Miss your old self? This one’s for you—the you who keeps saying, ‘When I get back to my old self, ‘I’ll finally do *insert your excuse here__________’*.
Oopsie, did I just call you out?
Maybe but honestly dont feel attacked. I’m dragging myself into this, too.
I logged into one of my old social media accounts the other day. You know, the first one—back when we uploaded entire photo albums with titles like “Epic Night Out in London” and used deep song lyrics as statuses.
Do you ever ask yourself—what happened to that person?
And by the way, I’m not talking about the not-so-cryptic shady or the cringeworthy drink and post status updates…
I’m talking about her—the adventurous, bolder version of you, who at least got tagged in naff-sounding photo albums.
I miss her!
You too? See, I do it too. More often than I care to admit.
So, if you are gonna reflect on what happened to that version of yourself,
thennn
at least do it properly and write it down.
Oh, and you can even dig out your old journals if scrolling through your old socials feels too cringy.
It’s time to reconnect to get you feeling more like your old self again.
Miss Your Old Self? What Parts
So, you miss your old self, but what exactly? Let’s get intentional.
Is it the goofy grin in that tagged photo album, skanking out at that festival back in the day.
Enjoying Friday ‘Happy Hours’ that lasted into Saturday or stopping at the old place for lunch?
Are you missing your sense of adventure or that IDGAF energy?
Maybe you miss your old sense of style, like the the way you rocked your hair or the confidence you had to wear whatever you wanted without overthinking it.
Go ahead. Let it all out and write it down.
You’re Not Lost, Life Happened!
As Madea says, ‘Life happened to her’ and she wasn’t lying!
You’re still very much you, That you, “the old you” just got buried under all the hats you’re wearing now, like:
- Wading through Slack notifications.
- Managing family
dramacommitments. - Navigating your relationships.
- Running your home.
- Completing your life admin.
- Feeling like your face doesn’t fit.
And whilst you’re balancing all this, sometimes the most important thing gets left behind: you.
Nowadays, adulting has become overwhelming, its no wonder looking backwards and idealising the past feels so tempting.
Still, let’s not get it twisted—it wasn’t perfect.
That’s just your brain’s rose-coloured spectacle effect.
It filters out the messy scenes and adds a rosy tint to life’s highlights.
That’s why people remember an ex like a 90’s R’n’B music video and conveniently forget the arguments over whats-her-name or the reasons that relationship had to end!
Baby Steps to Finding Your Old Self
Now that you’ve got your little list (you did make one, didn’t you?) you can start bringing those pieces of yourself back into the present.
And unlike the past, you’re not starting from scratch; ‘you’re starting from experience!’ (love this quote)
Start small and dream big with these tiny, intentional steps:
1. Rediscover Your Sense of Adventure
- Miss getting adventurous? Plan a day trip to someplace new, or try a new experience that gets you out of your comfort zone. If you’re down with something further out, why not look at this post on cheap flights to the Caribbean. Or you could join a travel group?
2. Get Your Old Creative Self Back
- Miss your creative spark? How about taking out your old sketchbook or signing up for one of those artsy classes you’ve bookmarked on your FYP.
3. Rework that IDGAF Energy
- Miss that confident IDGAF energy? Start small: style your hair differently or wear that fit you’ve been saving for a “special occasion” to lunch!
I’m not suggesting reinventing yourself (unless that’s something your old self did), just suggesting reclaiming the pieces you love and miss now!
For instance, I’ve been eyeing up this book club—especially now I’ve joined the library! It looks perfect for connecting with like-minded people too and of course discovering some awesome reads.
And let’s talk about going out out. I’m not gonna lie, I do miss those old school nights out! So, when I stumbled across this Slow Jams 90’s Orchestra Night, I couldn’t resist. It’s exactly the type of event that would have earned a tag in that “Epic Night Out in London” album!
Oh, and if you’re into theatre like me, I’ve found what looks like an incredible organisation called The Rendition. They celebrate black stories and diverse voices and I just signed up for discounted plays. Your “old self” can subscribe too–not only to enjoy plays narrated by diverse creatives, but to join a 15,000+ community who share your passions.
My Resolution
It’s funny— when I sat down to talk to you today, I hadn’t planned on getting sucked into the whole “new year, new me” parade. But maybe 2025 is the year to become unstuck and stop romanticising the past.
So here’s my New Year’s resolution: to stop comparing myself with the ghosts of Dionne’s gone by and focus on bringing the much-loved things into the present.
Because time is precious. 2024 flew by, and as my grandma likes to say, ‘as you quint your eye the year will be over!’ So, before you know it, 2026 will be in the room with us.
Time to Get Her Back!
So, whether it’s rocking a new do, curling up with a new read or planning a day trip—what little step will you take to rediscover yourself? Insert here_____