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7 Things I Wish I Could Say to My 25-Year-Old Self

August 9, 2017 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google+ Raising a Parent

7 Things I Wish I Could Say to My 25-Year-Old Self - Baby & Beyond

25 was a pivotal year for me. It was a time of some major changes in my life. I quit my first job and moved abroad for my Management degree. I lived alone for the first time. I needed to make some important decisions about my career when I graduated. My sister got married.

 

Looking back at that time, I was so naive, so full of hopes and dreams. I imagined I would spend my life racing up the corporate ladder. My dreams did come true, but only then did I realize that what I wanted for myself was not what I needed after all. Today 8 years later, my life is completely different from what I had ever thought it would be. And oddly enough, I am much happier now than I ever dreamed possible.

 

So if I had a chance to write a letter to that bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 25 year old girl, I would say this:

 

“

Dear Mahak,

 

I know you will scoff at me now, but your life a few years down the line will be very different from what you imagine it to be right now. But it will be ok because you will feel fulfilled and happy. That’s all that matters. But I want you to know that this won’t come easy. You are about to face the best of times and the worst of times. Know this:

 

1. You will make a lot of bad decisions along the way but they will all lead up to some of the best decisions of your life. So hang in there…the best is yet to come.

 

2. Don’t spend so much time stressing about what everyone around you is thinking about you. After a year you will probably never meet most of these people ever again

 

3. Don’t worry if you can’t do it all. You don’t need to do it all just because everyone else seems to be doing it. Just focus on doing what makes you happy.

 

4. As you grow older (and wiser), you will realize that the two things you value the most are family and health. You will start making life’s most important decisions around these two factors. That’s when you will see yourself surrounded by positivity

 

5. All the times in your life when you will experience adventure and excitement are the times when you will step out of your comfort zone. A solo trip to New York, a father-daughter trip to Ladakh, compering events on stage, entering a speed blogging contest on a whim (and winning it), going scuba diving or ziplining, proposing to your future husband, …these are the moments when you will feel most alive! Don’t be afraid to stretch your limits and do crazy, scary things.

 

6. Speaking of your husband, the soulmate you are looking for is right in front of you, you just don’t see it yet. But when the time is right, you will see with amazing clarity that it was him all along. You just need to go through a lot of ups and downs in order to gain the wisdom to realize this.

 

7. I know there are times when you don’t like the way you look, but your body will amaze you more than you can believe right now. It will nurture a tiny life for 9 months and then continue to nourish it for long after. You may not believe me now but in a few years, you won’t care two hoots about inches and sags here and there.

“

What would you say to your younger self if you could? Go ahead and tell us in the Comments below. Also do read what fellow WriteTriber Apeksha Rao has to say to her 10 year old self.

 

write tribe #festivalofwords #writebravely

I am participating in the Write Tribe Festival of Words #6. This is my entry for the Day 5 Prompt – “Write a letter”.

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Comments
  1. Vinay Leo R. said on August 9, 2017 4:56 pm:

    “Don’t so much time stressing about what everyone around you is thinking about you.”
    “I know there are times when you don’t like the way you look”

    Two things I’d have said to my 25 year old self too. 🙂 It’s important to not make a big deal out of the small imperfections, I think.

    1. Baby & Beyond said on August 16, 2017 5:34 pm:

      Absolutely. Good to see that so many people could resonate with these thoughts too.

  2. SHALINI BAISIWALA said on August 9, 2017 6:18 pm:

    I am wishing I could get a letter right now from y 50 yrs old to tell me how I shape up and land there! This seems like a fun write and I must do a similar one soon on my blog too!!!

    1. Baby & Beyond said on August 16, 2017 5:34 pm:

      Haha you should do that. I would love to read it.

  3. Sheethalsusan said on August 9, 2017 7:10 pm:

    Loved how you crafted this. The father-daughter trip might have been an experience.
    Beautifully written.

  4. Vasantha Vivek said on August 9, 2017 9:27 pm:

    Nicely conceived & written. I loved reading your 6th point. Wow ….. you have visited Ladak …. you lucky girl …..

  5. Apeksha Rao said on August 9, 2017 9:27 pm:

    Very lovely letter. I really wish our younger selves could read these letters. Life would be so different.
    Thank you so much for featuring my post, Mahak. ?

  6. Kala Ravi said on August 9, 2017 9:39 pm:

    Wise words, that come with age and experience. My post was on similar lines. Time teaches us patience and gratitude towards all our blessings.

  7. Keerthi vydyula said on August 10, 2017 4:53 pm:

    Those were some wise words to your youngerself. after all life wouldn’t be this wonderful and interesting without occational setbacks. Loved the post.

  8. Anchal said on August 11, 2017 6:54 pm:

    Ohh, That made me miss my 25 🙂 I would wish to tell similar things to my 25 year self for sure

  9. Shalu Sharma Rathod said on August 14, 2017 4:17 pm:

    I wish we all could go back and talk some sense into our younger self. I would have told myself don’t ever hesitate in listening to your heart & don’t procrastinate your decisions. Coz when you will be 32, you will realize what great life & relationships you have made for yourself! Make that happen earlier if possible.

    1. Baby & Beyond said on August 16, 2017 5:33 pm:

      I too wish I could have made certain things happen sooner. But I guess things happen only when we are ready for them. Possibly I was not ready and I would not have valued those things in my younger years as much as I do now.

  10. Vaidehi said on August 16, 2017 9:50 am:

    I loved point no 2. I need to stop stressing about what other people are thinking about me.

    1. Baby & Beyond said on August 16, 2017 12:45 pm:

      Vaidehi, you come across as so friendly, cheerful and confident in your vlogs. I can’t imagine anyone having to say anything negative about you. But if there are such people then you certainly need to ignore them!

  11. Rakhi Parsai said on August 16, 2017 11:17 pm:

    There is so much that we want to share with our own younger self and part wisdom to yourself. I loved the first one which says we will make bad decisions which will lead to some good ones later on. Life is full of experiences.

  12. Charu Sareen Gujjal said on August 17, 2017 1:07 am:

    Loved reading this. Age brings wisdom and maturity. Each phase of life teaches many lessons. I learnt a few of them in my 20s.

  13. Prisha Lalwani said on August 18, 2017 6:35 pm:

    Loved going thru this and i think all of us would want to say similar things to our 25-year-old selves. But point #7!! That’s the real deal.

  14. Suchita Agarwal said on September 16, 2017 11:10 am:

    Since I wrote a similar letter, I can see how the first message is always – hang in there. I wish I could remember this always.

  15. arv! said on September 16, 2017 5:05 pm:

    All these 7 points are universal in nature. Everyone can connect with them. This post is worth sharing!

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