The 80s Revisited: A Conversation with My Younger Self

So, I’ve been diving into this thing called introspection lately. Apparently, it’s all the rage with people who have more than just questionable life choices and leftover pizza in their fridge. As part of my deep dive into “self-work” (which sounds suspiciously like work, but okay), I’ve been thinking about my younger self. Yep, that little dude rocking neon colors and believing that mixing soda flavors was peak rebellion. If I had the chance to sit across from him, I’d have some advice that goes beyond “Don’t strangers” or “Never wear a white shirt when eating spaghetti.”

Words of Encouragement

Listen, kid, fitting in is overrated. No one really knows what “cool” is, even in the future. Shocking, I know. But here’s the kicker: you are perfect just the way you are. Seriously. Despite what every ’80s movie implies, you don’t need to join a rock band to gain self-worth. You’re worthy just because you’re you, complete with all the quirks that make you, well, you. And believe it or not, being true to yourself is the ultimate life hack. There’s no secret formula — just keep doing you, even if your “doing you” involves questionable hairstyle choices.

And let’s not forget those weird thoughts you’ll get stuck in your head. They’ll pop up at least once a week, and it’s so strange because you’ll not even know why. But hey, that’s part of the charm. You’ll figure out that it’s perfectly okay to have these moments. It’s all part of the messy, beautiful package that is you. So, while you’re navigating this rollercoaster of life, remember: your quirks are your superpowers. Embrace them, own them, and never let anyone dim your sparkle.

Explaining Today

Fast forward a few decades, and guess what? You become a writer, and people actually pay you for your words. Wild, right? You’ve got a gig as a professional keynote speaker, too, which means people willingly sit and listen to you for an hour at a time. Dreams really do come true. But here’s the twist: happiness is this weird, slippery thing. You hit a goal, and suddenly you’re comparing yourself to others like it’s an Olympic sport. But guess what? Sometimes you’ll find out you never wanted that gold medal in the first place. Plot twist: you realize you just want a…