Andy Lee
In my twenties (that was hard to type), I practised Wing Chun, a form of martial arts, for 3 years. I remember thinking “If I just kept this up for 10 years, I would be a high-level practitioner. I’d feel great physically and have a strong sense of achievement at sticking to this awesome craft”. Then my trainer moved out of town. I found another trainer but I soon stopped going due to the distance and class schedule. I had a go at my forms (rehearsed movements in Wing Chun) earlier this week and could barely remember them. Today, I am disappointed at the earlier me for giving up and not continuing. If he had, then I’d be feeling pretty awesome right now. Like a Chinese Terminator. As it is, I’m just Chinese.
If I took some more time to reflect I’d probably be able to come up with a long list of things that I did or didn’t do, that my present self would not be too happy about. Some more significant than others. Like saving more money earlier in my career. Or spending more time with my dad before he died.
There isn’t a whole lot we can do about our past. We can’t take back actions that we took. Nor can we go ahead and take those actions that we now wished we had taken. But all is not lost. There is still something we can do. We can learn the lesson of not being able to ‘pat our younger self on the back’, by doing our very best to make sure that our future self looks back at the choices we made today, and smiles. For as long as we are still alive, we can look after our future self.
“But there are so many things we could do, what should I focus on?!?!” I hear you say. Well that’s a great question. I’m glad you asked. To get you started here are three areas:
1. Your Purpose
Take steps now to move towards your purpose. Whether you’re 25 or 55 years old, check that the life you’re living has meaning. If up to now, you’ve never asked the bigger questions in life, now is the time to start. “What will be your legacy?”, “What are you willing to die for?” “What are you doing all this for?”. A big hint that you’re looking in the right place is that your purpose is about something bigger and greater than yourself. So something like the pursuit of financial wealth doesn’t fit. Finding your life partner doesn’t fit. Climbing the corporate ladder? Also doesn’t fit. Your starting point should be just beyond yourself.
2. Relationships
Relationships take time to cultivate. They are one of those beautiful blessings that we can’t take short-cuts with. It takes time to nurture, develop and build deep strong bonds. So if you’re at the point of looking for community, get out of your comfort zone, get creative and start meeting new people. If your existing relationships are running dry, water them by investing your time and energy to breathe life back into them. Your future self will thank you for the decisions you make today about your relationships.
3. Health
Whatever shape or level of health you’re in now, you can always go one better. Either get started or ramp it up a little. A well functioning body has a huge impact on all areas of your life. You only have to spend 30 seconds on the internet to find out the benefits of looking after your health. So if it’s going from doing nothing to doing something, or doing something to doing something more intense, or being more selective with your diet – get it going. It’ll keep you strong both physically and mentally as you age. This is definitely a habit your future self will be grateful for.
Wherever you are in your life right now, whether you have more years behind you than in front (God willing), it’s never too late to start cultivating the more important things in life. And some of the more important things in life take time to nurture and mature. That’s just the way it is. Some things can’t be rushed. Some things just don’t have short-cuts, even if we do live in a society where it’s all about instant gratification. So as you put a plan of action together, ask “What will your future self thank you for?”