made you happy. The long hours kept you away from home. You used to have a spouse, but what isn’t watered eventually wilts and then dies. Your kids are grown, but they’ve all moved away, living their own busy lives.

You never did take that vacation; didn’t make the time. Your body aches—too much junk food, not enough exercise. You see the passage of time on your skin, and feel it in your soul. If only you could go back in time, you think, you’d do it differently.

Here’s your chance. It’s time to tell the You Then what you’ve learned, how different things can be—how you can love, work, express yourself in ways never imaginable.

You regard the You Then and say:

“Understand that life if not meant to be spent only working. While that is a critical and necessary aspect of life, it is not the only thing. You must take time to express who you are, to enjoy your surroundings, to love and be loved without censor; to just Be.

“The time spent with loved ones is NOT time spent away from more important things—it IS the Important thing!

“Know that your body is your vehicle throughout life. Cars are tuned up, washed, waxed, and detailed on a regular basis, but our bodies are often neglected, allowed to rot from the inside out. Treat your body with respect; it is the only one you’ll ever have, unlike a car that can be replaced over and over again.

Share yourself with your children—they don’t stay little forever. Teach them, Love them, Respect them. You are the mirror that reflects who they are. Show them they are Amazing.”

You Then nods gratefully. Your words have planted seeds.

If you had a run-in with yourself, what would you tell the You Then?
You have years of experience. You’re still here to benefit from them. What would you tell the You Then that can change the You Now?