Writing Prompt: 8.23.22

If you could go back in time, what would you say to your five-year-old self?

I’ve never thought much about going back in time. There are a million different things that I could think of to say or do in if I went back in time but I’m not sure what I would say to my five year old self. 

I don’t know that my five year old self was smart enough to really understand what was going on around me honestly.  Not like today’s five year olds that seem to know so much more than we knew as kids.  Today’s five year old has access to so much more content than five year old me. 

Thinking about going back to my five year old self, I’d want five year old me to try and do their best to enjoy childhood.  Have fun.  Don’t try to grow up too fast. 

There are things that happen that you can’t control.  Don’t let them bother you. You don’t know what that means now but in a couple of years, that will be a big deal for you. 

Life isn’t going to be easy but you have to find the things that are fun and keep trying to do them.  Play as much baseball as you can.  Find other sports that you enjoy along the way.  Basketball is fun, but you never end up being any good at it really.  It’s all downhill from about age 12 on for you in basketball.  Enjoy it while you can.

Somehow, before you’re supposed to be an adult, you’re going to be put into that situation.  You still need to do your best to remember you are a kid and to enjoy kid things. 

Go outside, and no matter what happens, play with the neighbors.  You’re going to be the only one that doesn’t go to the same school as them, and that is okay.  Turns out, a public school education actually works out for you in the end and you’re pretty smart at the end of the day. 

Take school seriously.  You are going to need it.  When you think that it’s a waste of time in high school, you’re kind of right, but eventually, you’ll be thankful that you’ve learned all of the things that you have.  If I could go back in time and do one thing, it would be go back to high school and make a few changes. 

You are going to have to do all of the work to get yourself in to college.  All of it. On your own.  You won’t have any parent that is going to work with you to guide you on your way, you’ll have to just pick up and do your own thing.  Yes, it’s hard, and you’ll understand this more as you get older but you are truly on your own here. 

Go to college or trade school right away.  Don’t take the gap “year” that you want to take.  It turns into much longer than a year and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. 

More than anything along the way, BE YOURSELF.  Don’t let anyone else tell you who you should be, or how you should act.  Being yourself gets you much further in life than you could ever imagine.