Dear Younger Me,

Today, I turn 50. That number once felt impossibly far away—but here I am, looking back on five decades of life, and I wish I could sit across from you, put a hand on your shoulder, and tell you everything is going to be more than okay.

I know how much uncertainty you’re carrying. I remember that quiet voice in your head whispering “You’re not good enough.“ You never thought you were the smartest in the room. You weren’t aiming for the stars—you were just hoping to get by. Survival felt like the goal, not success.

You didn’t have confidence. You didn’t have a grand plan. But what you did have—though you didn’t know it yet—was resilience, empathy, and a quiet strength that would one day shape your life and the lives of many others.

Looking back, everything you thought were problems growing up—the things you wished you could avoid—turned out to be some of your greatest assets. The failures, the moments of doubt, and the constant struggle to figure out who you were? Those became your greatest teachers.

Gratitude for the Struggles

You’ll face failure over and over, but here’s the thing you’ll learn: failure isn’t the end. It’s the foundation for something greater. The ability to pick yourself up after each fall—the skill to move quickly from setbacks—will become one of your biggest strengths.

You’ll come to appreciate the things that once frustrated you. Like your mother sitting beside you late into the night, pushing you to study harder after switching to English medium school. You hated it then—felt like it was too much. But it taught you perseverance. And a few kilometers walk to pick her up from the bus stop after she bought vegetables to save a few rupees? That taught you responsibility and the value of small sacrifices.

And those insecurities about speaking English? You’ll overcome them too. In fact, one day you’ll be so fluent that you’ll catch yourself thinking in English. You’ll coach people in it. Lead businesses in it. That shift—from fear to fluency—will feel like a miracle you never thought possible.

Oh, and badminton? No, you’re not going to become a professional player. But don’t put that racket down. It’s going to become your outlet. The court will be your sanctuary—a place where you process, recharge, and stay sane during the most stressful chapters of your life.

Saying Yes to the Unknown

You’ll move wherever opportunity takes you—not out of luxury, but out of necessity. From Chennai to Bangalore. From Mumbai to Hyderabad. Then to London. To Charlotte. And eventually, to that great place called California.

Each move will come with uncertainty. Each step will test you. And each time, you’ll say “yes”

• Yes to learning
• Yes to risk
• Yes to growth.

That simple word will shape your life more than any plan ever could.

Choosing Abundance

Somewhere along the way, you’ll learn a truth that will change everything:
Gratitude isn’t a result of having more. It’s the doorway to seeing more.

Once you start noticing what you have—not just what you lack—life begins to unfold in amazing ways.

That abundance mindset will become your compass. You’ll move from “What if I fail?” to “What if I grow?” You’ll stop chasing titles and start living with purpose. You’ll realize you don’t need to be the best at everything—you just need to keep showing up with intention and integrity.

A Life Beyond Imagination

One day, you’ll look around and see a life you never even dreamed of growing up. A loving wife who’s walked beside you through every twist and turn. Kids who amaze you with who they’re becoming. A home in America—a life that once felt like something meant for someone else.

And somehow, through all the uncertainty, all the unexpected turns, you made it here—not by following a perfect plan, but by staying open to growth, by failing forward, and by choosing gratitude over fear.

Just Getting Started

You won’t have all the answers, and that’s okay. You’ll keep learning, keep evolving. But most of all, you’ll live with your heart open and your feet grounded in purpose.

So, to you, my younger self—I want to say:
Thank you.
Thank you for staying in the game even when it didn’t make sense.
Thank you for listening to the whispers of hope even when you couldn’t see the road  ahead.
And thank you for not giving up. Because of you, I get to live this life I now cherish  deeply.

With love and gratitude,
Anand (Age 50—and just getting started)

Looking Ahead

And now, maybe it’s time to write a letter to you, the 50-year-old standing here today.

To remind yourself that just as you couldn’t imagine this life when you were 20, you also don’t yet know the full beauty of what’s to come. Stay open. Stay bold. Keep saying yes. The best chapters might still be unwritten.