If I could rewind time and sit face-to-face with the version of me that was just starting, unsure, excited, I wouldn’t flood him with advice. I wouldn’t give him a 10-step plan to success. But I would tell him a few things I’ve only learned the hard way.
You Won’t Have It All Figured Out and That’s Okay
There’s no final version of you. There will never be. You’re a story in motion, and some chapters will make no sense until years later. Be present through every chapter like today is the only day you get to live.
Your People Will Change and So Will You
Some friendships will fade. Some bonds will break quietly. And yes, it’ll sting. But not all losses are losses; some are redirections. Sometimes in life, what didn’t work out for you actually worked out for you. You’ll meet new people who see you clearly, who grow with you, not past you. Let it unfold naturally. Not everyone is meant to go the whole way with you.
You’ll Outgrow Things You Once Prayed For
That job. That relationship. That version of happiness you once clung to. One day, they might not fit anymore because your dreams might be bigger. And when that happens, don’t shrink to stay. You’re allowed to change. You’re allowed to want more.
Enjoy the Journey; that’s Where the Magic Is
The real win isn’t about where you end up. It’s about who you become on your way there. No one else can shape that version of you, but you, and that version of you? That’s your power.
Because when it’s all said and done, it won’t be the milestones or headlines that will matter the most. It’ll be the parts of yourself you met along the way. You came chasing a dream, but somewhere along the road, you became someone you never imagined you could be. And finally, life will not go according to your plan. But sometimes, what unfolds will be even better than what you pictured.