What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self?

[Guard Dog]

This led to an interesting discussion on another board. Let's see where this takes us. 

 

For the most part we're all getting up in the early middle years of life. If you could give advice to yourself at age 18 what would it be? Here is  mine. Emphasis on #1.

 

1. None of the things you now consider indispensable to live your life matter. It's the simplest things that will bring you the most joy.
2. Don't allow someone to make you second guess what you know is true.
3. Trust people to act in their own interests, especially when they conflict with yours. You will never be surprised that way.
4. Some problems are better endured or ignored than fixed. Choose your battles, not every hill is worth dying for.
5. If someone tells you Donald Trump might be President someday... don't laugh. That s--ts not funny. 

 

What would YOU say?

[Pidesco]

You don't have time to do what you want. Stop procrastinating.

 

Unsurprisingly, this is probably something my older self will want to tell my current self.

[Lexx]

Get your shait together and do something more productive.

 

On the other hand, my younger self would probably tell my older self to f off.

Edited September 26, 2016 by Lexx

[Fenixp]

On the other hand, my younger self would probably tell my older self to f off.

Our younger selves were ***holes. Edited September 26, 2016 by Fenixp

[Raithe]

Don't get distracted by.. oooh.. shiny!

Edited September 26, 2016 by Raithe

[Rosbjerg]

I don't think I could make myself understand what I would need to understand, as experience is really what has made the difference.

 

But I would probably ask myself to strive towards forgiveness - I was like most other teenagers very angry/emotional back then, but never allowed that anger to be expressed. As I didn't (and couldn't) understand what made me feel like I did.. but then those emotions also pushed me to achieve the understanding in the end. So how can one achieve one without the other? Perhaps I would simply talk to myself instead, would be interesting to hear what I had to say about where I am now - and vice versa.

 

I would totally give myself some pickup advice though hah

[Malcador]

There are no choices. Nothing but a straight line. The illusion comes afterwards, when you ask 'Why me?' and 'What if?' when you look back, see the branches, like a pruned bonsai tree, or a forked lightning. If you had done something differently, it wouldn't be you, it would be someone else looking back, asking a different set of questions.

But really I would say to study harder

[Gfted1]

"Pssst, Gfted1, invest in Apple."

[Meshugger]

1. Learning to let go: When love has died, just let it go and don't continue with a relationship pretending like you have forgotten or don't care.

2. Never embrace lazyness: If you are not doing anything, it's not because you're lazy, it's because you're have no outlook, no goals and no drive.

3. Don't stagnate as a person: Do something everyday that you otherwise do not do or is afraid to do; at the same time don't do things every day that you are accustomed to do. This is how you will overcome yourself, this is how character is built.

4. Never think that you can do it again some other time: Each and everyone of us is equal that we all experience life through glimpses of temporal moments; no one is different. Thus each and every moment is your last before the next and make use of it fully as you will never have it again.

5. Do not neglect your parents or relatives: One day you will find that you cannot talk to them anymore and all left unsaid is just that, left unsaid.

6. Learn the difference between love & lust: Love is to give your soul to someone else, lust is to satisfy your ego. Know this to avoid a life of degeneracy.

 

If i knew those things by 19, i wouldn't have spent 10 years of failed relationships, debauchery and aimless wondering.

[Nonek]

The days they turn into years, and still no tomorrow appears. I'd probably slap myself, point out that those I thought I could trust implicitly are self serving, selfish and unappreciative, then give a few words of advice on the wisdom of "Carpe Diem." I'd also encourage myself to be less noble and far more self interested. Sad really, i'm in the same boat as the First Incarnation.

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

If we're talking specfic: The lottery numbers for a 10+ million pot in a 2010, a list of people to avoid, see Bowie live of you can, and a good fitness routine.

 

If we're talking more general advice: Keep your body lean, your blood clean, and your mind sharp.

[Gorgon]

Borrow as much and you can and buy realestate just after the housing bubble burst. 

[Gorgon]

ohh yeah, the lottery thing would be easier. Although maybe I would turn into evil Marty Mcfly. 

[Hurlshort]

Of course there is some huge financial advice I'd impart on myself, like telling myself not to buy a condo right before the housing market collapse.  But on a more spiritual level, I don't know if I'd have much to say.  I mean, I have kids, so I already have younger versions of myself to give cryptic life advice to, but really I just want them to be happy.  My mistakes have been too closely tied to who I am today, and I'm happy with who I am, so I am not sure I would go back and fix them.

 

Except for buying that condo.  I'd skip that dumb part.  And maybe be smarter about car loans too.  

[ShadySands]

The owls are not what they seem

 

That should freak me out for a long time but other than playing cruel jokes on myself I'd probably just pass along financial advice

[aluminiumtrioxid]

 

1. Trust people to act in their own interests (...). You will never be surprised that way.

 

Oh my sweet summer child...

[HoonDing]

Kill yourself now.

[Wrath of Dagon]

I guess I haven't learned anything in all that time.

[Meshugger]

If we're talking specfic: The lottery numbers for a 10+ million pot in a 2010, a list of people to avoid, see Bowie live of you can, and a good fitness routine.

 

If we're talking more general advice: Keep your body lean, your blood clean, and your mind sharp.

 

My brother went to see him, and asked me to join, but i had a hangover and thought that i will see him the next time. 

 

He had a heart attack a month later and never toured again. Obvious reference to point 4, cool story bro and all that.

Edited September 26, 2016 by Meshugger

[pmp10]

Disregard education, acquire business contacts.

[Orogun01]

**** every living thing, you're going to work 8 to 6 later in your life.

[Namutree]

I'm basically satisfied with every decision I made. I guess I'd tell my 18 year-old self not to freak out over no kill xp in the Pillars of Eternity backer beta. Not my greatest moment. Probably my only real regret. Which gives you an idea of how mundane my life is (which is how I like it). Otherwise than that I'd say to stay the course.

[213374U]

Don't waste time arguing on the internet.

[Blarghagh]

Haha, I can agree with that one.

 

Seriously though, I'd tell myself that if you only do things that come easy, even when it feels like everything comes easy, it's going to bite you when only the hard things are left because you don't have the tools to deal with them.

[BruceVC]

This led to an interesting discussion on another board. Let's see where this takes us. 

 

For the most part we're all getting up in the early middle years of life. If you could give advice to yourself at age 18 what would it be? Here is  mine. Emphasis on #1.

 

1. None of the things you now consider indispensable to live your life matter. It's the simplest things that will bring you the most joy.
2. Don't allow someone to make you second guess what you know is true.
3. Trust people to act in their own interests, especially when they conflict with yours. You will never be surprised that way.
4. Some problems are better endured or ignored than fixed. Choose your battles, not every hill is worth dying for.
5. If someone tells you Donald Trump might be President someday... don't laugh. That s--ts not funny. 

 

What would YOU say?

1. Even if you know what is the best choice for someone you have to let people make there own minds up
2. There is a skill and art to explaining the truth to someone and coming across as condescending 
3. It doesnt really matter what strangers think, you should only  care  what your friends think
4. There will always be a biase and distrust towards the banking sector despite self regulation  and all the good it does
5. Money cannot make you happy, it can only buy you a quality of life which may make you happy