Reverb 10: Future Self
‘Sup mama!
2011 was the year you became a grown-up. You got rid of your house. You finally moved to California. You got married. You landed a job doing what you love that lets you work from home. But that won’t be what makes you happy.
You know what makes you happy:
- Being with friends.
- Helping others.
- Making art.
- Learning how to do cool new stuff.
- Eating healthily.
- Exercising regularly.
I mean let’s be real: we both know that at your core you are a geeky, soft-hearted, do-gooder with an artsy streak. Remember how you were on an emotional high after volunteering in St. Bernard Parish? Your corny ass glowed for like two weeks. And being with members of your chosen family made it all the better, didn’t it?
Work more of that into your life. You’ve wanted to teach tech for years now. Find a volunteer situation that lets you show kids how to build computers or web sites. Learn how to use Ubuntu so you can teach it to others. It will come in handy when you are building computers with the young’uns. Get deeper into HTML5 and JavaScript. Learn another server-side language. Get up close and personal with a NoSQL database.
And seriously: make stuff. Painting and drawing puts you into that time-suspending zone of concentration known as flow. You feel better mentally when you reach flow on a regular basis. Know what else helps with flow and mood? Exercise.
I know you don’t want to hear that, but it’s true. Every time you achieved happiness in 2010, exercise was the culprit. Exercise helps you feel less anxious, more focused, and less desirous of slapping fools. Besides, your booty and belly are getting bigger than they should be. That’s a problem. You know there’s a history of weight-related diabetes in the family. That extra 25 pounds you’re packing might give more cushion for the pushing, but it could be putting your health at risk. Exercise will help with that. Start now because once you hit 40, losing weight becomes a lot harder.
That said, I think you’re doing a decent job with what you’re eating — very little fast food or processed food, lots of vegetables, not much meat — but ooh girl, you still know how to pack a plate. Stop inhaling your food. Be more mindful of your portions. More home-cooked meals, less takeout — even if it is Zankou Chicken.
Also remember that your husband is The Most Awesomest Dude Ever, but he is still human. He’s not a mind reader. He also has a demanding career. He gets angry sometimes. He gets sick sometimes. He gets sad sometimes. Be kind to him. Be fair to him. Take care of him. Make his life easier.
Love,
Future You
P.S.: Pass along this advice to you from 10 years ago:
- Don’t buy a house. It seems like a good idea and a good deal, but it will be neither.
- Don’t date the dad. Move to California instead. Y’all are nothing alike. And he has kids. Two of them. Priorities 1a and 1b. You will never be important to him. Besides, you vibe well with Californians. You’ll learn that when you meet your future husband.
- Don’t take the agency job. Agencies are stressful places to work. Save your sanity. Work on that coupon business idea you had in 2005. A company called Scoutmob won’t launch the idea until 5 years later.