Looking Back 10 Years: A 30-Second Call from the Future

Imagine the thrill of having a mere 30 seconds to communicate with your future self, living in 2022. This hypothetical scenario offers a unique opportunity to gather valuable insights into the future, whether it's personal, professional, or scientific. Here's a detailed exploration of what such a conversation might entail and what insights we can seek.

Personal Insights and Advice

Reflecting on the numerous questions one might ask, personal insights and advice often top the list. Here are a few potential queries:

Will I be successful? How many children will I have? Will I divorce? Should I avoid certain individuals? Can I prevent a loved one's death by car accident? Has the world improved or deteriorated? Does racism still exist? Cures for diseases such as cancer, childhood leukemia, and heart disease have been discovered? Are children pedophiles non-existent? Are nuclear weapons no longer a threat? Is there world peace? Has famine ended in Africa and the Middle East?

Astronomical Discoveries and Beyond

The future offers many exciting questions in the realm of astronomical discoveries and advancements. If you were to ask your future self, what might they say about the future of our universe?

Have we received the funding for research projects? How is the project going? What are the next big astronomical discoveries?

Other Questions to Ponder

Here are some other potential inquiries:

How tall am I now? Is Mom still around? Where does Mike live? Do I have a girlfriend yet? When will I ever be happy? When did Robin's fish die? Do I have a girlfriend yet? Will I ever drive a car? Have I ever been homeless? How many mental disorders do I have?

Time Capsule of Future Advice

Exploring the possibility of communicating with past or future selves provides a unique opportunity to gather valuable insights and advice. Here are a few hypothetical scenarios:

Grade 3

“Tell Dad he has sleep apnea and should not completely trust his judgement. Get the patents completed or Mr. Ford will die as a result of a heart attack before they finish. Be wary of the conman Miln Durasitch and do not let him get his name on anything. Focus on United Technology for financial support.”

Grade 8

“You know the cute blond that stopped to say hello at lunch the other day or the one you met at the school camp. They both like you. Find one of them, ignore her friends, and tell her she has pretty eyes and kiss her! Also, tell Dad he has sleep apnea.”

Grade 10

“When Sarah flirts, she really means it. She is not trying to wind you up. That look on her face is not contempt or disgust, it’s desire. Find the courage to tell her you have pretty eyes and kiss her! Also, research Asperger’s syndrome.”

Early University Years

“Tell the cute Indian girl she has pretty eyes and invite her to see a theme park down the coast with you. After you graduate, she will call you and offer you a job. Take it! Instead of setting up with your ex-girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend, find the cryptography forums and buy Bitcoin. If you borrow your parents' old fax machine, send a fax to Mt. Gox in Japan and buy as many Bitcoin as you can. Get them transferred to your home PC and burn the files to a CD.”

Some Point in the Future

“Say the date on your end and ask for the date and lotto numbers of the biggest draw between now and the date on their end. Listen to the insights and advice they have prepared for you.”

These hypothetical scenarios provide a glimpse into the kind of advice one might seek from their future self. While the exact answers may differ, the process of reflection and inquiry can be invaluable.