What’s one thing you know now that would have saved your younger self a lot of pain?
Imagine being offered the opportunity of a lifetime and turning it down. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? I’m teetering on the edge of doing just that.
I could slip my younger self the winning numbers from the first UK National Lottery draw on 19 November 1994. That would certainly have changed my life, although I suspect the question is looking for something a little more profound than six numbers and a lottery ticket. Besides, I’ve seen Back to the Future more than once, so I’m something of an expert on the perils of time travel. Change one seemingly insignificant decision and who knows what else might unravel?
I’ve made plenty of mistakes and missed opportunities, armed with youthful naivety, a hope that I might find my own way and a sneaking suspicion that things would probably turn out alright. Outwardly optimistic, inwardly scared shitless. Lots of it still makes me wince and cringe. Regretting a decision doesn’t necessarily mean wishing to undo it. Even the painful experiences are tangled up with things I probably couldn’t afford to lose.
There’s something rather amusing about imagining my younger self leaping at the chance to short-circuit his future, while my older self is increasingly reluctant to meddle with the wiring.
The opportunity of a lifetime. And, for once in my life, I think I’ll pass.