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.

We begin with a letter about the first decade of my life, reflecting on Anna Pascoe aged 0-9. Adrian Mole, eat your heart out (showing my age there)!

Dear Anna,

Well done on setting up The Animal Rights Club in your primary school. Great work too on the early art of compromise when your teacher suggested that calling it The Animal Welfare Club instead might sound a little less militant.

Congratulations too on setting up a cheerleading group and recruiting members to both of the above.

Later in life, young Anna, campaigning will become a major part of your life and you’ll spend a huge amount of time recruiting, training and motivating team members. One day you’ll become a councillor and even stand for Parliament!

In due course, too, all those As for effort and lower grades for achievement in PE, and cheering on other sports teams, will become a distant memory as you will become an athlete yourself. You’ll compete all over the UK and abroad in CrossFit and ultramarathon competitions! You won’t know what that means right now though, because CrossFit hasn’t been invented yet and ultramarathon running hasn’t become accessible to someone like you yet either. You’ll become a motivational speaker, and set up projects to inspire other people who don’t believe they are suited to sport.

Last but not least, young Anna, try not to take things too much to heart. You’re a sensitive soul, and people will sometimes not get what you’re about, or be on the same plane as you. Most of the time, they don’t mean to upset you, or leave you out, or misunderstand you. Being you, is not so bad.

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 10-19. 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/talking-about-bame/