“Life should feel good”

You’re probably wondering how this letter found you from the future? It’s quite simple really… Future you has lots to tell you, but the Ministry of Magic has forbidden me from telling you to invest in small start-up companies like Amazon and Google, so I won’t. Instead I will attempt to give you some good advice that will help your life turn out better.

Firstly, drink plenty of water and eat a variety of unprocessed foods of different shapes and colours. You are currently starving yourself for a variety of reasons and it is imperative to your growth as a man that you change from these unhealthy habits to healthy ones as soon as possible.

Secondly, stop forcing yourself and those around you to live by any rule that’s not the law. You’ll find in life that many people’s belief systems are entirely different from your own. You are not required to follow their rules, nor are they required to follow yours. Let people enjoy their life how they choose. But it is imperative that you follow the law and pay your taxes.

Thirdly, I’m very sorry to tell you that the people you have been working so hard to be successful for are working just as hard to make sure you don’t succeed. The sooner you take the weight of these people off your shoulders, the sooner you will be relieved of their burden. You’re not imagining things: they’re very much sleep-depriving you, fighting a war of attrition and trying to drive you insane. Leave home before you’re thrown out – the sooner you do, the sooner you will achieve inner peace. You are a burden to them, and they are a burden to you. Get out and start working on your inventions.

Fourthly, people’s feelings matter. I know you already know you’re neither the smartest nor the dumbest, but one thing you will learn in life is that you are a logical and reason-based person, which is fine. However many other people are not – they are based on how things make them feel. I’m not saying either is right or wrong, but you need to know this. How you feel matters and how others feel matters. Life should feel good.

Last but not least, do not, under any circumstances, allow those around you to continue treating you as less than human.

Stay sexy,

Your pal, Big Issue Ben

First published in Ed#682, as part of a Letter to my Younger Self series with The Big Issue vendors.