What would I say to myself in 20 years time?

I came across this awesome video today and really got me thinking.  If I was 20 years younger, what would I have recorded then to say to myself.  Well, that's the past and nothing can bring that back.  But if I get to do it now, what would I say to myself 20 years later?

Here, watch the video first:



20 years ago, actor and filmmaker Jeremiah McDonald used a video camera to send a message to his future self. This year McDonald — now 32-years-old — took that message and created this awesome video of himself as an adult talking himself as a child (source: Petapixel.com)


To be honest, I'm pretty sure I'd turn awkward the minute I hit the record button.  I'd be dumbfounded and tongue-tied, getting all shy.  Yup, getting 'all shy' with myself.  I'd probably have more questions for my future self than answers really.  Because I'd like to know if I'm still alive (duh~), if I'm still doing what I'm doing (or less, or more), if I'm loving a wonderful person (or he's loving the wonderful me back), if I'm still anal in things which I shouldn't be anal about (or I simply cbf anymore), if I have a lot of kids that will drive me up the wall (or none at all), if I'm a millionaire (bank rich but health poor), if I'm gonna be spiritually rich living on top of some mountain (but bank poor)... you get my point.  The future is really intriguing isn't it?

But if I were to project myself 20 years forward and answer my own questions now, I realised that I only have one simple answer for all the complicated questions, which is, "I am who I am now because you've already decided for me 20 years ago".

"I'm alive now because you took care of yourself and had a strong will to live"
"I'm successful now (in our own terms) because you never gave up your passion to create ideas that would change the world"
"I'm loving and being loved by a wonderful person now because you decided that that one person will be the most precious person to you forever"
"I'm anal in things which you were anal about because it's ingrained in us but it doesn't bother me as much now because you've learned to be able to let go"
"I have a lot of grand kids now because you decided to have a lot of kids"
"I'm both bank and spiritual rich because you've made a strong effort in taking balance in life"
"You get my point too right?"

The video that you just watched, isn't just a video with a neat idea, a 'oh-wow-why-didn't-I-think-of-that' idea. It's a video that shows us who we are now was decided by who we were 20 years ago.  And if we are enlightened by that very simple idea, who we will be in the future is now decided by who we are now.  As little Jeremiah showed us; a film director (the easy way out) or an animator (true passion)?  20 years is a long way.  And I realised that, we don't need to get all intrigued with a 'mysterious' future anymore.  Because we're writing our future every single day.

A simple Facebook post today really put me back into perspective :)

What happens when you're in the 'flow'?

Something beautiful happens when you are in the 'flow' especially in the midst of creation. Whether it's a physical thing or whether it's an intangible idea, spend some time today just to create.

I get a calming effect when I do marketing, brand and communication plans.  I don't know about you, but it does for me.  Same calming effect when I work on The Good Samaritan Shop or when I cook or when I doodle or when I try to create something that isn't even remotely beautiful.

If you've tried but doesn't seem to experience the aforementioned 'flow', maybe it's not that you're not good at it, it could be because you haven't reached the peak of your concentration :) Don't give up.  Do it over and over and over again and you'll know what I mean ;)

I am ashamed.

We have all the resources we need.  Yet every day, we hear ourselves complaining about the most trivial problems.  Yet these geniuses who have no access to the resources that are so readily available to us, are clearly making a huge difference in people's lives and more importantly, making them sustainable.  They are touching everyone who matter to them - not just friends and families, but their neighbours and communities.

I.  Am.  Truly.  Ashamed.

And it makes me quite hot-faced to hear another complain from people who allow one problem to cloud over their entire vision, blocking out any possibility of solutions.

To quote Bunker, "You don’t have to look for solutions outside.  Look for solutions within and listen to people that have the solutions who are in front of you.  They are all over the world."

Here's Bunker Roy with his Barefoot College movement:

And to end with Gandhi's quote, "First they ignore you. They they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win"

:)

Don't give up.  Even if it's the most unconventional thing you've ever done.  Don't give up.

Read more about the movement at: Barefoot College.