What to Tell Your Younger Self
Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. (Proverbs 9:1)
Occasionally, people ask, “How do you find time to find and read all the material that appears in your devotions?” Every writer has a different process, but I get up in the morning, eat a quick breakfast, make coffee, fill a water bottle, and sit at my computer. I rarely start writing. Instead, I call it my “research time.” I review the books I am reading and make notes for potential devotions. Then, I check the Washington Post and skim articles in Apple News, Medium, and other online sites that gather reports and put them in one online space.
All this preparation sounds so productive until I offer my confession. Reader, it has been one day since my last confession. Most of my devotions are personal confessions to God, and you are listening in. Today’s confession is solemn. Here it is; while researching each morning, I read and often enjoy “BuzzFeed.” BuzzFeed is an oft-silly list of thoughts. The BuzzFeed for August 15, 2023, written by Hannah Loewentheil, had me smile. Loewentheil’s title is “People Over 50 Are Revealing A Personal Truth That They Hope Younger People Realize Sooner Than They Did.”
Rather than comment on each one, which would require you to read a small book, I will just provide a rapid-fire list of what Loewentheil felt she wanted to share with younger people. “Everyone messes up, but it’s what you do after the fact that matters.” “Unless you don’t mind hearing EEEEEEEEEE all the time day and night, use hearing protection in loud situations. Tinnitus is a [expletive].” “Stop thinking that life is about being the most productive person you can be. Find interesting hobbies that make you feel good and are good for you. Your soul deserves to experience that.” “Nobody else ever thinks about the things you did that you found embarrassing or cringeworthy. The only one who remembers those moments is you, and you shouldn’t let them define you to yourself.”
Loewentheil continues, “Take care of your body. Exercise, keep you weight reasonable, and keep the ‘bad habits in moderation. It really does make a difference later in life.” “A wise teacher once told me, ‘What makes you strange or odd when you are very young, makes you interesting and distinctive when you get older.’” Now, take Loewentheil’s example and write your own BuzzFeed article. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you and write your list of what you would tell your younger self. Then, dare to share it with your family and friends. Until you share it, others will have difficulty learning from your wisdom.