I spent 20 years trying to outrun the version of myself I saw at the gym yesterday...

I went to the gym yesterday to prepare for a heavy supper, but I ended up coming face-to-face with a version of myself I haven’t thought about in twenty years.

At my gym, the music bumps from a huge floor speaker. Yesterday’s playlist could have been titled “Phillip’s Sophomore Through Senior Years of College.” To top it off, one of my old college buddies—someone I rarely see—walked in right as the music started digging up memories I had buried deep.

Looking at my friend and hearing those songs, I started remembering things memory recall dept. hadn't touched in decades. Some were good. Many were not.

My biggest takeaway was remembering how weak I was back then. I remembered being a victim to temptations that I should have walked away from. I remembered being the guy who made the "knucklehead" decisions.

But as I rediscovered that 2002 version of Phillip, I realized something: that guy is exactly why I can have empathy and patience for people today.

The next time someone tells me about a mess they’ve made or a decision they regret, I don't have to look down on them. I can just look back at the guy I used to be. I can offer comfort because I know firsthand that things "can" turn out alright in the end with a few corrective measures.

I don't write this to celebrate the version of me that wasn't living right. I write this to tell you that the "used to be you" can be one of your greatest tools for helping others now—if you're willing to use it the right way.