The concept of time travel has always fascinated me. I’m not sure, but I think it started some time in grade school, probably from watching The Twilight Zone. One of the first short stories I ever wrote had a time travel twist. Now, I go to time travel movies; I read time travel books; I watch time travel television shows. Currently I’m reading The Return of the Indian to a fourth grade classroom (I volunteer for Read Aloud West Virginia) and I just last night watched the first two episodes of season four of Quantum Leap. (Thanks to my generous neighbor Ann who owns the complete DVD collection of that show. Yum!)
Several years ago I was visiting my hometown while reading The Time Traveler’s Wife. There are several scenes in that book where the time traveler interacts with himself at various ages. Being in Lincoln in the neighborhood where I grew up got me to thinking, what if I went for a walk and bumped into my 15-year old self … what would I say to her?
Would I warn her to not get married at 19? Would I tell her to buy stock in Microsoft? Would I beg her to finish college? It seemed like there were so many things I could let her in on that would ultimately result in my life being … being what? Less marred with error? Richer? Happier? Better?
But maybe not. Maybe it would just be different. Maybe not better at all!
There were important lessons I learned from all the choices I made–good and bad. They were lessons I could never learn any way but by living my life. No one could tell me those things, not even my older self! I wouldn’t have believed me, anyway. I know me. I’m skeptical, wary, and slow to trust a stranger, even one who looks just like … uh … my mother and my father blended and then aged. Hmmmm. I’m pretty sure I would have quizzed such a being long and hard before listening.
But if I had somehow convinced her, what would I have said? The best I could come up with was to simply tell her that she was smarter, stronger, and more courageous than she realized. I suppose my 99-year-old self would be telling me that now, too!
So, what would you tell your teenage self if you met her on the street?
Coach Barbie Dallmann 
Thank you Barbie! I’ve been contemplating the very small, young me before I was exposed to certain difficulties AND the highest me, asking her to guide me. So your blog on time travel is a perfect affirmation and encouragement to ponder all these things and be fully present now!!
Looking back on my life I agree, Barbie, that my past has brought me to where I am today and I am so grateful to be who I am. Sure, I have regrets. Yes, I did things I am not proud of. The very things I regret are the things that taught me some of the qualities that I so appreciate today. Sooooo…if I were to turn a corner and bump into my 15-year old self, I would tell me to listen and honor myself and make my decisions based on what felt right to me, not what others expected of me.
Barbie, I love reading your blogs!! Are you interested in doing a pilgrimage walk…I’m thinking of doing one from France to Spain then along the coast to St James de Compestela. That would be next fall. Hope things are well with you and Danny. Love, Lynn
I’m so glad to see you’re comment … and that you’re obviously well and trekking! The pilgrimage walk sounds delicious, and I’m thinking it wouldn’t fit into my schedule. Still working full time. Maybe in another 5 years! Dannie and I are both well. Come for a visit … we’ll walk the Appalachian Trail (well, not all of it!)
Barbie, love your article, notion of ‘time travelling’, which according to quantum consciousness is part of living in a parallel universe. Your article made me think about the film Closing Doors, with Gwyneth Paltrow…about life being a series of choices, synchronicities….With regard to what would I tell me 15 yr old self from where I am now, I would say ‘don’t take things so personally”, and “never ever lose your sense of humour”. As I look back from where I am now, I too am so grateful for all my life experiences. That’s a really good realisation and a great foundation to keep loving and keep creating. Thank you for your beautiful writing.
I would tell my teenage self to: “speak up! Ask for what you need and want! The people around you not mind readers and that if they are your mind contains NOTHING that they haven’t heard before! You are safe, whole and worthy of living a fulfilling life”. My dear friend, I hope we’re both around to hear what your 99-year-old self has to say, but let’s dig our heals in and get there really slowwwwwly and wiseeeely.