Absolutely. Many times.
- I used to think old people were just confused with all of their talk about “Well at least I have my health.” Now I understand, and want almost nothing more than my “health”.
– When I was real young, I was a real anti-tax, anti-immigrant conservative racist who agreed with my father that the liberal environmentalists on our street were awful people. Now I’m that awful person – and some.
– There was a time when I would hate people who would vote the “lesser of 2 evils” rather than vote for the person who best represents your positions and vision for the country. Now I am that pathetic self-described pragmatist that votes for the lesser evil.
– My anti-woo reflex was so strong for such a long time that I would get sick by the thought that sane people were engaged in meditation or yoga. It took a lot for me to drop this long enough to realize that there really is benefit, and the science confirms this. I find that I am now capable of giving extended informal dharma talks that would make the former me want to vomit.
– Prior to getting married, I was convinced that I would never get married because it was a useless concept. If commitment was genuine, a contract should be redundant. I ended up really wanting to get married and have kids, and I have no idea why. My former self would have really given me shit for that.
– I had no idea what it would be like to be a parent, so I had all kinds of ideas and beliefs about what my life would be like. I turned out to be an entirely different type of parent – one that I likely considered to be pathetic when I was younger.
There are also plenty of other positions that I held that I no longer do. I consider this a good thing. If there is a “me”, the “me” of 17 years old wouldn’t recognize “me” now. And I do not regret it at all. If “I” am the same person I am today in 10 years, I’ll be terribly disappointed. I look forward to becoming something I loathe today and realizing that it’s ok.