At 40, Kate Winslet found herself in a classroom with her younger self — and she had only one message

As children, we often can’t wait to become adults and do all the grown-up things like wearing suits, going to work, grabbing a coffee, and so on. However, funnily enough, when we grow up, the tables turn. We yearn to sit on a bench in a classroom, color with a crayon, and just have fun. Actor Kate Winslet also often conversed with her younger self, she revealed during a podcast with @happyplaceofficial on December 8. As an esteemed woman with an established career, she noted that there was only one message she had for her younger self when she visited her again in a classroom. It’s an honest bit that many adults resonate with, and that younger people should pay attention to. 

The “Titanic” actor revealed that around ten years ago, on the eve of her 40th birthday, she had an unforgettable dream. Getting teary-eyed, she explained, “I was in a classroom, and I saw my younger self." The very visual was extraordinary for her, but what took place next was incredibly touching. “I walked into a classroom as myself. I was an adult, I was poised,” Winslet revealed. She further explained what she saw — a classroom full of students, and she went and sat beside herself. “It was moving,” she remarked. Then she shared what she said to that little girl there. 

“I said to myself, 'Take it easy, slow down,'” she remarked. Fighting back tears, the actor noted how she never remembers dreams nor writes them down, but this one in particular touched her. She added how she often thought of the need to slow down and take it easy after achieving it all. “It’s quite hard to take a moment and go, ‘Oh, I did well,’” she added. Take a moment, think about it. If you met your younger self, what would you say? Often, people try to share simple yet significant messages to help them live. You’ll probably not find someone saying, "Find more ways to earn," or "Get busy."

Karl Pillemer, a gerontologist at Cornell University and author of “30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans,” revealed to TODAY what many seniors between the ages of 70 and 90 had to say. He interviewed around 1,500 older people for his book, asking them what their biggest regret in life was. He found that most of their responses came under eight categories. Out of these, the top ones were focusing on relationships and loved ones: 'Not being careful enough when choosing a life partner,' 'Not resolving a family estrangement,' etc. Soon after that, there were regrets about not having lived enough. Being so engrossed in the hustle, they forgot to enjoy. Many seniors noted “Not being honest,” “Not traveling,” “Spending too much time worrying,” and so on, listing things they wish they could have changed in their past. 

Lydia Sohn, writer and minister at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, also spoke to people in their 90s, and they, too, had similar responses, per CNBC News. They didn’t regret not earning more; they regretted not spending time with loved ones, not chasing love. All the things that come once you shift your focus away from the daily buzz. Even now, at their advanced ages, they’re not trying to make money or follow rules; they’re living, doing things that make them happy, and people couldn’t agree more. @zoetheball said, “Kate is so right, it's okay to slow down and take a moment.” @mirandacharlotte added, “What a brilliant woman — even Kate's dreams are the message we all need to hear!" @louisegeorgeofficial wrote, “I think many of us high achievers will resonate with that one. Lifelong lesson for me.” 

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