Let's take it back

Let’s play a game. The game is very simple, with rules that are easy to follow. We have all wished for the chance to go back and give our younger selves some advice, just a few key words of wisdom that would serve to reshape our existence and change our current circumstances. So let’s play, as I said the game is very simple with rules that are easy to follow. In fact there are only two rules in this game, rule number 1: you have to pick the age or exact point in time that you would like to revisit, rule number 2: you are limited to 5 words. That's it, that's the game and its rules, pretty simple and straight forward.

We all think that throughout our lives we have learned so many lessons, gone through so much, if we only had the chance to speak to our younger selves, we could assure that things would be different. I absolutely agree with that, if we had the opportunity to go back and guide our younger selves the outcome would most definitely be different, but would it be better? This influence of change would serve to vibrate throughout our entire existence but what would that mean? Take myself for instance, would the advice given make my 30th year on this earth better or worse? Would I even make it to 30? I can’t say with great certainty that it would be better or worse I just know it would be most certainly be different. 

So back to the game, I'll go first. If I could go back it would be to the beginning of 7th grade at Hines Middle School in Newport News, Va. I chose this particular point in my life because it was at this point that I began to do things for the approval of my peers. As weak and corny as it sounds, I too let peer pressure influence me to do things that I knew should not be done and changing who I was. I let others convince me that being smart wasn't cool, getting good grades was not important, and acting foolish was the thing to do. These feelings towards academics and intelligence lasted quite a long time, with ramifications that I still feel to this day.

Now that we have identified the point in time and satisfied rule number 1, it is time to deliver the message, only 5 words, remember... So what would I tell young Juice, a little 7th grader with a passion for sports, science and math? A boy that when asked, what do you want to be when you grow up? Would promptly answer a Professional Football Player or a Heart Surgeon... (hell of a backup plan, right lol) I would tell him "consequences will rule your life" because at that age you do not understand that what is done today will not only affect tomorrow but could change your life's path forever. 

Ok, your turn...