New life, new beginnings...

As I turn the big four-oh, I decided it was time to dip the rusted pen of my imagination in the neglected inkwell of my deepest darkest thoughts once more and start doodling. They say, life begins at 40. So do I have my life-so-far flash in front of my eyes or do I blink hard and wipe the slate clean? One thing is for sure; I have realized that life is passing me by. No more do I have the luxury of waiting for things to happen. I need to reach for the stars now, I need to catch the fistful of sky now, I need to give it all. The time for "ad astra, per aspera" is now. The time for deep breaths ended with whatever ended at 39.

Taking a cue from the social networks, here is my advice to my younger self and to my today. Maybe I will visit this in a while and create another scorecard...

The 10yr old me

• Things that matter, don't and things that may not, do. 
• You have a lot to live for. Live.
• Family matters. Family matters may not.

The 20y old me

• You are embarking on a wonderful journey. The journey is the reward, the destination maybe not.
• Those who mind, do not matter. Those who matter, don't mind.
• Your are about to realize the strength of sibling bond. Don't despair. They are way stronger than a breakfast left incomplete.
• Have confidence. You are better and much more liked than you think you are.
• Don't be so hard on yourself.
• Great things are in store. You are your own man. You will discover strength you never thought you had. You will see places you never believed existed.
• Learn to let go. Friends, relations, places. Yes, even memories.
• The heart is resilient. It becomes whole everytime it shatters in a million pieces. Everytime. Only the length of time differs.
• Go ask. You have a better chance than you think you do. Sometimes you are overlooking the bird in hand for the bird in bush. Learn to differentiate between admiration and admirers.
• Sometimes, it is ok to not be the nicest person in the room.

The 30 yr old me

• There is s lot of hurt in store for you. How you will deal with it is the true measure of how you become a man. You will become a man!
• There is a lot of joy in store for you. How you will deal with it is the true measure of how you become a man. 
• You will deal with a lot of gains and losses but don't try to put them in the same balance sheet. They will never even out.
• Re-discover your old self that would land in a new country with nothing but two bags and an address. Start all over again and re-learn how to stake everything on a turn of the dice, a flip of the card, a reveal of the solo cup. You won't win everytime but you will lose everytime you don't wager. 

 The my now me

• Don't be so critical of yourself. You are way better than you give yourself credit for.
• Don't be so critical of others. Life does not have enough breaths to waste on someone who doesn't matter.
• Don't waste time on things that are not worthy of your time. Books, movies, TV, people, jobs whatever.