Chapter Thirty-Three: The Philosophy That Saved Me
After speaking to Little Steve, I found myself wondering about the other end of that thread—the version of me who had already lived through heartbreak and come out the other side. Maybe he had something to say too.
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(A Letter from My Past Self)
After the breakup that led to the backflip, I started writing more. Words became the way I tried to stitch myself back together—small truths scribbled down until they started to sound like guidance. A year later, after a three-month trip around the world, I wrote something I called Steve’s Philosophy on Life. It wasn’t meant for anyone else. It was a map—something I could look back on when I felt lost. Reading it now, I see it was also a letter from my younger self—one that still holds up. Here’s what I wrote:
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Steve’s Philosophy on Life
Kindness is the greatest gift you can ever give. Give it freely and often. And always, always pay it back or pass it on.
Time is the only true currency in life. Spend it where it matters most.
Memories are the most valuable acquisitions—not wealth or possessions.
Friends and family are life’s power-ups. Make the most of the time you get with them.
Be as generous as you can with your love, time, and means. It will make someone’s day.
If you’re going to be a friend, be a good friend.
Always look out for the doors life puts in front of you—and don’t be afraid to walk through them.
Be good to yourself. You’re the only one who’ll be there for the entire journey.
Challenge yourself. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.
Put yourself out there, even if it hurts sometimes.
If you don’t fail every now and then, you aren’t trying hard enough.
Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.
Do or do not—there is no try.
What other people think of you has no bearing on your worth.
Be curious and adventurous. The best experiences come from discovery.
Find the joy and goodness in all things. Your perception of life is the only true reality.
Live and love fiercely. Life is too short to do things by halves.
Seek balance in relationships—and be brave enough to walk away when it’s not right.
Life is a collection of moments. Be present for every one.
Do the right thing every time. You already know what it is.
Scars are proof of a life lived and adversities overcome. Be proud—you’ve earned them.
Let yourself be fully seen.
Embrace the unknown with open arms.
Live with wonder.
Strength is not the absence of vulnerability.
Love is a choice—every single day.
You are always becoming.
When in doubt, choose joy.
Never forget who you are. This list is for you.
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When I first wrote it, I was thirty-seven—still searching for who I wanted to be, still measuring success by achievement. But even then, I think I knew that the truest success was softer: being kind, being brave, being willing to change.
People travel for many reasons—to rest, to explore, to reconnect—but that trip wasn’t about escape. It was about perspective. It reminded me how easy it is to get lost in the noise and forget what really matters.
Towards the end of that journey, someone asked me what I’d learned. And what I said was simple: Life is still beautiful—and in so many unexpected ways. I hope I never forget that lesson. Because the story of my life—of heartbreak, change, and improbable hope—has shown me again and again the same truth: If you give it enough time, life really will come through for you.
—and with that anchor steady in my hands, I was finally ready to see the oldest promise in a new light.