Did people honor their personal values, fulfill their dreams, or make a difference to the community during their lifetimes? These are some of the questions The Epoch Times reporters discovered from Italy to Brazil when they asked locals: “If you could meet yourself 25 years from now, what would you ask?”
Paloma Caubin Perez, 46, Nursery Owner
The first one is 'if I had fulfilled the dreams I had 25 years ago' and the second one is 'if I was happy with my life experience, if I honored my personal values in those 25 years, not sacrificing them to get what I thought I deserved to.' Those are the main questions I consider relevant thinking ahead of time.
Maria Inés Angelucci, 43, Sales Agent
I would ask: 'And now, what do you have to offer to others, to yourself, to your family?' Why would I ask this? We are in a chaotic situation. We have no future, seeing no future. We do not know where we are heading. If we do not have anything, what can we offer in the future? I have three children, aged 18, 16 and 3; we lived through the earthquake in L’Aquila last year, and we had to change to live in San Giovanni. In 25 years I would ask myself: 'Do you have something to offer now?'
Julia Menezes Pimenta, 59, Retired Nurse
I would ask myself if the profession I’ve chosen was really what I wished, and if I have been able to achieve self realization through it. I worked 33 years in a hospital and then retired. After leaving, I feel like an inexistent being when I go to that place. The head person doesn’t know who I am anymore, and neither does the staff … only very few of them do. It’s as if all the work I’ve done there has been forgotten.
Jana Obeid, 18, University Student
'Did I meet my goals? Have I done my best? Was I a good girl or a good daughter for my parents? Did I make myself happy? Did I live a happy life? Did I do everything to the best of my ability? Did I live my moment? Did I enjoy my time?' And if the answer is yes to these questions, then I accomplished what I wanted to achieve.
Susan Duncan, 49, Retail Jewelry Owner
I would ask myself what the highlight of the last 25 years has been. Have I made any difference to the community in the last 25 years? And because I’m still young, is there anything more I can do?
Monika Suská, 34, Businesswoman
I would ask myself if I have raised my children well, if I could possibly have done something better. And also, if I want to come back in time and change something.
Ayane Yoshi, 26, Housewife
'Do you think 25 years ago, living in Dubai was a good experience or not?'
Josh Oostermann, 20, Student
Nothing, because I wouldn’t want to spend the next 25 years wondering about the answer.
Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “What would you like to see more coverage of in the media?”
