Abstract – This article is inspired and written on a theme, which is very popular on Internet, I wish I were “x” age. This is written with the idea of me completing 40 years on this earth and taking so much from Mother Nature and society. It considers the things/technologies I wish I had and the things I could have done differently or told my self to change etc. I am neither a writer nor knowledgeable in inspirational story telling. On the 13th July this year I am completing 4 decades on planet earth and have done my part in the “destroying earth project”. I always wanted to be a good earthian and even today my hopes, dreams and efforts in this direction are alive and on going. When my son (6 years of age at this present time) will reach my age, it’s inevitable that he would reflect more deeply about what’s left of his life and even much more extra at 80 years.
Introduction – To give you some background, my mom and I had little less then wonderful relationship; I know my statement is grammatically incorrect but I could not find better then this. I always loved my mom and even today. As i was raised by single parent i.e. my mom she did everything she could. We usually talked about once a week but she ended up being the one who initiated the call 99% of the time to me; but it was always small talk and we never talked about anything deep or substantial. May be I was a horrible teenager but wait; nope I didn’t get tattoos or exotic piercings, nor did I drink or do drugs. When my mom asked me to hug her or help her, I always ignored or was blunt with response as “No”. I never wanted to spend the energy to do things with her, despite we lived in one room apartment. I always “didn’t feel like talking much to her though I regret the same ever since she passed away. I would pretend to fall asleep whenever I heard her looking for me so that I wouldn’t have to talk to her. And on the few occasions that I did say “I love you” to her, it was never initiated by me–it was always just an automatic response.
Main Story – A 21st birthday is a very special birthday, especially for Americans, Indians, and in many other countries; because it is the legal age to drink. Many young adults around the throw wild parties and dance the night away with their friends. Of course, it is also a wonderful birthday to spend with family celebrating in style. If a loved one, a friend or a relative is getting ready, then these 21st birthday wishes and quotes will help them decide what they want to achieve in life. If I got my wish today to go back to my 21 year old self, I really want to do some of the things which I may not even have thought of or invented at that time, but still imagining that if I had my current knowledge, then how my life would have been completely different today. First on the list, without a doubt, I would have lived at home until I was at least 40 or until my parents decided to throw my ass out. Where was I going in such a rush, and more importantly, why? If I knew then what I know now, I would have continued to live at home for as long as possible.
Man, she would have come in straight like a pin and I wouldn’t have had to even break a sweat. When ever I review where I came from, I consider how I got here, and wonder where I am going next. I realize how much more deeply I am trusting God — clinging to God — than I ever did as a younger man. In some ways I “knew” so much more then. The world is becoming increasingly interconnected through mobile phones and the internet. Today, you can see how everyone else lives, in their own countries and abroad. But while the aspirations of people around the world are converging, opportunities are not. I spoke at the London School of Economics and Political Science about the need to accelerate development so people can lift themselves out of poverty. To use limited funds in the most effective way possible, we must fundamentally rethink our approach to development finance. Aspirations, linked to opportunity, can breed dynamism and inclusive, sustainable economic growth. That’s something we all want to see.
1st Lesson to my 21 year old self -: By my human nature you don’t need to be only self-focused. Keep your exercise, eat well, share what you have rather than eating it all alone, and healthy living in balance. Schedule rest and recreation regularly. The older you get, the more you’ll understand why. Love & respect your parents much more than you are doing it know. When mother ask what time you will come back home, respond carefully and lovingly don’t get frustrated. Even after I went on to get married and have children, I would STILL be living at home. You know how much money I could have saved because of the nominal ‘rent’ that my parents would have charged? Not only that, you know how much cut-eye and arguments with my wife could have been avoided solely by my mother’s swift intervention? Other few things which needs attention/focus and special care and that I would tell my younger self.
Social Media: If facebook/linkedin/twitter were there then I would have told my self that you should cut your time on social media and make personal touch with family and friends; rather then using whats app to say good morning to your parents, go hug and kiss your mother (I wish she would have been alive today) and say Good Morning with lots of smiles and warm wishes.
Personal life : Personal life was just focused on my future, studies and finding good job. You should spend some time with god, parents, friends, caring for others and sharing what you have with others who do not even have what you have. (Even though at some points in my life I had only 1 room to call home and relied on public transport)
Social responsibilities: You should stop expecting and asking for favours. You should start giving back in terms of small donations of any thing and everything you have. Teach what you know, learn what you need to learn from any one without shying away. You have become increasingly unconscious not only of what you buy, but also how the goods and services you buy have been produced. You should reject anything which has environmentally harmful production methods, uses child labour, and involves dangerous working conditions and other inhumane conditions.
Internet of the Thing: This was there like Point of Sale (POS) devices for credit card purchase but not with the same name or mind set. I should have promoted these aspects for the betterment of society, as such technological breakthroughs offer improved health & day-to-day life and community
Mobile Financial Services: Make use of technology to pay your school fee, your books, buy your bus or train tickets. Have some small savings club with friends to save and make use of pool funds by supporting the person in need.
Online Schooling / Education system: This should have been there at that time, this would have saved significant cost and time for me and many others.
Funky gadgets: Use one of the best devices which is affordable to you, and not by your friends or their dad’s car/pocket size. The devices are endless but at the end use is same and that is “keep you off from prople around you”. I wish Android existed then so I could have contributed so much as a youngster with lots of innovative ideas and fantasies, without hesitation or worry to be laughed at or to fail.
Confidence: Be more confident… and even more conspicuous. You would have stood proud, straight as a sapling, and looked down on everyone else who was less than six feet. I slouched horribly in my youth, curving my spine so that my head could be level with my friends and to not be so noticeable, except when playing basketball. I know many of my tall friends who did the same thing and nowadays we have to make a conscious effort to stand up straight. These days, some of us even like to rock stilettos.
Travel the Globe : Getting away from everything you know, leaving your comfort-zone, will help you to get more independent and will force you to enjoy many new experiences. Many unexpected opportunities will present themselves outside your comfort zone. I could give you a hundred examples. Meeting unknown cultures and people is very important to broaden one’s horizon.
Mentor: I should have chosen better and different mentor (It’s not that the mentor I chose at that time was bad or inferior). Having a person in your life, older and wiser than you, who will guide you with your life-goals is something very valuable. I had a mentor who asked me to do what I want to do and it was too open and too free so at that point of time I can say I was like headless chicken (I can only say this today).
Conclusions: So there you go. Some items on list are particularly for my 21 year old self and now is certainly not the time to be trying to action some of those. People tend to regret the things they didn’t do when they were young, rather than the things they did. However, let’s flip the script; instead of looking back with regret, why not look forward with determination? Which one of your five things will you start doing tomorrow? With our maturity and the changing face; we enter in new era almost after every 2-3 years . Special funding for self or business plan allow us to appoint a new self personality with a specific business/idea/purpose/target remit and we renew our life membership for our self. With god and health & wealth help, we will work towards financial sustainability, and broaden our portfolio of income generation so we can drive forward our unique and important work. Maybe that also says something about conformity, and the fact that I should have been more willing to be original back then. Whatever the deep analysis shows, I sure am glad that I outgrew that particular habit.
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