What I’d Tell Myself Before I Lost Years to Fear

Here’s a piece of advice I’d give my 37, 38, 39-year-old selves.

First, some context:

In my late thirties, I was professionally, financially, and materialistically successful.

I had what most would say was “it all.”

But that’s a stupid saying because I didn’t have “it all.”

Society tends to think of “it all” as rooted in job titles, money, and stuff. That’s not “it all”; it’s a tiny fraction.

My life was superficial, devoid of the deep meaning and purpose I was being drawn to, but I was too afraid to pursue it.

I was on a dopamine treadmill of short-term fixes, and it sucked.

One, among many things I’d tell that younger version of myself is this:

“You’re worried about what others will think if you pursue the activities you dream of, writing, for example.

How will they react? Will they judge and criticize you? You think it’s better to stay with the herd of lemmings than to stand out and be on your own.

You’re terrified of being seen and heard for who you want to be.

Well, so are they. That’s why they’re in the herd. The people you’re worried about are so caught up in their fucking…