It is a Friday evening at Waverley Station. I happen to look up and see a young woman’s face reflected in the window of a train on the opposite platform. There is a likeness I recognize, but it doesn’t register at first who she is; she looks younger than I remember. She catches my eye with a wide, wild-eyed stare that only I can appreciate. Then I know who she is. I smile and wave, but she lowers her eyes. Knowing her so well, I know she won’t make the first move, making conversation with strangers is something she dreads, and after all these years, am I now a stranger?
‘Are you really my twenty-year old self?’
‘Yes, how strange to meet my fifty-seven-year-old-self! Do you have any advice about the future?’
‘Moisturise, exercise and eat fibre.’
‘Ha! I’m glad I still have a sense of humour.’
‘You do, it’s a good thing, it’s easy to get worn out by life as you get older.’
‘Is our meeting like this a thing of the present?’
‘I think so, for me it’s a glimpse of the past, and for you a glimpse of the future.’
‘Now we have met, do you think I could say or do anything to change the future?’
‘I suppose so, I’m assuming nothing is predetermined, although if you were to choose a different path, I might not exist as I do now.’
‘Tell me something about the future! What do you do?
‘I know how impatient you are, but if I were to tell you, then how would you ever know if future events had worked out as they were supposed to, or whether they had happened because I’d told you where to get to by the time you were my age?’
‘That’s really annoying! But to be honest it is the sort of thing I would say. I see a glimmer of myself in you, you still have the spirit of your younger self and I am glad you are not a stranger.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it, that’s important to me.’
‘So, if you won’t tell me what is to come, tell me your thoughts about the future.’
‘I think it comes with age, but nowadays I plan for the future by focusing my time and energy on keeping in good shape and looking after my well-being, future-proofing myself if you like, as best I can, preserving what’s important to me now to make sure it’s there in the future, to help me keep resilient and joyful for the journey ahead.’
‘That not something I’ve ever thought about, but then until today it had never really occurred to me that I would ever be old. Still, I’m not totally sure what you mean?’
‘I mean things like keeping curious about life, making discoveries, and taking on new challenges. It’s not as easy as it sounds and I have to keep working at it. Despite what I said earlier about changing the future, I am tempted to tell you about something I did last year in this new frame of mind. Something that was completely out of my comfort zone. Something I am
proud of.’
‘Do tell! It might tempt fate as you say, but at my age I don’t worry about that sort of thing.’
‘So, last May I went travelling in Northeast India on trains, boats and planes - I even wrote a journal every day. It was scary, exhilarating, a sensual feast, and a life-affirming adventure. Experiences are more precious than possessions - that’s another piece of advice for the future.’
‘Wow! I’ll look forward to that!’
‘You should, but it’s not just about the big things, it’s also about finding pleasure, wonder and a child-like joy in the small things. Take time. Listen, smell, taste, be alert, have a gentle touch and be playful. Make things, be a creative, not a consumer. Be ambitious. It’s easy to become less and less open to new experiences as you age, keep engaged with life and be grateful for everything you have.’
‘Good advice, and what of your family and friends?’
‘Keep telling them how much you love them and take nothing for granted.’
‘I’ll remember that. So, do you have plans or goals for the future?’
'Yes, I do, I plan to visit India again, and I have other goals like improving my writing, and learning the front crawl and learning how to use a sewing machine and make my own clothes. I would like to achieve them all, but I am kinder to myself these days; I’ll get there when I get there.’
‘That surprises me after all you have said. Be careful, it sounds like you are in danger of being lulled into the passivity of old age.’
‘It’s not meant to sound like that. What I mean is instead of over-planning for the future, I’ve learnt its best to approach it with a friendly, welcoming manner. In the past I’ve made plans for the future and had all sorts of unexpected setbacks, which have taught me to be flexible, to embrace disappointments in a creative way, to find alternatives and make the best of new situations. Listen to me going on as if I have all the answers!’
‘I’m the same! Some things never change!’
My train is boarding and my twenty-year-old self’s image begins to fade in the window.
‘I fear it’s time for us to part.’
‘Before you go, tell me your final thoughts on the future!’
‘Stay true to yourself, remember I love you and remember whatever your age, the future lies in your hands. Goodbye my dear younger-self,’
‘Thank you, my dear friend and mentor, and remember, I love you too.'