If I met the version of myself from five years ago, what would surprise him most about the person I’ve become?
June 25, 2026
I have spoken out loud, alone, often.
I would always go for long walks and talk to myself. Sometimes tears would begin to slowly come.
A crazy man walking and talking to no one…
But, to himself?
Oh, what a rush…
Lol.
Five years ago…
One year away from graduating from CSULB.
I’d wander around campus doing the blah, blah with myself.
Looking for a friend, possibly.
Why am I alone?
Why no friends?
My girlfriend left.
A loser?
Fi, fy, fo, fam… I will blow your house down.
A boy wanting to become a man.
Everything around me tumbling as I walked.
An untrained mind.
Hello…
No one says thank you anymore.
Thank you, Roberto from five years ago.
You are the reason I graduated with honors.
Remember…
“school might not be for you.”
— High school counselor.
Now…
Are we better?
Yes.
But there will be a version after me that will be better than us.
Let’s go watch a movie.
💬 Reader Question
If you could sit down with the version of yourself from five years ago, what would you thank them for?
Would they be proud of the person you’ve become?
If this resonated with you, subscribe to Echoes of the Garage—a journal about observation, creativity, rebuilding, and learning to see the extraordinary in ordinary days.
Leave a Reply