It is interesting to watch all the different television shows and movies that have some "time travel" aspect to them. A frequent theme is the "older self" coming back to advise the younger self. The idea of meeting an older version of ourselves is kind of fascinating, despite the inherent absurdities in such plots. There is the idea of possible changes and alternatives to your lives involved in these things.
I met my older self the other day.
I was standing in a line at a store when the person behind me suddenly called me by name. He was an old acquaintance of mine whom I had known pretty well 30 years ago. He is a great guy and it was good to see him, but also rather surprising. He looked so old. He is just a year or so older than I am.
For the first time, it occurred to me that "that is me." That's who I am. I am an older man, just as he is. I am in my mid-50's.
Everyone who sees me knows that I am an older man. I remember being "the young preacher." I remember having people wonder if I was "old enough" to do certain jobs. I remember those days like they were yesterday, but they were long ago. I remember when people saw me and were struck by my youth, but those days are gone. Now, they are struck by my age.
I have met my older self. He is me. I see him every day in the mirror, but never think about it. I used to wonder how older people felt when they looked at the mirror. Now, I know. They do not think about it at all. That is just who they are. They may notice a new wrinkle or something, but they seldom look at themselves and think how old they look.
I have met my older self. I know, now, what he thinks of me. I know what advice he would give me today, which is the only day that matters. I know how his children are doing. He has nothing to tell me that I do not know. I know the sadness he will suffer (to this point at least) and I think I know a lot about how his hopes have worked out.
But it is not like television. There is nothing he can tell me except what I already know. My older self is there, here, living my life. I hope he does well.
I met my older self the other day.
I was standing in a line at a store when the person behind me suddenly called me by name. He was an old acquaintance of mine whom I had known pretty well 30 years ago. He is a great guy and it was good to see him, but also rather surprising. He looked so old. He is just a year or so older than I am.
For the first time, it occurred to me that "that is me." That's who I am. I am an older man, just as he is. I am in my mid-50's.
Everyone who sees me knows that I am an older man. I remember being "the young preacher." I remember having people wonder if I was "old enough" to do certain jobs. I remember those days like they were yesterday, but they were long ago. I remember when people saw me and were struck by my youth, but those days are gone. Now, they are struck by my age.
I have met my older self. He is me. I see him every day in the mirror, but never think about it. I used to wonder how older people felt when they looked at the mirror. Now, I know. They do not think about it at all. That is just who they are. They may notice a new wrinkle or something, but they seldom look at themselves and think how old they look.
I have met my older self. I know, now, what he thinks of me. I know what advice he would give me today, which is the only day that matters. I know how his children are doing. He has nothing to tell me that I do not know. I know the sadness he will suffer (to this point at least) and I think I know a lot about how his hopes have worked out.
But it is not like television. There is nothing he can tell me except what I already know. My older self is there, here, living my life. I hope he does well.