Before any discussion begins https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self, a few ground rules may be necessary. No dramatic music, no inspirational speeches, and absolutely no pretending that hindsight is a qualification for superior intelligence. The agenda is already complicated enough. So, welcome to “The Girl Before All The Plot Twists : We Needed To Compare Notes”.

I had no particular intention of opening this file today. There was no deadline, no carefully prepared outline, and certainly no committee meeting to approve the subject. Yet here we are, at the beginning of something that seems to have been waiting for its own introduction.

To know the deets of my story my words for an introduction to other people, click on My Story My Words : An Introduction – Wander, Feast & Thrive

We Just Wanted To Compare Notes : To The Girl Before All The Plot Twists

Hey younger Nithya! I’ve been thinking about what I’d say if I could just chill with you for a bit. I don’t want to spoil everything that’s coming up because, come on, where’s the fun in that? Plus, let’s be real, neither of us has the patience for a long rundown. But there are some things I definitely want to chat about before you dive headfirst into this whole adulting thing.

For starters, treat yourself a little more often. Your desires totally deserve some love. I’m just starting to get this now, even if it feels a tad late. There were times when I could’ve taken a chill pill and thought about what I actually wanted instead of just rolling with whatever was thrown my way. You have every right to question what’s in front of you and look for other choices!

Remember that company you chose for money? I often ponder that choice. What if I had opted for something different? It might have led to a more fulfilling career. Scrutinize those promises, challenge the status quo with tough questions, and never confuse an opportunity with its worth. Trust your instincts before making that leap.

Of Course, Life Would Have Been Different With A Good Job : We Just Wanted To Compare Notes

Of course, a different job could have transformed much more than just your working life. It might have led you to another country much sooner, perhaps to the UK or Canada. I wonder if you would have found the strength to adapt? How would it have felt to be so far from everything that was familiar and comforting?

I am not sure the younger you would have recognised herself in the life I eventually experienced abroad. Those places brought their own routines, discoveries and challenges. They became part of my story in ways you couldn’t have planned. It is amusing to think that the girl who couldn’t picture that life would one day have so many memories attached to it.

Friendship is important, and I wish you had found more people to be yourself with and forge deeper connections. Growing older hasn’t necessarily reduced loneliness, and I still desire closer companionship. I’ve realized that knowing people and truly connecting with them are different, so I hope you invest in mutual relationships instead of forcing connections.

Becoming A Blogger , Finding It Hard To Believe : To The Girl Before All The Plot Twists

Now, here is something you might find hard to believe. You are going to become a blogger, building a site around your stories and returning to it, even when the numbers aren’t encouraging. You will call it Wander, Feast & Thrive, a space for the things you notice, the places you visit, the food you experience, and the stories you want to share.

You don’t need to wait until you feel ready to start writing. You don’t have to know if people will read your work before you write it. Writing will naturally become a part of your life. You might have started earlier if you had believed that your skills could improve with practice. It’s okay to be a beginner in something you might care about in the future.

A life rarely follows the version in your head. The job, friendships, places, and the person you become — none arrive as a neat package. Some decisions disappoint you while others lead to the unexpected. Both can be true at once. You don’t need to pretend that every disappointment was necessary or that every unexpected turn was part of a grand plan.

A Little More Confidence To Adulthood : We Just Wanted To Compare Notes

If I could give you one thing before you step into adulthood, it would be more confidence in your ability to make decisions and recover when they don’t work out. You won’t always choose correctly, and neither do I. The goal isn’t to avoid mistakes, but to recognize them, learn from them, and move forward without letting one decision define everything that follows.

I am still figuring things out, by the way. I haven’t reached some final version of myself who knows exactly what to do, whom to trust or how to make every day feel right. I am simply more willing now to ask what I want and to take that answer seriously. There is a difference between accepting the life you have and assuming you have no say in what happens next.

So, younger Nithya, I won’t ask you to get everything right or to predict the countries you’ll visit, the friendships you’ll miss, or the work you’ll regret. Just give yourself permission to be curious and to take your ambitions seriously. There are still choices to make, stories to write, and a life ahead of us that hasn’t finished surprising me. This time, I intend to have a say in where it goes.