32-Year-Old Speaks with 12-Year-Old Version of Himself -- and All of Us
Don't leave 2012 without watching "A Conversation with my 12-Year-Old Self," a viral video that has struck a chord with nine million people so far.
In it, film maker Jeremiah McDonald answers questions that he recorded for himself on VHS two decades ago. Besides the fact that it's hysterical, the video resonates because of universal feelings on the passage of time:
- Nostalgia for a world that was smaller and safer. In one poignant moment, young Jeremiah seemingly can't think of any questions about the future beyond which pets are still alive.
- Regrets for paths not taken, as when Jeremiah remembers how he used to like to draw.
- Relief at having grown out of awkward stages, and yet seeing each of them as necessary steps taken to become who we are now.
- Continuity of cherished icons. Star Wars and Doctor Who have been mainstays in the filmmaker's life, and it's touching to see how some of early life's joys aren't just held onto, but grow with us. The timey-wimey reference towards the end of the video is meta in the extreme.
Ironically, the 26-year-old version of Jeremiah created a similar video, but it wasn't as well received. Perhaps because the YouTube age wasn't fully upon us. No word yet as to whether an updated version is planned for 2032.
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