MY FRIEND ANDY once gave me a brilliant piece of advice that I subsequently forgot. I remembered it recently though. He said this:
"When you're making a big decision, ask yourself what story you would like to tell about this chapter when you're older."
I wish I had remembered it. I made some decisions in my life that are difficult to talk about now; the embarrassment of those decisions has had a ripple effect into the present.
And that's how life works - the 'ripple' is because everything is connected. The you you are today is different to the you you were five years ago, but there is a definite chain of events that links the yous together. Future-you is also connected to you - and the decisions you make today will ultimately work their way into your history tomorrow.
So, what story would you like to tell your grandchildren about who you were and what you did? What will you tell those around you about what you decided to do in 2018 when they ask? What will you say?
I wish I'd remembered Andy's wise advice. I might have done things very differently. After all, once a thing is part of your story, it will always be part of your story.
So write a good one. :)