A career in what was only a hobby when I was 16. And I’ve gotten to visit far corners of the world as part of it.

Honestly I look pretty good, physically, I mean, I was a cute kid, and then I just didn’t take care of myself and felt super bad in my own skin all throughout my teenage years, and today I’m very satisfied with my appearance, its an awesome feeling, younger me would have been happy to see how he’d turn out

Also my profession is related to the arts, so he would have been happy to see I kept ‘drawing’, but for a living

kicking heroin and cigarettes

Presumably my self growth, as it was something my younger self struggled with.

My lawnmower.

Bear with me.

When I was a kid my dad had a proper lawnmower. It was petrol-powered with a cylinder cutting head and a heavy roller at the back. A Suffolk Colt. There was something about it, the combined smell of petrol and freshly mown grass, the perfect stripes it laid on the lawn, the neatness of the cut. When I was old enough I was allowed to use it to mow the lawn. The only chore I was given that was pure pleasure. I loved running that machine over the grass, loved the the pull of the eager little engine when I opened the throttle, loved the sound, loved the smell, loved everything about it…

I’m in my 50s now, but it wasn’t until I bought my own, refurbished Suffolk Colt, about 10 years ago, that I felt maybe, just maybe, that I was a proper grown-up like my dad was. 10-year old me would smile and understand.

My younger ace self could never have imagined finding a partner. I was simply never even vaguely interested in anyone around me. Guess who’s buying an engagement ring soon?

When I was in third grade I lied to my classmates for some stupid reason saying that I lived in a three-story dome home with a hot tub on the top floor.

And today I live in a three-story dome home with a hot tub on the top floor.

Also, growing up I always said that a household should have at least three cars. A sedan or daily driver, a pickup truck, and a recreational vehicle.

I own a sedan, a pickup truck, and a Jeep.

The only thing left on my childhood bucket list is to become a multi-millionaire inventor. I need to get to work on that.

I live in the place I always wanted to go back then

I didn’t wind up in the gutter like a lot of people said I would. I’m successful and slightly wealthier than the family I started in. I was naive as a young person though so young me might not recognize my life as successful.

Having come out, gotten a husband, gotten counselling and started building a business, it’s been a good couple of years

Honestly, absolutely nothing. Quitting smoking maybe.

Probably my career accomplishments. I still don’t fully believe in myself for this role and have imposter syndrome. I fake it til I make it & put forth my best effort and hope for the best most times and it’s worked out pretty well for me.

I think my younger self didn’t really know what I wanted to be until I was in high school and even that changed shortly thereafter. My high school self may be down to know I didn’t pursue that career path but would be proud of what I did end up doing.

Also would be proud to know I somewhat came out of my shell and was able to find attractive women who were willing to date me and have satisfying relationships. Sad to know I’m still not married, but I’d hope to instill wisdom that eventually came later that a good thing takes time and is worth the wait so it’s not all bad despite the aspirations and hopes I had for my immediate future.

My art and my determination.

100% completion of all the super hard games I play.

All I had to be proud of as a kid was that I was the only kid on the block who had actually beaten Castlevania and Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out.

My last job was pretty badass.

Also quite a few notches on my bed post.