Kate: "So as I've been traveling I've been asking some of the people I meet this question--"
Mark: "Aah, it's time for the infamous big question."
Connie: "Oh, this is the girl with the question?"
Mark: "Yep. We've been taking about your question."
Kate: "Woah, how do you know about my blog?"
Mark: "Well you put it on your WarmShowers.org profile. It didn't take any high-tech sluthing. But we have a question about the semantics-- is it what advice you'd give a 25 year old, or what you'd tell your 25 year old self. Those are two different questions."
Kate: "I don't know. Either. Both."
Mark: "Ok... Honestly I would say that it's the kids like you that worry that I'm not worried about. It's the ones that aren't thinking about this stuff that are worrisome. Does that make sense?"
Kate: "... Let me repeat that back to you. So if you are a person who's worried, than you shouldn't be worried?"
Mark: "Yeah. How's that for useless, huh? Ok now I'll say something more practical.
I would say, take the time to develop rituals in your life."
Connie: "You're the one saying this?"
Mark: "Yes. Shockingly. For example:
When our oldest kid moved out, Connie was worried she'd be lonely and unhappy. So she started this ritual where every third Thursday, she makes a giant pot of soup and invites all our neighbors and friends over to share the soup. It's a low-cost thing. It's low commitment. Our neighbors know they can come late, or not stay very long. And it's great every time."
Kate: "So is it about the ritual or is it about the gathering of friends?"
Mark: "I'm saying that my advice is to create the ritual. Ok Connie, your turn."
Connie: "You know... I'm a graduate school professor. I give a lot of advice to people 21-30. And what I would say is that life is long and awesome and just to enjoy it. There's so much to see and do and learn, just really experience it along the way.
When I was 18 I thought, 'Ok this is it, I know who I am and what I want.' And then when I was 22 I thought I knew it all. And then when I was 30 I thought I knew it all, and so on and so on and now I'm over 50 and I've realized I'll probably keep growing and learning for the rest of my life.
So that's it, enjoy it, enjoy it."