Myself at 75 Talking To Me At 70
"You know, in five years, you'll either make it or not."
"I know but I have a plan."
"Plan won't do you much good if it don't get done."
"I'm working on it."
"Do more than work on it. Live it. Feel it. Be the plan every second of every day, or you'll end up like me. 75 and nothing to show for squat."
"I do that now."
"Do you, really?"
"Well, most of the time I do."
"Most ain't good enough. You say writing's in your blood, but I don't see you bleeding."
"You saying I have to bleed?"
"No, what I'm saying is if it's in your blood, let that energy inside you run free. Live your life like you write. Be constant. Be true to your craft. One day, you'll die just like me. Leave something behind someone, anyone will remember. That's your legacy, be it large or small."
"I see what you mean. Okay, I will."
75 year old me to 15 year old me
60 years changes you.
In high school, that boy doesn't matter. How you look doesn't matter and nobody really cares how you look or sound.
Be nice to your parents and listen to what they say. They do have some knowledge. Don't ask for everything, you really don't need all of it.
If you believe in something, speak up. You do know some stuff too and are pretty intelligent. Like with the gun control, do research and spread the word about what you learned. People will listen eventually, you just have to have a loud enough voice.
Whatever college you go to will be fun, and you don't need to have an A+ in every class. Don't take 8 am classes or classes that only meet once a week. Do take classes that are pass/fail. Make it an easyish class that you know some of the information already.
Don't do a major because your parents tell you too. Major in something that you are passionate about. Start saving money, because your parents won't be there to give you everything. Get a job to make money.
Fall in love, talk to that guy in the coffee shop. Be crazy, live how you want to. Life is an adventure, and so is the time after. Get fired, no one is perfect. Everything will be fine and you will always be alright.
Live life and nearly every mistake is fixable. Do not hurt or kill yourself. Everything gets better. Live laugh and love.
Advice
1. You're going to make a lot of mistakes. That's fine. Make them more than once or twice to be sure they're mistakes.
2. Laughing gives you wringles but so does frowning, so don't do either
3. Never eat pears, they're too mushy (I'm saving a world of pain on this one)
Told you so
You knew what would happen if you put it off, and put it off. Ah well.
I could tell you not to worry, but that would be useless.
When you have yourself to worry about, you care about your image. That's fine.
When you have others to worry about, you care about your salary. That's fine.
Only once you're old, with others taking care of you, do you finally see life's beauty.
You know very well what you must do, what you want to do and what you can do.
My only advice is: don't give up.
Yeah.
"Wow, old me! You look much better than I thought you would!"
"That's not surprising when you think everything will end in shambles or inadequacy."
"Fair enough. How was life?"
"Well, there were ups and downs, but in that sense, there have been far more mountains than valleys. Believe me, the outcome has been more than agreeable."
"Well, that's comforting. So, tell me, do we go to Japan? Do we become prolific authors? Do we meet our love? I have to know!"
"And you will, in due time. Knowledge is a great thing, but life is about the journey. I won't offer specifics, but I will tell you this. It's a good thing we only ever contemplated suicide. I'm quite happy to have lived to this point."
"Once again, fair enough. Well, at least tell me a couple things, for the present, my present. Namely, what advice do you have for me to start writing seriously? And also..... how do our highschool friendships pan out?"
".....Hmm......As far as writing is concerned, you really weren't wrong with your own advice at the time. The first step to writing is starting, so do that. And don't critique yourself in the moment. As for highschool.... I know that where you are right now, everything is horrible. But let this give you hope and comfort...the valley you're in right now will soon become a mountain. You only need allow it."
".........*sigh*..... well, that is comforting. Thank you so much for that, truly."
Embrace
We make it waaay farther than you think so quit fucking yourself up.
Do us both a favor and get that knee checked out- the son of a bitch still hurts.
Quit this comfortable downward spiral.
Familiarity, nostalgia...
Somehow these became twisted and associated with your disease.
In your twenties when you lost touch with your imagination, where did it go?
You let the world force you to focus on such big problems. Things that you could never solve.
We spent 20 years and solved a few.
That’s enough.
Fear is not a shield; it’s a cage.
You’ve learned the price of temerity, enraged.
Focus on money. That dream of having an orphanage is the most impactful one.
We are each a parcel of possibilities.
Spark genius with loving kindness.
Do not let madness drive you to recklessness
Remember the unchanging truths. Don’t take yourself so seriously.
But when you do, focus on money.
Snatch that power from the hands of the wicked
Wash it with the universe, purchasing life
All these lost tokens can put us back together if we use them right.
Happy is fleeting.
There is purpose in helping
There is meaning.
We don’t love ourselves all the time and that’s why we hate ourselves sometimes.
You can’t flex on everything
You can’t sleep your life away.
Some people need to be left behind (by you).
Be your own source of validation.
You’ll get the girl. The hero always does.
Advice from myself at 75
Our visit was brief but to the point, no words spoken and but a few were read. My name, a pair of dates, and an inscription. "Father and husband." I got the message loud and clear.
Advice for a Half-Broken Teenager
I know life hasn’t been the kindest
And some days
It seems easier to give in
Give up
Lay down
And let it all come to an end
But if I’ve learned anything from life
It is that tears have a way
Of cleansing the soul
Uplifting the heart
So do not be ashamed of the salted waterfalls
That has created well-worn paths down your face
For everyone has troubles
And getting through today
Will make you stronger tomorrow
Your life will not forever be
As it is today
So all I can say
To you and all who have gone what you have
Don't give up
For it gets
So
Much
Better
Time doesn’t mean a thing
You said to me that everything is a fantasy and is all just words and we didn’t spend not even a whole week together….and I agree with you on the last part. We did not!
And back then I choose to stay quiet…
But let me ask you what time does really means? Time doesn't mean a thing.
You could have known someone for eternity and they still could not understand your core existence, yet the “stranger” that you have not spend even a week together knows exactly who you are.
Time doesn't mean a thing