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Do something like this as often as you reasonably can….
There’s lots of good advice about planning for retirement and career choices but recognize those are means to an end, tools and a metaphorical vehicle to get you where you want to go. Being at the place where you want to be when you get there is the rub and not a lot of folks on here are speaking directly into that.
Three cups of coffee on the bank of the river and think about this thread and life and what I would tell my 18 year old self…
1. Life contains a lot of bullshit, hard work and difficulty despite your best plans and good intentions. Develop an authentic faith or philosophy that gives you strength and perspective to not be overwhelmed when that happens.
2. You’re going to be a similar but different person in approximately ten year intervals. Phases of life are real and who you and what you want ten years from now and ten years from then are probably similar but not exactly the same as what you want now. Don’t diminish your enjoyment of today by deferring all that you want until tomorrow, but don’t screw yourself out of a good today ten years from now by being undisciplined in your choices now.
3. Learn to know yourself before you try to learn to know a woman. Knowing what you can adapt to and what you cannot change without being someone who isn’t you is very important and only comes with honesty and time.
4. When you are attracted to a woman look at her through the lens of perspective that asks yourself if you want to wake up beside her for the rest of your life? If the answer is “hell no” then definitely dont look at her with the intention of going to sleep with her in the first place.
5. The period from 18-25 is probably the most consequential and dynamic in terms of making decisions that you will spend the next 40-60 years living out. It’s that way whether it freaks you out and keeps you from making any decisions or whether you say “screw it” and make decisions with no consideration of the consequences.
6. Having kids is probably the most life changing part of being alive. Finding a life partner is consequential but children will affect your day to day life experience and choices to an even greater degree.
7. Find happiness and contentment to the best of your ability in the small joys and moments. They’re often as enjoyable on an individual basis as the big things and certainly more rewarding when considered in the cumulative. You’ll be happier in your own experience and more enjoyable for others to be around. No one enjoys a crusty old bastard except for perhaps the crusty old bastard and he definitely doesn’t enjoy being around other crusty old bastards. Don’t be a crusty old bastard.