Welcome to my world!

It finally happened, I had a younger me walk into my shop and he was just as arrogant and iritating as I imagine myself to have been 30 years ago. I so wanted to take him by the shoulders and shake some sense into him, but he, like I once was, is too full of himself to see the error of his ways. I waited, choose my attack carefully, then I gave him my sage advice.

"Don't get too full of yourself, son. I was once in your shoes, maybe even a bit better off, but it doesn't last forever." He smiled, nodded modestly, then replied. "My father died of liver failure two years ago and it woke me up. I quit drinking completely and haven't regretted a minute of that decision. Now you tell me I'm full of myself? I suppose I could be offended, or get mad, but you said it with a sincerity that makes me stop and think. Thank you, sir. I hope I don't disrespect your advise." With that, he and his lovely wife paid for their goods and left the store.

I can only hope, yet I feel confident, that he is a better man than I.