Regular readers in this United Plandom will know that from time to time, this Philosopher-In-Residence likes to run a themed blog series. As the big 4-0 approaches, my latest series is a sequence of letters to my younger self, framed around some Make Me A Plan-style motivational advice and guidance.

This fortnight I’m reminiscing about the decade in which I got the key to the door but not to the Houses of Parliament, in this, the penultimate instalment in the series, with a letter about the third decade of my life, reflecting on Anna Pascoe aged 20-29.

Dear Anna,

This will be an action-packed decade indeed, and, you might not believe it now, but by the end of your twenties you will have got rid of your crushing shyness – you’ll even be able to make a phone call without writing down what you are going to say first!

“You’ll be terrified but you will do it” actually ended up being quite a theme for these ten years. From hopping on a train to London to march down Tottenham Court Road in pursuit of random acts of kindness with a bunch of strangers (one of whom will go on to be a friend to this day), to going abroad to live. That’s right, a year working in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where you’ll start to feel more comfortable speaking and thinking in a different language, oh, and brave your severe claustrophobia to go on a plane for the first time!

Work will be a major theme over your twenties, young Anna. And although the Anna you’ll grow into won’t ever believe in regrets, rather lessons learned, if those lessons could have been taught to younger Anna, they would have focused on the Power of No, not always being the person who does everything, and spending more time with family and friends.

Sincere congratulations, Anna, on gaining a degree in Politics and German, being the youngest person elected to the town and district council in your hometown, oh, and standing for parliament in the constituency your Nan grew up in. Trying careers that you have an aptitude for, but aren’t quite right for you, or it wasn’t quite the right time, will also be a flavour of this decade – see politician and hotel manager amongst this back catalogue.

You’ll realise during this decade that the streets aren’t paved with gold elsewhere and actually, Cornwall is an amazing place to make your home.

There’ll be some bumps in the road, loves and losses in this decade, young Anna, and you’ll become inclined to trust people a little less easily.

But, fear not, younger Anna, as this incredible rollercoaster of a decade will shape the scaffolding for myriad new experiences and challenges as the twilight of your twenties waxes into luminescent thirtysomething times.

Lots of Love, from, 39 year old Anna. xx

Next fortnight, as we continue the countdown to this Philosopher-In-Residence’s fortieth birthday, I’ll be musing On 30-39. Join me and reflect back to your early years and what you have learned/what you would philosophise about in a letter to your younger self at that age.

Please get in touch with any particular aspects of this topic you’d like me to write about.

In the meantime,

Happy Planning

PS If you want some other free tips for your business life, check out the Working Well blog – out fortnightly on Wednesdays, courtesy of Make Me A Plan’s Productivity Expert, Penny Le Kelly. Browse the latest edition here: https://www.makemeaplan.com/news/real-living-wage-week/