A LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF

 

A LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF

It is fascinating how life happens once to all of us.

Every second, every minute, draws you closer to your end.

Only one chance to get it right.

So little time to make your mark.

 

And yet –

In the knowledge that you lie somewhere in the abyss –

Somewhere in the shadows –

I choose to write to you.

There are things I would have made known to you.

Perhaps if I knew what I now know.

 

I would have told you –

To know that you don’t know.

To know that you should know.

To know that you should strive to know.

To know that you don’t know even when you know.

To know that you will never know.

And yet you should know.

 

I would have told you –

To care less when men doubt you.

And yet to listen when men doubt you.

To love when love is in the air.

To love when there is nothing in the air.

To work when work is due.

To rest when rest is due.

To work when none is due.

 

I would have told you –

To know the value of gold

And yet not give your heart to it

To know the value of time

And yet to know some moments are priceless.

To know that nothing comes for free.

To know that nothing goes scot-free –

Nothing

 

I would have told you –

To laugh less

To laugh more

To go outside a little more

To stay inside a little more

To trust less in you and men

And more in the one above

 

I would have told you –

To fall as often as you can

And to rise up faster when you fall

 

I would have told you –

That we are travelers in time –

And our destination awaits.

~Brand Manu