I thought: If I could get that 20 year old guy into the same room, what would we say to each other?
This is an interesting thought.
I would give him a lot of advice: I would tell him to not worry so much about what other people thought. I would tell him to let lose and live more, but to live in the moment. I would tell him to be more honest with himself and to get the hell away from the mormon church as soon as possible! I would tell him to finish college and focus on a career plan. I would advise him to have passion in life.
I'm sure that as a 20 year old I would have freaked out a little.
How could I be gay and out and happy? But what would the 20 year old guy say to this old guy?I think he would have told me to not look back on life with such regret. What happens just happens, it made you who you are. He probably would have given excuses for the church but I think he would have listened. I know he would have been very quiet and would not have said much, he was extremely shy back then.
It's interesting, isn't it? Think about it...
I'll throw this out as a blog challenge... what would you tell your younger self?
Or just leave me a comment. Share your thoughts.
8 comments:
Do you think your 20 year old self would listen to your current self?
There is much less social stigma being out today than there was 30 years ago. It's easy for us to look back at our younger selves and regret we were not out and wild, but given the climate of the day I doubt you (or I or most folks) would have acted a whole lot differently even if we had the benefit of 30 more years of life experience.
I agree with Cubby. Times surely have changed. But one thing that I would for sure tell my 20-year-old self would be NO STUDENT LOANS!
Really thoughtful post ... thanks.
So lucky we were not on the same mission. Grrrrr!
report your father and teachers to the police for child abuse.
get mom and sis and yourself to a safe house.
stand up for yourself; do not allow yourself to become anyone's doormat.
you ARE intelligent and pretty and loveable and worth something, even if the whole world tells you you're wrong.
you cannot depend on anyone but yourself.
I doubt that the 20 year old me would have listened to the current middle aged me. Of course, I would have said "Fer crissakes get that damn stick out of your ass and enjoy the life that you have been given. You are worthy. Don't be afraid. Although you are cautious by nature, accept that as part of who you are, but don't let it stop you. Dance, play, smile, and a trip to the beach is always appropriate. You have good friends - give love and accept love."
The twenty year old me would say "Eeeewww. Who is this weird old guy? He's almost old enough to be my father."
I'd say,
* have waaay more sex. With everybody.
* take life waaay less seriously
* Go home with that hot priest-to-be who will be hitting on you at that party before he goes to seminary
* Joy is your inner compass - follow it no matter what!
* You really do have everything you need
Gads, you are a handsome man - in the present photo even more than that old one. It makes me go warm and runny inside....
On more than one occasion I have sent a telepathic thought to my 30yo self, telling him not to be worrying. I think my 70yo self is sending me the same message now.
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