Sometimes I sit down and think, what if I was 10 years younger but still had the same body I had back then, and with the full memory and wisdom I have now? Honestly, that’s a very deep thought, and one that brings a mixture of emotions. It’s not that I regret everything in my past, but there are some parts I know I would definitely do differently.
First of all, if I was given that kind of opportunity, I think I would want to change the past, not all of it, but some very key areas that affected where I am now. The main thing I would change is the people I surrounded myself with back then. If I had the team I’m currently working with now in my life 10 years ago, trust me, I would have gone very far by now.
The truth is, the information I have now is gold. If only I had gotten this knowledge from the right source earlier, I would have avoided a lot of costly mistakes. The kind of exposure and encouragement I get now was totally missing then. Back then, I was just trying to figure things out on my own, listening to people who didn’t really have the answers. They meant well, but they were not the right team for me.
But again, even though I wish I could change that, I still believe something good came out of being with the wrong team back then. It taught me some tough lessons. I learnt how to be strong, how to question things, how not to jump at every idea that comes my way. It made me wiser and more careful. Those experiences gave me the kind of eyes I have now, to spot red flags and avoid getting used or misled.
So maybe if I didn’t go through those things, I wouldn’t even recognize the value of what I have now. And who knows, maybe I wouldn’t have appreciated my current team as much as I do. Sometimes pain has a way of opening our eyes better than comfort ever could.
Now, if I had that second chance, I don’t think I would rush into trying to change everything about the future. I would instead take those lessons from the past and use them wisely. I would plan better, act quicker, and listen more to my inner voice. I would go for those opportunities I was too scared or unsure to take back then. And most importantly, I would trust myself more.
Funny enough, I still believe I can do all that now. The only difference is that I may not be as young as I was, but I’m still here. I still have the strength, the mind, and the passion. So, while it would be nice to go back and fix a few things, I think the best gift I can give myself is to use all that I’ve learnt to shape my future from today.
Because whether 10 years younger or older, life still gives us chances to grow. It’s what we do with them that matters.
