What Advice Would I Give My Younger Self

So yeah, there has been a bit of a theme lately, and really, over the last few years. I wouldn't say I am trying to reinvent myself - not at all - but I am trying to improve myself. That does not equal self-help ok? Jam it up your clacker if you think it does. Self-help to me, is one step away from wokeness, and I would gladly die a thousand deaths before I will ever become a wanky wokey.

In my quest for self improvement though, I have recently purchase a personal planner. I have my own electronic versions, and To-Do, plus my trusty notebook, but I have always been on the lookout for a physical book that I can use to help me become more organised, and more productive. So since I bought this book - from a group called Mal Paper - they have been sending me emails. Mainly as sales pitches, but today's had the title "What advice would I give my younger self"?

Now, mine, and probably many people's immediate reaction to that would be swift and broad - don't spend so much money, don't marry your first wife, don't stop exercising, travel more, become an expat sooner, the list goes on. Yes, I could have done all those things, and yes perhaps I would be better off financially, have better habits now, and be healthier.

However.

One thing I have learned in life, and my #1 mantra really, is regret nothing. Why? Well, in my case, consider where I'm at today. Any change in my past (well almost any) could risk me not being with wifey, and therefore not having my three amazing kids. Any circumstance that could result in them not being born, is not one I wish to exist. All I have done has led me here, and I am ok with that. I am better for my experiences, even the utter shite ones. So I am not going to tell my younger self to do/not do those things I mentioned earlier.

Having said that, well, there are some things that a better version of me may not have done so much of. The #1 of those is wasting money. I essentially came into my Malaysia job in 2008 with almost nothing, apart from super, to my name. Ok, I had done a bit of travelling, a whole lot of partying, plenty of gambling, and way too much shopping. Some (many) good experiences for sure. And yes, that persona was likely one of the reasons I ended up crossing paths with wifey, which is pivotal. But had I just been the tiniest bit disciplined, I could be so much closer to retirement now than I am. As it stands, 60 is still looking like the age for me, so I must be grateful - not too many will be able to do it at that age. But many times have I seen graphics demonstrating what putting a fairly small amount aside at a young age can grow to by the time you hit 50. It is hundred's of thousands, if not a million bucks, pretty easy. So yeah, I could have eaten less shit, or just less overall. I could have drunk a lot less, spent a lot less time at strip clubs, all that kinds of stuff. But ultimately, if I started saving at a younger age, it would have made a big difference to where I'm at now. 

I think I need to put a model together - one of those graphics - to demonstrate the value of this to my kids.