Two years worth of advice...

In the movie The Lake House, architect Alex Wyland (Keanu Reeves) from 2004 asks Dr. Kate Feldman (Sandra Bullock) from 2006 what the world is like in the future. She jokes that not much has changed aside from the shiny silver unisuit and flying cars, etc. Eventually she replies, "not much."

While trying to carry a pretty ridiculous premise over some appalling disregard for the grandfather complex in time travel, with a romance that lacks any chemistry between its main stars (when they finally do kiss it looks like he's about to eat her face and she wants to run like hell), the movie did leave me with a question.

I often see the question about giving yourself advice as a younger person -- say 5 to 10 years -- but rarely as short a duration as two. Is it that we don't think we have enough distance from our two years ago self to give advice? Or that we're still undergoing the same challenges and still haven't quite got them figured out? Something else.

I put the challenge to myself. What would I tell Eddie of two years ago. Twenty five years old, not yet having attended CW and only a year into her first "real" job. A lot has changed for me in two years. I think I would have a lot to say.

• Don't be so afraid of change, of not knowing what comes next. In the end, it always comes out alright.
• Being alone is good sometimes, it teaches you things about yourself you can't learn when someone is standing right beside you.
• Just because you're friends with someone doesn't mean things can't change and you "grow away" from each other. Have the grace to let go when the time comes.
• Keep up your yoga practice, no matter how hard it gets to integrate into your daily life, it will keep you sane when the world feels like it's falling apart.
• Don't date Jesse. Sometimes friends should just stay friends.
• Call your parents more often, tell them how great they are and that you love them, even when they drive you crazy.
• You will live without the Mustang. You will love your next vehicle so much more. Let go.
• Don't give up on the E-Bass. We really should know how to play an instrument well by now.
• Eat more oatmeal. And floss EVERY DAY.
• Get Echo into that agility class you were always meaning to sign up for. He won't be young forever.
• Write more. You've got talent, now work on the skill.
• Most of all, be good to yourself. Let go of the need to judge. Hug yourself when things get hard. And love yourself, a lot. Be gentle with us. We've come a long way and still have miles to go, Spirit willing.
  

That's my list. What would you say to your two years ago self?