Over years, we as humans evolve, learn and grow into hopefully better humans. All that "I am what I am", "I won't change for anyone" is all glorified BS. Here is a small imaginary fun exercise that I performed after reading some stuff. Here a 26 year old me is in conversation with various younger versions of myself
Dear 10-year old me– Listen patiently to mom and dad, though you find their monologues excruciating sometimes. You will thank mom later for imbibing into you - her value system; for teaching you to say "Excuse me" and "Please" before you start a convo or interrupt someone.
Dear 11-year old me – Stealing Payasam (Kheer) from the nearby kids plate and standing your ground by claiming you never did so isn't exactly a great idea. That neighbouring kid will grow up into a hot chick with a very good memory which still remembers you as an obnoxious little prick. Control it, Glutton!
Dear 12-year old me –Don't worry if you can't perform complex multiplications or calculations in your head. Not everyone is Shakuntala devi's favourite nephew. Your relatives might not know it, but there are devices called calculators and mental math will become as obsolete as short hand. When they quiz you in Math during get togethers, ask them about the etymology of the english word that you just learned in the oxford dictionary. Look at their faces cringing in shame, tell them to go to hell and add some gory details if possible. You have a vivid and dirty imagination. Use it.
Dear 13-year old me - Learning the capital cities of all the countries in the world, spending hours trying to improve your handwriting; acing the dictation tests will never really be of any use. A monster called Google will make all these stuff obsolte.
Dear 14-year old me - Don't cringe at being one of the shortest guys in the class. Don't flare up because the height of yours never gave you a chance to become class prefect or a sporty guy. Even without investing in a single pull-up you will turn out to be a Six footer, it is all in the gene kiddo!
Dear 15-year old me - it's ok if your friends consider you a nerd, but the curse that you used on one of the scoundrel senior who was swearing at you for no reason, will be one of the most innocent thing you ever did. It will bring a smile to your face everytime you think about it. Remember that the memories of reading Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter will remain extremely salient all through life. Cherish it.
Dear 16-year old me - Adolescence will hit you and of course take its toll on your grades but it won't matter much in the longer run. What you lost in grades will be compensated with those sweet tales of teenage dalliance.
Dear 17-year old me - Reading every book of Ayn Rand and trying to literally emulate Howard Roark will eventually put you in a poverty of friends. In 2 to 3 years you will totally grow over her objectivism and will learn to truly see all the B.S in her impractical philosophy. So chuck the copy of the Fountainhead and learn Java instead, the world will move towards everything Android some day.
Dear 18-year old me - Though you still continue to be mesmerized by memories of Azharuddin's leg glances and Sachin's straight drives, learn that Rahul Dravid is the one who should be your role model. The sooner you learn it, the better it is for you.
Dear 19-year old me - Don't regret the classes that you bunked while you pursued your interests like biking, watching sitcoms and penning poems. The classes wouldn't be of much use anyway. People will be more impressed with the ease with which you utter 'Friends' quotes than your proficiency of Djikstra's algorithm
Dear 20-year old me - Your first heart-break and the first job offer will happen almost at the same time. Not celebrating one due to the other was the lamest thing to do. More lamer than the cuss words you used to deride everyone around. Learn to respect people even if their actions don't deem fit.
Dear 21-year old me - Infy Mysore will be the place where you would do a lot of things for the first time. A place you had your first taste of something that made you delightfully high. Keep that trusted friend, the liquid elixir closer always.
Dear 22-year old me - Do not play board games, which have the propensity to spark off duels, with your best friends. And if you make that mistake just make sure that you are not surrounded by folks who would blow up the fight to epic proportions. In retrospect you will regret the grudges you held and the fun you missed out because of that stupid ego.
Dear 23-year old me - Butter Pop Corn with the extra amount of masala at Satyam cinemas and Sambar Vada at Sangeetha's should not be taken for granted and should be gorged upon. Because someday you will be mortified to gooey looking sugary joke of a syrup that will be served daily as sambar which has such an awful taste that it could easily peg the ear wax flavour as the worst among all 'Every Flavoured Beans'
Dear 24-year old me - Your love affair with skyscrapers is not fleeting and something that will persist. Do roam around, even if you don't have a (Check-in friendly, easy on the eyes) partner in crime, because understanding the soul of the magic that is Mumbai though as a lonely traveller- Totally worth it.
Dear 25-year old me - Realize that, in a b school, "they" don't want your opinions, "they" don't want your ideas, "they" bitch about your creativity, all "they" want and you are worth (according to "them" )is just one social networking 'like' or one referral code usage, which "they" would stoop down to ridiculous levels and eventually fish out from you . Blow dry "them" out of your life and do some spring cleaning in your choice of folks to surround yourself with. Those fake fraternities you are part of, they can't be more fake
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