An Open Letter to My 24-year-old Self

Dear Ken,

It has been almost a decade and a half since we started this journey together. Through thick and thin, through ups and downs, you have been my most trusted friend, my reflection and the ultimate reason why I am striving every day for a life of fulfilment and success. I am truly proud of you.

And hey if I am proud of you then I will be proud of myself too, because you are my Self. Make sense?

For the past 24 years, I have witnessed how you grew up and I have always been by your side every moment along the way. Do you remember when we were kids? A quiet and timid boy, you did not have many friends and lovingly or not, people had for ever been labelling you slow, clumsy, foolish, naive, malleable and socially out of tune… You name it.

While there have certainly been some grains of truth in their opinions up until now (You still keep forgetting things. You regularly fumble in the kitchen. You drop socially awkward comments), the truth is you are much more than the sum of all those things. To me, you are a man with a big heart, a strong will and socially-certified optimism sometimes to the point of naivety.

Life has given you a lot of lessons and I can tell you have been a diligent student.

At 24, you finally understand life is a sale and everything worthwhile its commission. There is no guarantee that you will find a job, much less a dream job without busting your ass writing resumes, calling up people and dropping the ego to ask for help. There is no guarantee that you will be loved and appreciated unless you stick your neck out and give your all. There is no guarantee that you will get what you want even after everything you have done. Yet, you know it is part of the game and the only way to win is to keep up the efforts.

At 24, you realise how fast time really flies by. You notice it from the wrinkles on dad’s face and the new pair of glasses mom wears. You notice it from the change in your little brother’s voice as he hits puberty. You notice it from the fact that your peers start to get married en masse. Soon enough, you understand some people will leave your life forever and you learn to cherish every moment they are still here with you.

At 24, you learn to not take things personally. People are too busy minding their own business, and you should be too. It is far more productive to spend your limited time here on Earth enriching your life with gratitude and joy than being encumbered with indignation and resentment. True happiness does not come without but because of setbacks.

You have come this far and I believe you will strive further still into the future. Whenever you fail, just remember in life there are only learners and winners. Just keep pressing forward and one day you will break the front wide open.

Make me proud!

Khoa