18-year-old me makes me cringe. The present me is a spiritual-walking-yoda in comparison. Can you relate?

I was petty, I crumbled into anxiety for the smallest of challenges, and the future I had in mind was bad. The difference is that now I have open possibilities and I look forward to what life has in store.

The 18-year-old me could’ve used some words of wisdom.

You’ll never be satisfied, but you’ll learn to"

When I was 18, the planet was different. There was no bat-virus bugging to kill us all. But I still had a lot to complain about. The food, lab assistants, assignments—I nagged on and on about petty things and complained. I had no chill.

Nothing about my life was ‘good enough’ for me. I was deeply pessimistic and unsatisfied.

I was talking to an old friend the other day. We are now approaching the age where we can move from our parents' home, and it doesn't seem like a capital crime. Talking about adult life reminded me that all the crappy, miserable complaining is behind me. I’m an OG big girl now and I can act and change anything that reduces my vibe.

If complaining about teenage life is a soap-drama, now in my present I’m doing less of that. I have learned to bypass the complaining and figure out ways to fight against what’s not in my taste of life.

I feel proud to be an adult who can stay calm and not complain about sillly things all the time and concentrate of actions. Because I can. And I have that power.

Complaining is the opposite of maturity:

Real maturity is realizing you’ll never be free from problems. Accept it, and you’ll never waste time on complaining again.

You’ll start working on it because you’re actually mature and you have the nerve to stop worrying and start doing something to change it.

You don’t take crap anymore.

Everything happens for a reason."

My dream college rejected my application.

I took a creative writing class one summer during undergrad, and I knew I wanted to pursue literature in the future. I was done with my bachelors in cell-biology, thinking I deserved to study the subject I love.

That rejection, in hindsight, was for the best. It was too expensive and I was too young then.

After that summer program, I worked hard to become a writer, earning money and networking with clients who taught me more than a degree ever could.

So in the end, I saved a lot of money, earned some, and realized it happened for a reason. The present can seem bleak and against the plan. But every road leads to happiness if I look for it.

Money is to earn back your time"

Let’s say you earn ₹200 an hour. Every ₹200 you spend is worth an hour of your day.

If you order a take-out dinner worth ₹200, is it worth paying the money to save an hour of prep & cooking it by yourself?

At a certain point, you start equating time as currency. You realize that money isn’t something you fancy. It’s not a crime to want more money.

Wanting money simply means that you want to live a life financially free. It’s a valid thing to wish for.

Think about the person you were an year ago

This is my cheer-up motto.

In 2021, I caught COVID on my birthday. I also hated my post-grad life away from home. I was constantly moving back and forth between two cities, juggling with stress and uncertainty.

I was lonely, paying bills off of my parents’ money. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I’ve been dependent on them for three years prior to the pandemic, and the guilt was weighing me down. I wanted to be more independent.

In 2022, I travelled and earned enough to afford renting an apartment with my best friend.

I can safely say that I tried it all.

It’s true when they say "life hits you like a train wreck." One blink, and you’re doing everything you once dreamed of.

The point is to reflect on how far you’ve come. 18-year-old me was unsatisfied in life, but at least she didn’t have to go through a rough pandemic.

The present is a summation of everything you dreamed of when you were young. It’s not always perfect, but this is you. We walk through changes that we once thought were impossible.

Even the perfect dream life is tough sometimes. None of us are devoid of challenges. Some days it’s hard to get out of bed because things are messed up. But you are better off than last year.

You will be in an even better place next year. Continue giving your best.

Closing thoughts

Growth happens everyday. But if you consciously look behind and make a habit of being 1% better every day, your future self will thank you for that.

Watch the compound effect change your life.

Some Words of Wisdom for My 18-Year-Old Self