Write to the 25 year old you

A friend of mine who knows me from my childhood recently requested me to write a letter to the 16, 25 and 40year old versions of myself as he thought it would be very interesting. As I looked back I found (like many of us) I was looking at three totally different people at three different times – so I decided to write three separate letters. Here’s my letter to the 25-year-old me.

Dear Victor,

I’m writing to you from 20 years in the future. You’re now 45-years-old, and while you’ve lived a happy and healthy life with no regrets, I have some advice for you.

First of all, congratulations on being the journeyman you always wanted to be.

at 25 you are a no one now. At least not a very good student with brilliant academic scores and I know you’re still trying to find your feet and work out the dos and don’ts of establishing an okay career. I also know 10 years later you will not be doing many of these things that you are doing right now, but I want to tell you to stick with all of it. Stick with all of it with your heart and soul which is your normal attitude towards things and people. Because all of these efforts will eventually make you what you will be at 45.

I know the time is not good, I know at times you are depressed but I also know you are teaching yourself to channelize the depression and the negative energy through your paintings and through your music. I want to tell you – never leave any of these two friends of yours. They are your true friends and will never leave you if you keep them in your heart as you’ve done till now.

I know about some of your dreams (because at 45 I have forgotten some – come on! I am getting old you should understand that), thus I can guarantee the best is yet to come; many of your dreams will come true. But I will not tell you which ones.

Because I simply don’t want to spoil the mystery and fantasy of the unknown, I can tell you there will be several wonderfully rewarding moments and several incredible people will become family, friends, students, mentors and walk with you in your future. And, yes, once again I mention – many of your wildest dreams will come true. But there are some clauses: you will have to keep walking; you will have to be a relentless and a keen observer of life; you will have to keep wondering about everything in this universe; you will have to be curious about life and its finer things; you will have to keep believing in yourself and you will have to work hard to make things happen.

The road ahead is bad with hell of a lot of bumps, chasms and forks. Your luck will leave you, friends will leave you, close people around will leave you, your confidence will leave you. YOU WILL FAIL and you will fail time and time again – there will be times where you want to give up and throw everything in.

Don’t.

Failing is ok though because failure is an inevitable part of every personal journey. But today at 45 I can tell, you will be able to pick yourself up, retrace your steps. You will be able to look at what went wrong and learn from your mistakes because you are a fighter today and you will remain one.

[image error]One of the paintings of Victor Ghoshe when he was 21

When you will find success you will find it only by turning challenges into opportunities. And you will find success you never realised you were capable of achieving.

Let your dreams guide your path. Keep the people you love and respect close to you. Follow the 3 ‘R’s – Respect self, respect people & the universe and respect your dreams. Don’t be afraid to delegate responsibilities. don’t be afraid to ask for help and never be afraid to say ‘Sorry’.

Don’t let the naysayers deter you. Do things your own way because when you shine one day you will shine because of the YOU in you. You will go places as the journeyman you are. Your ability to take risks and your incurable optimism will lead to great heights – both in work and in life.

[image error]Victor Ghoshe (25 years) on Sandak–phu, Himalayas (12000 ft). It is the highest point of the Singalila Ridge in Darjeeling district on the West Bengal-Nepal border.

As I sign off today I wish to share a quote with you from one of your idols – Albert Einstein, because today I know this will help you.

‘The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.’

Good luck

Victor