...Lastly, I’m not giving you the details on the wins or the losses. Not tipping you off about the heartbreaks or the big victories. Part of the fun is not knowing how the story goes. But, if someone is interested in you in 27 years, that’s a decent sign that there’s a good story here. (Or … things didn’t pan out and you went directly into journalism). Either way, enjoy it all!
Work hard. Make us proud.
Older You.
The above is an excerpt from retired NHL great Brendan Shanahan's letter to his younger self. (Access the entire article here) The letter is an entertaining read, and the whole idea is an interesting concept, especially for Back to the Future fans.
So how would a letter to your younger self read? What would you include? What would you leave out? How has it proved beneficial to not know where you'd end up as you've journeyed along thus far? What changes would you make? What would you have avoided? Who would you have listened to? What would you have taken more seriously? What were you wrong about? What was worth it?
Now think about receiving a letter from your older self. After writing that letter to your younger self a few minutes ago, surely you now realize that between now and when you become your older self, there are a few things that are definitely true:
You do not know everything.
You do not have all the answers.
Pain/hardship is necessary for growth.
It would do you well to take yourself less seriously.
If you need life to work out in a specific way to be happy, then you will be unhappy.
Our Charlotte Fellows have an opportunity to hear a letter from people to their younger selves on a weekly basis at Roundtable, where men and women from all ages and walks of life share with the Fellows what they've learned thus far about God, work, family, love, life, and community on their journey. What a gift!
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21)