I really do this… When I’m uncertain, I imagine that I am even older than I already am (hard to imagine). I am sipping a cool drink, sitting in the sunshine, (no make-up or sunscreen) and I’m talking to a young me. As an imaginary young me, I'm sort of cute and clever, not as awkward and ignorant as I really was. The eager young me asks questions, “Should I take this risk?” A job, a relationship, always some fear… And I try to think about what old me would advise young me. It works nicely. I give good advice as old me, better than in real life.
In these scenarios, I step back and impart wise advice, a mixture of caution and (mostly) urging 'go for it, don't be afraid'. I'm pretty good at it. God knows, I've had plenty of experience making mistakes so there is a mountain of material to drawn from. The good thing about this scenario is that I usually vote for courage. We all need courage, every day.
The problem with actually giving myself advice? You guessed it. I don't take it. I'm better than I used to be about listening and keeping an open mind, but I'm stubborn by nature so I don't agree with me and I argue with me. I argued when I was young and I do the same thing now. Accepting advice is a one trick a certain, anonymous, old dog is having trouble learning.
The painting by H.C. Porter belongs to me. You can see why I was attracted to it.
Not The Trip We Planned is coming out in March, 2025. I think I'll contact the publishers and give them some advice about how to present me; they'll love that.
So true that we can give others good advice (even sometimes when we were young) and can reflect on how experience as improved the quality of our advice. But even with age and maturity I don't always make use of my acquired wisdom for my own good. That's why we need friends :)