From Caterpillar to Butterfly: What Would Your Past Self Think of 2025?

Question and Thought for the Day March 5, 2025

Question of the Day: If you could bring your past self to the future, what would they be most surprised about in 2025?

Thought of the Day: The caterpillar calls it the end; the butterfly calls it the beginning.

The caterpillar thinks it’s over. The butterfly knows it’s just beginning.

How many times in life have we thought we were at the end, only to realize later that we were simply at the edge of transformation? Change is hard, often messy, and rarely feels like progress when you’re in the middle of it. But from the other side? It’s a whole different perspective.

Now imagine if your past self—the you from five, ten, or even twenty years ago—suddenly woke up in 2025. What would they think? Would they be awestruck by the changes, or completely overwhelmed? Would they see your life and recognize it as something they even imagined was possible?

Think about it. In 2025, AI is everywhere, cars drive themselves (mostly), and cash is becoming a relic of the past. Social norms have shifted, technology has reshaped how we work, and even the way we communicate has changed. But beyond all of that—what about you? What would your younger self be shocked by in your own life?

Maybe they’d be surprised at the way you’ve grown—how the things you used to fear don’t seem so big anymore. Maybe they’d be amazed at the opportunities you’ve had, the relationships you’ve built, or even the way you’ve learned to let go of things that used to keep you up at night.

Or maybe… they’d be a little disappointed. Maybe there’s something you let go of that they’d want you to fight for again.

Either way, the real question is this: If your past self saw you today, would they see a caterpillar or a butterfly? And if they only saw the caterpillar, what can you do today to remind them (and yourself) that the transformation isn’t over yet?

So, if you could sit down with your past self and tell them about 2025, what’s the one thing that would blow their mind?

Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s talk about it.