Letter To My 25 year old Self

You may have heard about the book about a collection of letters that people have written to their 25 year-old selves.  A lot of regrets are expressed, a lot of second-guessing is done, and the end result is actually a pretty good reflection of mostly the mistakes we have made.

In that spirit, I'd like to write a letter to the 25 year old Joe Black.

It would have been 1978 and I'll use today's date, October 19th.  I was working as a Staff Physical Therapist at Blount Memorial Hospital.  My first child had just been born and I was looking around at some career options.  So, here goes.

Dear Joe:

Remember the story about Curly Clark and his four girls?  You (we) used to say that you couldn't imagine a life with four daughters.  All those girls?  All that estrogen? A house with five women just seemed beyond tolerance.

And then Whitney Elizabeth Black was born and it became "OK God, if you want to give me all daughters, I'll be just fine with that."  She was that special and dude, you and her are going to have such a great relationship but I'll not spoil the rest of it for you by sharing the details.

What you committed to back then was raising your daughter without gender-based limits.  Stick to that (you did) and it will work out great for both of you.  She wasn't the basketball player that you always thought she would be but she found HER sport, which was volleyball and, by the way, she was pretty darn good at it.

I'll spill the beans a bit and tell you that you'll have a little boy in a couple of years and he'll become everything you dreamed of and more.

But be a bit more gentle with your children.  Be less demanding.  You'll do a good job about not missing things but quit crying over spilled milk.

About that career thing.  You're considering going back to school but be open-minded about doors that might open to you.  You've got some really great goals for your career.  Keep your eyes on those goals and you'll be fine.

But I've got to tell you that you should be prepared for some twists and turns along the away. Goals can and do change.  As you grow older, it seems like you get better at figuring out what you really want in life.

And here's a hint:  that grad school thing...you'll get around to it but not for a long, long time.  Let's just say that you will become Dr. Black down the road but not in the ways that you were thinking.

In just a few years, Dr. Bob Haralson will ask you to come help out with the Maryville High School football team.  Don't turn him down.  It just might lead to one of the best gigs of your life.

Don't be afraid to take chances.  Don't be afraid to make mistakes.   You'll make a few along the way but just like a coach has trouble criticizing a player for getting a foul because of hustle, keep trying.  

You'll learn a lot from the mistakes you make along the way.

Hire a babysitter and take your wife on more dates.  Go on more vacations.  Try long weekend trips.

Get rid of the white lab coat and ties.  You'll look just as professional in polo's and running shoes.

Oh, and those tortoise shell glasses you'll be tempted to buy.  Don't. 

Yours truly.