On my 79th birthday, yes it was in the past, a young man in his early 20s asked me,” if you could go back in time what advice would you give yourself”? I suppose he was expecting some deep, sophisticated answer of great wisdom. However, the answer was almost instantaneous, “act like you have some sense”.
After reflecting, I could not come up with anything better.
All in all, that would be good advice. I am sure my Dad and others said that or something similar quite often. I didn’t listen then. Would probably not listen now. I understand the wisdom of it. However, when you are acting foolishly you often don’t realize how foolish you are. The logic escapes you.
Even when you realize you are acting foolishly there are forces at work within you and around you that keep you going in that direction until you crash. Then you look around in despair and wonder what happened and why. Seldom ever is there someone with a word of wisdom. If there was I probably wouldn’t accept it.
As I look back on my life most of the problems I had, I created for myself when I did not follow that advice.
I guess better advice would be, “listen to good advice”. I always had trouble with that one also.
A few weeks ago our pastor asked me what advice would I give the young people in our church. Since it was at church, I gave a “church” answer. It wasn’t bad but a better answer would have been, act like you have some sense. They probably didn’t listen either. That is youth for you.
What would I tell my younger self? It really is simple, “act like you have some sense”. What would I tell my current self? Act like you have some sense”.
In fact, that would be good advice for our religious leaders, our political leaders and our nation: “Act like you have some sense”.
I guess I should be glad I don’t have to do it all again. I probably wouldn’t listen this time around either.
It is what it is.