Navigating the journey of life, especially as we hit the midpoint, can feel like standing at a cosmic crossroads. It’s that moment when you look back at the winding path you’ve traveled—the triumphs, the missteps, the “what ifs”—and simultaneously peer into the future, wondering what new adventures or calamities lie ahead. We can’t help but ask, “If only I knew then what I know now, would things be different?”​

It’s a universally relatable sentiment, the idea of a rewind button. While we can’t go back and give our younger selves a cheat sheet, we can reflect on the lessons we’ve learned, often the hard way, and share that wisdom with others—and maybe even with ourselves.

​The Wisdom of Not Knowing Everything

​I used to believe that success was a straightforward math problem: hard work + long hours = guaranteed win. But as I’ve aged, I’ve realized that life isn’t a spreadsheet; it’s more like a messy, beautiful painting with no clear lines. I wish I had understood earlier that it’s okay to not have all the answers. The most profound lessons often come from getting things hilariously, spectacularly wrong.

​In my youth, I wish someone had explained that a deep understanding of ourselves—our values, our beliefs, what makes us uniquely us—is the most crucial education of all. Forget geometry; I needed a course in “Self-ometry.” Instead, I was busy trying to follow a rulebook that I was biologically wired to ignore. My youth was all about acquiring knowledge, but I wish I had focused on acquiring wisdom.​

The 20s: A Masterclass in Self-Kindness​

My 20s were a brutal bootcamp in self-criticism. I spent so much time wishing for a different body, a prettier face, a life that looked like the glossy magazines I devoured. I wish I had learned the power of mindfulness and self-compassion instead of chasing an impossible ideal. The biggest lesson I’ve learned about this decade is that the relationship you have with yourself is the longest and most important one you’ll ever have.

​I also wish I had learned that so-called “failures” in love and life were not character flaws but foundational building blocks. A heartbreak wasn’t a sign of being unlovable; it was a lesson in boundaries and self-worth. That “bad job” wasn’t a dead end; it was a lesson in what I didn’t want, paving the way for what I did. The idea that there’s no such thing as failure—only lessons—sounds cliché, but it’s a powerful truth.​

The 30s: A Decade of Unpaid Overtime and Missed Opportunities​

In my 30s, I became a professional deadline chaser. I worked unpaid overtime and let my career consume me, thinking it would lead to a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I wish I had realized that chasing a corporate ladder is like running on a hamster wheel—you can spin all you want, but you’re not really going anywhere. I wish I had spent more time traveling, experiencing different cultures, and collecting memories instead of paychecks. Because as I’ve learned the hard way, companies will replace you quicker than they will thank you.

​The 40s and Beyond: Forgiving the Past, Embracing the Now​

Now, past 44, I’m finally learning to forgive myself. For the opportunities I let slip away, for the unkind words I said to myself, and for allowing the opinions of others to define me. It’s a liberation to realize that you are not the mistakes you’ve made. Your worth isn’t tied to a promotion, a perfect relationship, or what you look like on a Tuesday morning.

​I hope to continue learning new lessons and unlearning old, unhelpful patterns. I hope to teach my children that their value isn’t based on external validation but on their inherent worth. The greatest lesson of all, perhaps, is that the journey never really ends. We are all perpetual students in the school of life. And the best part? We get to be both the teacher and the student, guiding ourselves with the wisdom we wish we had years ago.