Talking to an Older Me...

03/10/2008

I saw a TV commercial where a guy talks with a 50-year older version of himself.  You may have seen it; he is at a hospital nursery looking through a window at his newborn child.  I don’t recall what the conversation between them was about, but I suppose it had something to do with planning for the future.  It caused me to wonder what I might say to me if I were able to have a conversation with an older me, or even a younger me.

The older “me” would probably be pretty easy.  “How’s it going?” “Any health issues I need to know about?” “Got enough money to get by on?” “How’s your sex life?” Just kidding about the sex thing; I probably all ready know the answer.  I think most of the questions would be about what it is like in my older years, though at sixty-four I don’t expect to be around in thirty years, let alone fifty, but that is okay, it’s been a great ride so far, and I have no regrets.

The conversation with a 50-year younger me would be a heck of a lot different.  It would probably begin with “You dumb shit!!!” and go downhill from there.  Fifty years ago I was fourteen.  The year was 1958.  Dwight Eisenhower was president.  We were not yet embroiled in the mess in Viet Nam.  I was in the eight grade striving hard to be an under achiever, and was doing pretty well at it.  I had little interest in school work, little interest in girls, no interest in church stuff and not much in the way of sports, but I did know everything there was to know about life, and, of course, my parents were stupid.  It would have been like talking to a grandfather.  I would not have listened.  I am not so sure a conversation such as this would have had any impact on me at all, ever, but it might have been neat.

I would have told a younger me the importance of education and of getting that college degree.  I might have told the fourteen-year old about how much I enjoy writing and wish I had a degree in English, or how much I enjoy being in the kitchen and wishing I had gone to culinary school.  He would know how much I have loved the job I have held for the past twenty-five years and the company that employs me.  One topic would most definitely be about doing his best at whatever he does, and about integrity and honesty and vulnerability.  I would caution him about always doing the right thing, and about taking the high road and some risks in life.  I would assuredly tell him that at age 60 he will create a personal relationship with God, that he will talk to God and God will return the favor.  I would tell him things change and change is not bad, but it is constant.  I would tell him of the two extraordinary women he will marry and how happy I am to now have The Nancy in my life as my wife.  I would tell him of his daughters and his stepdaughter, and of his six grandchildren.  I would tell him what an impact his father would be in his life down the road.  I would tell him that all in all I think he will be proud one day of the man he will become.

You have all heard of the book “The Secret” and it’s take on the Law of Attraction, right? Well, I can’t decide whether I attracted the success I have enjoyed with just my high school diploma and twenty-two college credits or if my Adonis good looks and outstanding personality have gotten me where I am at this point in my life.  For whatever reason I am where I am, I am thankful.  If I did it, I pat myself on the back.  If a higher power was the force behind it, cool!  Thanks a bunch, God, I owe you.  If I get to have that conversation with an older Hell of a Guy, he can thank me for where he is at, and I’ll ask him about his health.  If it’s the younger guy, I may just give him a hug and tell him everything will be okay.

And that is all I have to say about that…