What would you have told your younger self?

londonsurrey

I'd love to be able to go back and tell the 16-20 year old me:

- floss
- get those braces
- learn to dance

- just because people are family and tell you that they love you, they don't actually have your best interests at heart
- learn to drive
- get on a DIY course


Things that went right:

- buying the house ASAP
- getting that mortgage deal that is now at 1%
- getting my eyes lasered (best thing ever - I can now walk in the rain and see where I'm going for the first time in over a quarter of a century)

- finally learning to dance (aged 39, "Ohhhh, THAT's what my hips can do!")
- taking time out from the hubbub of life to appreciate and chill with my cats (now look back with fondness at memories of pets gone, and know that I didn't waste my chances and time with them)

raven83

If I wrote a list, I would be here all night........

kingfisherblue

Save money, don't waste it!

Don't trust everything your husband says (I was married at 20, having known him for three years and engaged for two. He left me and the kids when I was 36 - it turned out he had been having affairs)

Don't eat for two when pregnant! It doesn't come off easily afterwards

I'm not sure what else though. I'd have to think about it.

What has gone well for me:

Three beautiful children. I wouldn't swap any of them for the world.

A better relationship with my sister. We fought terribly when we were kids/teens, but get along great now. She has been so supportive.

Learning to drive (age 30). I'm so glad I did - especially since my ex left. It has become essential for me, as one of my children is disabled and public transport is a nightmare.

Probably more as I am happy with life, but again, I can't think of anything at the moment. I'm too tired just now, and I'm heading for bed soon.

ZsaZsa

That credit cards aren't free money.

Puddleglum

I would ask myself what I want out of life and then explain that although marriage and children will work out ok (fingers crossed that they continue to do so), really that desire was imposed upon me by family and society and that there is a lot more that could be aimed for.

It probably won't stop me messing up at uni but that experience has made me who I am today. On second thoughts I'll let me from 30 years ago get on with it as she is - a bit battered but ok really!

meritaten

I think it would be - have faith in Myself - I can do it. Ignore those who put you down - they just cannot handle that you are more intelligent than them, and want to bring you down to their level.

cavework

Fags do become addictive and your Parents do actually know what they are talking about when they try to give you advice for the future.
Things that seem the end of the world at 16 are just a blip you have learned to deal with and shrug off by the time you are 40

morganedge

londonsurrey wrote: »

I'd love to be able to go back and tell the 16-20 year old me:


- get those braces

I regret not getting braces when I was 15 or so.

bright_side

I would have told myself to get counselling asap!!
and.........

Just because he wants to sleep with you, doesn't mean that he loves you, ya daft cow

I guess the two go hand in hand really :rotfl:

lostinrates

I wou
D warn my younger self : those things that they say might impact on yourhealth,.....well,they might be right.

Nice men really are better partners.

You cannot have it all, make choices, and you can channge your mind with some of those choices later.

Forget the course, get into the bedt uni you can what eve the subject.
The winning lottery ticket numbers for that rollover were......;)

valos_mummy

Just because you aren't stick thin it doesn't mean you're fat. When I think about the weight I was back then and the endless baggy t-shirts, long skirts and jumpers I'd cover myself in, even in the height of summer....arrrggh. If I weighed now what I weighed when I was 18/19 I'd wear nothing but skimpy little dresses, even in the height of winter :rotfl:

But back then, next to all the tall, lithe, swans at school I was a bit obsessed with how short and dumpy I was. I should have been less stressed about it, and had more fun