Financial TimesFinancial Times

Forget ‘advice to my younger self’ articles. What would older me want to know?

By Robert Shrimsley

24 Feb 2023 · 3 min read

Editor's Note

We all know that you cannot change the past. You can change the future, however. The FT's U.K. Editor, Robert Shrimsley, argues that this is why we should write advice to our future selves.

Perhaps it’s just a coincidence but I’ve noticed a recent run of “Advice to my Younger Self” articles in different publications. It is a good format and often produces some funny and wise pieces. But I can’t help spotting a gap in this market: Advice to my Older Self.

I don’t, after all, care what I should have done differently some decades ago since there is nothing I can do about it. And while my wisdom might be useful to a younger someone else, which self-respecting 20-year-old reads life tips from the middle-aged?

Sign in to informed

  • Curated articles from premium publishers, ad-free
  • Concise Daily Briefs with quick-read summaries
  • Read, listen, save for later, or enjoy offline
  • Enjoy personalized content
Or

LoginForm.agreeToTerms