Past V/s Current Me

What are the five things that your past self would love about your current self?

I have always leaned more on my past, often reflecting upon the perfect moments of childhood and teenage when life was easier and there were no big responsibilities, except for studies. Until I came across this prompt, I never felt that the present Me would have something that the past Me would appreciate. 

It turns out there are some things about my current self that the past self would appreciate. 

For starters, I am finally writing. In my past it has only been a dream but today, I am writing much more than I have ever written in the past. I think the past Me would really be happy about this.

I am learning to cook! The past Me would be flabbergasted at my attempts today because kitchen was a place that filled me with dread. Having lived in a large family where there was always someone to manage the kitchen, I did not try my hand at cooking until after marriage. My recipes do not always turn out perfectly but I am sure the past Me would be shocked by my various trysts with cooking. I bake muffins, something which felt impossible during my growing years. That has got to say something about the changes I have gone through, right?

I feel that I am more confident now. I have formed a small yet precious circle of neighbors who have become friends over a period of time. The past Me only had a handful of childhood friends and never felt the need to form any more friendships. Today I try my best to be socially active and to form acquaintances and friendship. I think the past Me would be really glad. 

Because of the many books I read and the spiritual discourses I listen to now-a-days, I feel like I understand people a bit more clearly and I do not judge them. The past Me viewed people only in the shades of 'good' or 'bad', 'right' or 'wrong' and such extreme labels. But today I know that people are good but their situations and mindsets determine their behavior, and that it is totally unfair to judge a person for their outwardly reaction when I do not what goes on in their life or what they were thinking at that particular moment of time. 

The past Me had a lot of opinions and would often voice them. Today I have learnt that voicing your opinion in the social media serves no purpose other than antagonize the people who do not share your view. I think the past Me who used to often regret after sharing an opinion/view would heartily embrace this change of mindset. I do have opinions but instead of stating the same to people, I just write a blog in my own site so that it doesn't offend anyone. 

These are just some of the changes that I have gone through. There's a lot to learn! But then both time and life are great teachers, and I am a willing student, after all.