A Thought Exercise to Guide You Through a Really Hard Choice
For every big life decision, I consult my 6-year-old self and my 90-year-old self
In three weeks, my husband, kids, and I are relocating from Minnesota to my home state of Wisconsin. It’s a decision that didn’t come easily. We’ll be uprooting lives we liked for new ones full of unknowns. Moving is draining, especially during a pandemic. And expensive.
For many of us, the past year of Covid has been a clarifying time, highlighting our personal values and forcing a more honest consideration of our priorities. In some cases, that clarity can make big decisions feel easier and more urgent — but on the other hand, the constant risk assessment of living through a pandemic can also cause major decision fatigue. So one particularly stressed-out night, when it was clear that Present Day Ashley wouldn’t be much help in working out the pros and cons of this major life choice, I turned to the two people I often call on to guide me through tricky moments.
The first was my six-year-old self — a kid who, before the responsibilities of adulthood crept in, used to love the adventure of trying new things. The second was myself at 90. Decades from now, I wondered, would Future Ashley regret not living closer to my family? I knew the answer was yes.
