If I Had a Chance to Whisper My Twenties

Have you watched Back to the Future trilogy? It was one of the cult films of the 80s & 90s.

It’s been more than 30 years since the first movie was released and one of the most memorable things about the movie was the ‘time machine’ for sure. No doubt the invention of a time machine still embellishes one's dreams.

The biggest reason for our desire and belief in the existence of a time machine could be willing to change our decisions, our mistakes or maybe even our experiences. So what would you change if you go back to the your past , have you ever thought about it? How helpful would you be to your young self with all the experiences you’ve gained?

For a while, I am thinking that we need to live everything in our lives as it was. I believe that all the good and bad experiences create our personalities. From every mistake we made, from every word we said, every lesson we learned we are bringing a brand new selves to life. All these things are exactly what made us who we are. Don't you think the same?

Luckily, the ‘2025 version of me’ has gained so many life experiences in the last couple of years with all the difficulties that have popped up, with all the mistakes that have been made. And I can say that this little girl is still working hard to be a better, happy and a peaceful person for herself and for the world that she is living.

As I near the end of my 30s, there are a few pieces of advice I wish I could whisper to my 20-something self.

It’s never too late to learn, but I know not everyone has been as fortunate as I have. Some are still searching/trying to become a better version of themselves. To those who are on that journey, I hope these words serve as a light, a little guidance, and maybe even a comfort. May they help you grow into the person you’re meant to be.

Learn to say no

You always valued the people who have come into your life and this is a good thing. But you forget that you need to value yourself first, then others. It’s ok to say no to people sometimes. Don’t ever think that they are going to be upset or broken. Just be yourself and do what you like as long as the things that you’re doing are not damaging the people around you.

Keep in mind that you will not be bad because you said ‘no’ to people. All you have to do is to use the correct and kind words. By acting this way, you can be sure that you will not be breaking their hearts. Remember that those who do not understand you, will not have a place in your life.

"When you say ‘yes’ to others make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.” Paulo Coelho

Love yourself

“What does it mean to not go to quiz because you couldn't find any clothes? Be yourself! Don't forget that whatever you wear will be good on you.”

I don't wanna brag about this silly thing that I made in university but this really happened! I was a bit obsessive about these kinds of  little things. As I shared this memory of mine with you because I wanted to emphasize what kind of a person I was before. I’d like to mention that not my every moment is passing this cognizantly. There are still so many moments that I don't like myself or tired of myself. Yes it's happening. I know that it will happen again, it has to be. But in those moments someone whispers to my ear, telling me that I should get rid of these thoughts as soon as possible. Who knows, maybe it’s the 40’s of myself. And when I look at the total, I see that I have come a long way and I am so proud of myself. What I want to say is that, get rid of all the small and meaningless obsessions and start loving yourself.  Believe me this would be the greatest favor you can do to yourself.

“Beauty is when you can appreciate yourself. When you love yourself, that's when you're most beautiful.” Zoe Kravitz

Read more books

“One of the biggest shame you'll ever have in your life will be starting reading books at a very late age. All those years that you’ve avoided books are so meaningless right now. Now I can't imagine a life without books.”

It's not that I am reading hundreds of books in a year. I can say that sometimes I don't have a chance or don't want to read a book for days and when I realise this, I feel a headache. In the short term, you will bring peace in your life and you’ll be in so many different places at one time. Besides these, think about all the things you will gain in the long term. The knowledge, the vocabulary, the experiences, the ability to empathise and much more. Instead of seeing it as an activity for your free time, make it a part of your life and create free time to read.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” Dr. Seuss

Yoga & Breathe

“I wish you had started yoga earlier, instead you decided to start it almost in your thirties. But it's okay. No matter how late it is, it's important that at some point it became a part of your life. ”

Certainly, making exercises a daily habit will have so many good things for your mental and physical health. But the most important of all, it is helping you to learn breathing correctly. With the right breathing techniques, you can be sure that you will be a calmer and peaceful person. 

When you are angry, sad or feeling desperate just take a deep breath and you will see that in a couple of seconds you are getting calm. Also, it is a fact that you will know your body much better and start loving yourself more and more each day by exercising daily.

“Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live in. ” Jim Rohn

Get yourself a hobby

“If you spend all that time on a hobby instead of spending it complaining that you do not have free time, you probably would find happiness sooner.”

Be sure that, by finding a hobby that you love will make you a happier person. Just know it is never too late and no matter how old you are, you can still learn new things. 

And don't forget that, history is full of people who turned their hobbies to their professions in their 50s or 60s. How about getting inspired by them?

“Happy person is the person who managed to get along with his hobby. " George Bernard Shaw

The most important thing in life: Health

A heartfelt reminder we often realize too late...

Throughout your life, the one truly important thing is your health and the health of your loved ones. Never forget that. Aside from health problems, everything else has a solution. The day you truly understand this is the day you’ve grown.

Unfortunately, we often don’t realize how vital health is until we lose our own or witness someone we deeply love struggle with illness. It’s only then that the true value of well-being becomes painfully clear.

Never forget that every sorrow, every worry, every hardship in life can be remedied except for those that affect our health. Your main responsibility is to protect your physical and mental well-being and to remember that no pain lasts forever.

"Health is not valued until sickness comes." Thomas Fuller