What Would 17-Year-Old Me Think?
A friend recently asked me a profound question: If 17-year-old you could see what your life looks like right now, what would he think?
Ohhhhhhhh! That's a deep one, isn't it? I try to put myself in 17-year-old me's shoes. What would he think about 45-year-old me if he could get a little glimpse?
I've thought a lot about this question, but from two different angles. First, there's me as I stand today. Writing, podcasting, speaking, consulting, coaching, owning a coffee company. Lots of flexibility. Lots of responsibilities. Lots of ministry work. A heightened focus toward generosity. Would 17-year-old me love that? I don't know.
Then I think about the same question, but with 17-year-old me seeing 35-year-old me. I had a job with status, a much higher income, a significantly nicer house, a trajectory toward much wealth, first-class travel, 5-star hotels, and bouncing all over the Middle East for work. Would 17-year-old me love that? I have a feeling he would....very much so.
To a 17-year-old, comparing a 35-year-old and 45-year-old me might have been an unfair fight. I honestly think 17-year-old me would have been allured by the money, stuff, and status of 35-year-old me. There's a sexiness about it.
But if I could sit that young guy down and share heart-to-heart, man-to-man, I'd explain to him the power and beauty of aggressively pursuing meaning. I would show him how much more rewarding and fulfilling this life is. I'd admit to him that the money, stuff, and status are pretty fun, but ultimately, not the secret to happiness. I'd also admit this life is a much harder life than the alternative, but with discomfort comes meaning; with pain comes beauty. I so badly wish I could talk to that young man. If I had the chance, yeah, I do think he'd think 45-year-old me's life is pretty awesome.
What about you? What would 17-year-old you think about your life right now?
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