If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?

Question

Curmudgeon · Accepted Answer

Advice to younger teenage me:

1. It is NEVER too early to start a tax-free or tax deferred savings account. Even with a lame minimum wage teenager job and only able to put a small amount of dollars a week or month into it. The power of compounding over time is tremendous. You can even borrow from it without penalty in certain circumstances, like college or trade school.

2. In fact, you will learn more in an after school or weekend part time job, no matter how fast-food humble, than you will with most lame extracurricular activities at school, even if some of them are supposed to be good for college applications.

3. Speaking of which, college is overrated, especially if you enter "undeclared" and not sure of what you want to do with your life. There is no shame in spending "lower division" in a local community college and figuring it out. You can always transfer to Big (ger) Name University after that.

4. And to build on that, a serious degree, like Engineering, from a "lesser named" College or University is MUCH better than a "liberal arts" degree from Big Named University, let alone any "(Bogus) Studies" degree. Certain trade schools (provided they are very skilled) are great options too.

5. And to build on *that* so much of "higher learning" has turned into political indoctrination crap. Beware and be forewarned.

6. So you just turned 18 and are a frustrated and horny young man, rejected by bitchy girls your age? Try "Cougar Dating" apps and websites. Your awkwardness will even be endearing to an older divorcee. No, the relationships will definitely not lead to marriage and probably not last, but you will learn a lot about women, and about yourself.

7. You are not as ugly as you think you are, gawky skinny build and acne notwithstanding. And there are measures you can take to reduce the latter.

8. If you need to focus and stay awake through a dreary class lecture or studying, a combination of one or two "Bronkaid" asthma or sinus tablets, one or two caffeine pills, and one or two aspirin will work wonders. No more than that. And all can be purchased over the counter at the local drugstore. If you can get ADHD and certain antidepressant medicine prescribed (the ones that are forms of legal amphetamine), even better. Use sparingly and only as directed. Sip them down with your coffee or tea.

Advice to 20 something post graduate me:

1. Just keep your head down and be diligent in the office, assuming you have an office job.

2. That lame "adult contemporary" music on certain radio stations DOES in fact have a purpose, to make the work day go by less dreary. Listening to radio talk shows is probably a bad idea at work if the news events just get you upset.

3. NEVER date co-workers if the job is a serious professional one. If you are a temp or the position is not a career at all, taking your shot with an attractive lady probably won't be the end of the world, but if this is your full time occupation and a career, NEVER. I suppose you could get a phone number or email address if you have just been promoted and you are on your way out and upward, but otherwise, NEVER.

4. See #8 above for teenagers (and college age) if the job requires serious focus.

Advice to 30 something me:

1. Do you want children? Think it through, as the clock of Life is running.

2. If you are dating women of like age, their "biological clock" alarms are going off, as it is "use it or lose it" time for their eggs, and they likely will want babies. If you do too and you can pair up and actually have a good wife, great.

3. But if you are just not ready yet, date younger women. And if you definitely don't, go younger or older (the "twentysomething or fortysomething split")

HighValue · Accepted Answer

I'd tell my younger self how physically capable I really am and to work on it more at an earlier age and get into sports because once I am older and finally take an interest in sports, even if I am more physically capable than some of the pro athletes, there is no chance of playing at this age starting out new.

Account · Accepted Answer

"It gets better, I promise. Keep trying and do not second guess yourself, no matter how many times you might fail."

rachel776 · Accepted Answer

i still am my younger self so nothing yet 🤷‍♀️

Sonorous · Answer

I'd inform younger me about my current disadvantages & issues & say how he can likely avoid them. For instance, I'd tell him that his nervous system is prone to hyperacusis, so he'd really benefit from wearing hearing protection & letting others know about his condition in detail so that they don't think he's over reacting like people usually think when someone has pain they cannot see.

ohsheeT · Answer

I would say this is so important that you have to put everything on hold and your life is going to turn out beautiful for you for your family for your kids for the way you want things to be is exactly the way they're going to be but there's something more important there are going to be a hundred billion kids out there not getting an education their parents are going to tell them if you need to go to school you need to learn as much as you can about politics and you need to change the world because we have been bought and sold like cattle and America is being stripped of everything because of our government you need to make choices and you need to quit thinking about yourself right now and think about other people and do this. The sad part is none of that happened because I forgot to go talk to myself I didn't have that opportunity and I really wish I would have something nice to change cuz we're going downhill quickly I hope there are people out there that will read this and say I am that person that can do this and they do it for all of our kids or grandkids their kids their grandkids because kids are stripped of all the rights their government is taking away learning programs for kids look at the country of Japan in China they invest so much into their children and we are going nowhere with our children

Effably · Answer

Realistically of course, I'd share bits and pieces of the future.

In my case, this is easier. Since little, 12 or so, I had a phrase I settled on. And an explanation to it. 12 year old me made up his mind that if he hears that, he'll do or say anything. I figure I could just hack myself that way. Even if not sharing any future stuff I could convert younger me to a fanatic at whatever I please. Seems a little cruel, but I reckon I'd appreciate the joke eventually.

pierre7i · Answer

I'd actually tell my younger hard penis that it needs to be sexually discerning and to always treasure the beautiful sexual sensations it's going to experience when it's invited inside the lovely girls I meet !

CuriousMoonFox · Answer

Many things but none of them would change a thing. Even if I learned that something will turn out to be a mistake I would still want to make it. To put it in the words of a famous captain: "I need my pain to know who I am."

Snowbunnyalex · Answer

I would tell myself to invest every dollar to my name in bitcoin. I would also tell myself to take care of me first and not be so eager to put others needs/wants before my own.

stark04 · Answer

Invest invest invest motherucker invest your fucking money. re-state//background_color_rgba (0, 0, 0, 0), font_color_rgb (77, 77, 77), justifyLeft

exitseven · Answer

I would tell him the winner of the World Series for the next ten years.

DJB72 · Answer

Nothing. Anything I said would change who I am today.

Likes2drive · Answer

To save more money and always go with your first decisions because they were the best ones and not sell my first house

BobbieBoy666 · Answer

I would go back to Feb 28, 2005  Talk to myself and stop myself from hiring into Kroger's. 🚫

Danny_dan92 · Answer

Don’t be a dumbfuck and think before you make decisions

Jakefromstatefarm6 · Answer

Finish my college degree, and oh here's the winning lotto numbers for this year

call_me_scar · Answer

Invest like hell when covid starts then put it in Bitcoin

andy530 · Answer

Take risks, don’t settle, sort out what is really important to you earlier

Anonymous · Answer

Don't be a fool and think that she could ever love someone like you. Don't be a fool and fall for someone, you're not good enough. Just focus on your career

Amndwu · Answer

to stay away from specific people so i wouldn't have to get hurt like i did

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

I'd tell myself that whatever I start make sure you finish it

Anonymous · Answer

Get the surgery, life is so much better as your true self

XPhoenixX · Answer

I would tell myself to be more yourself, not to stress over things.

katiesmuff · Answer

My goodness how much time do you have to listen.🤣

4ngelic · Answer

study hard, be nicer to your parents

midnightmoon05 · Answer

Continue doing what you are doing.!

Agape93 · Answer

Fucking kill him. Nobody's gonna help.

AhmetHasanCan · Answer

buy land, just buy land

bowenw · Answer

Don't be afraid to talk to girls.

CarolinaGirl5 · Answer

NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK!

Graptemys79 · Answer

How's it going?

msc545 · Answer

Do NOT get married ever!

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Avoid fugly broads!!!

kaucky1 · Answer

Keep Mysto away from the rest

eagle1951 · Answer

stay in school

Yannae · Answer

Who to bet on.

Sofie01 · Answer

It’ll get better.

If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?

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