I was just scrolling through Huffington Post articles when I came across this one, entitled "7 Reasons I would Never Want to be Young Again". (I know, why 7?) The gist of the piece is that the author is happier/more secure post-50 than she was at 30. Most of the commenters however, said they'd love to go back to their youth with their present head on their shoulders, if you follow my meaning.
Not that we even have a choice, but personally, I would love to go back to my twenties with this head on, (minus the wrinkles and diminishing eyesight) and re-live a couple of episodes. I don't believe in harboring regrets (what's the point?) but it would be fun to replay certain scenes.
Like the odd unrequited crush that I should've seen for what it was - "He's just not that into you." Or, in real-life-speak - "If he really liked you he would phone/turn up on time/turn up sober/not blow hot and cold etc." (Obviously not referring to the one that eventually became the Ball & Chain.) Actually, such scenes would have ended up on the cutting room floor, rather than being re-written. A quick tap on the "delete" button, would have taken care of things very nicely.
Or the friend who was so riddled with self-doubt she thought everyone was after every single boyfriend she had and made no bones about it. I was obviously too nice back then and my "shove this for a game of soldiers" attitude wasn't fully developed. These days I probably would've just held a mirror up to her face and walked. Or if that was too subtle, told her exactly why I wasn't remotely interested in whatever irresistible boyfriend she was currently sparring over.
Or the boss who made Whats-her-face from "The Devil Wears Prada" look like Mother Theresa. That Christmas Eve morning, when, devoid of any kind of life herself, she phoned me at 6am to let me know that she had driven her sorry arse into the office and wanted to "go over a few things". Actually, come to think of it, that was quite a good scene because the report she was demanding was right in front of her. I even got an "Oh, okay then" before she hung up. Yessss. And I managed to go back to bed and actually fall asleep.
Oooh, I'm having fun here.
The other reason I'd go back, if briefly, would be to tell myself how gorgeous I was. I mean, let's face it, anyone with a flat stomach, pert boobies and a smooth complexion is gorgeous to me. And that's just the men! I didn't "turn heads" as I walked down the street you understand, but, like most women of that age, I had absolutely nothing to complain about and should have been lot kinder to myself.
Another way to achieve all this would be to have our 20 or 30 year old self visit our current life for a day! Now that would be something.
Thoughts anyone?