If you could go back in time and have a brief conversation with your 18 year old self.

[Chainfire]

And could only discuss generalities, not specifics, (not lottery numbers, stock tips or baseball scores), what advice, what few words of wisdom would you offer yourself?

I would tell myself, "It isn't always going to be easy, in fact some times it will be damn tough, but you will come through. You will neither acquire your wildest dreams, nor will you have to face your worst fears. Your loving marriage will last, you will raise good children, you will make it to old age and be modestly comfortable and content. Learn to forgive yourself for your shortcomings, do the right things, and do your best to enjoy the ride. And, no, don't worry, you will not become your father.

[PJMcK]

1. You're in for a helluva ride, kid

Buckle up!

It's going to blow your mind.

ETA: I've been graced with a pretty good life.

[Solly Mack]

2. I'd tell myself to leave and never come back.

[Ray Bruns]

3. And I would reply

“What are the dammed lottery numbers!?”

[Chainfire]

15. Ah, but you see, when I was 18, the lottery was called "the numbers" and it was illegal!

[Chainfire]

16. Ah, but you see, when I was 18, the lottery was called "the numbers" and it was illegal!

[NNadir]

4. "Spend every day of your life exposing yourself to something...

...about which you know nothing. Do not be intimidated by your ignorance, rather kill it."

[Kaleva]

27. I first thought you were advocating indecent exposure

[NNadir]

32. I can see how my wording might suggest that. Perhaps I should have said...

..."explore" would have been a better word.

I spent too much of my youth thinking I was abysmally stupid and that nothing could be done about it. It led to paralysis that was hard to shake off.

[BlueTsunami2018]

5. I'd tell myself to trust my instincts.

To go pursue your dreams instead of conforming to the capitalist grind. You might not make it, hell, you might die but die trying. Regret isn’t something you want to live with. Drop everything and go now.

[Trailrider1951]

6. I only have one thing to say to me

This: That handsome, charming, witty man is in reality a lying, cheating, abusive asshole who will make the rest of your life miserable; run away! Other than that, she did pretty good with the cards she was dealt.

[FirstLight]

9. +100

I'd definitely tell myself that ruining my opportunities for ANY guy would be the worst thing I could do!

If husband #1 hadn't happened, I probably would have never met or even given husband #2 the time of day!

[Karma13612]

19. I hear ya. Loud and clear. Eom

[Trueblue1968]

33. I only have one thing to say to me ::: DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL !!! Do not get involved with Dick.

he was a creep and he broke your heart.

gooooooooooooooooo finish your college instead

[Chainfire]

7. I tried that, but it got me arrested. ;)

[hunter]

8. Been there, done that.

That skinny little freak didn't listen to a damned thing I told him.

[Beatlelvr]

10. Go to college even if it scares you!

You don't have to marry ANYone. I had 3 beaus and thought, well, I have to pick one. No, I didn't. (I was 19) Picked the wrong one of course.

[Tree Lady]

34. Me too, go to college

Wait to get married and have kids. Pick a job with a pension one you can live with and stick to it.

I went from job to job and now have small amount of SS only. Thankfully husband I have been with for last 24 yrs has a decent pension so we mostly live on that. But I see couples who can afford better home and travel that have two pensions.

I would also tell myself quit religion now don't wait till your late 30's. Believe in yourself you don't need anyone to tell you what to do.

[Sneederbunk]

11. Who would listen to anybody at age 18?

[Demsrule86]

12. I would say stay away from guys with leather jackets, fast cars and motorcycles who hate

their mothers and who enjoy alcohol and drugs in moderation which is in the eye of the beholder.

[ret5hd]

13. Quit smoking. Don't get married till 30+.

Strippers aren’t as hot as you think. Nobody wins a fist fight…you always hurt the next day.

I could go on and on.

[nevergiveup]

14. I would tell myself

to never start smoking and never ever ever ever vote for a Republican. There are of course other things but these two are the first that come to mind.

[Karma13612]

17. Save more.

I did, but still not enuf.
Trust less until verified. Don’t settle.
Don’t go into Pharmacy. I did. You will hate it, and not have a life long fulfilling career. That’s right. Instead you will have several decade long careers with little or no pension. And they did not fulfill your true self.
Consider public service with a good pension. If only I had.
When that fella asks you to sail away with him, do it. (I didn’t in real life)
Make sure your soul mate doesn’t need your financial support. (He does and that has been a drag on me emotionally, psychologically, physically and financially.).

This might not have been what you had in mind for responses, but I’m in an honest mood today. My life has been exactly what I made of it. I own it, the good, the bad and the ugly. But, if I knew then what I know NOW, I would have completely re-worked every single portion of my life.

Sorry…….and I ‘m not asking for any sympathy. Every single day, I try to improve and accept and enjoy. It really is a constant struggle to stay engaged. I do fine on the surface, but underneath I still don’t know why I’m here.

[egduj]

18. Put a few bucks into a small company called Microsoft.

[brooklynite]

20. Nothing comes to mind...

I haven't had any particular challenges that call for advance guidance.

[luv2fly]

21. Take really good care of your body

'Cuz it doesn't get better over time.

[2 Meow Momma]

22. I would explain what regret is and to avoid it all costs.

And living with integrity will help in that endeavor.

[multigraincracker]

23. During my 18th year,

do not go to Tijuana.

[panader0]

28. I was 17. A place called 'The Blue Fox'. I was lucky, I've always been lucky. (knocks on wood)

I don't have enough time to list the lessons I would try to teach my 18 year old self.

[nitpicker]

24. Realize career choice one would be too physically demanding

And pick career choice 2.

And retire a year earlier.

((Wait, wait, I'd have missed out on matches on the Thrift Savings Plan...))

((And maybe not have done the CSRS/FERS transfer...))

((And missed out on the Down Under trip while I was still young enough to enjoy it...))

[Raven]

25. Quit smoking!

[ForgedCrank]

26. Wow, the

list would be quite long and Im pretty sure young me STILL wouldn't listen to a damned thing I told him.

1) She's almost here. When you see her, run the other way, as FAST as you can. She's the devil.
2) Racecars = imminent financial hardship, that first car is nothing but a gateway drug. Resist!
3) Listen to your dad, he's a lot smarter than you've ever given him credit for.
4) The cliff is higher than it looks, the short-lived adrenaline rush is NOT worth the pending consequences.

Man I could go on for a long time on this one.

[Kaleva]

29. After decades of darkness and misery, your life will turn out very well

[berniesandersmittens]

30. Me: Don't drink so much

Young Me: Fuck off


I'm 1000× a better person than I once was.

[HAB911]

31. NEVER have sex with the boss's girlfriend

[Kaleva]

35. I don't think I'd want to influence my 18 y/o self in anyway

I'm very happy where I am and believe , at age 63, that the best is still yet to come. A few or even just one change in my actions early on could prevent me from being where I am at now.

[Ptah]

36. Go to Yasgur's farm.

[hamsterjill]

37. I would tell myself to leave the country.

At that age, I could have done it. Now, it’s to late and I’m too old.

[Raine]

38. That my mother was right

after I told her that when I was grown up I could do anything I wanted and she said sadly "no you can't". I didn't believe her. I've since found out there's more rules when you're an adult then when you're a child.

[fightforfreedom]

39. My 17 year old self said this.

Live life to the fullest, don't hold back and die before you get old. I lived life to the fullest but I didn't die young. Oh well.

Now I am getting old and I hate it. My 17 year old self was no fool.

[MrsCoffee]

40. It's all about to slip through your hands.

Wake up. Study hard. Don’t quit.

[MurrayDelph]

41. Take better care of your knees

And don't let your father sell your Disney stock.

[ZERTErYNOthe]

42. So many things, most have been mentioned

Number 1: Save money EARLY, because of the miracle of compound interest.

Number 2: Health. Once you lose it you can never get it back.

Number 3: Friends and family. Family ages and dies far sooner than you expect, friends do the same unfortunately. I have no answers here. Treasure family and friends.

[Sympthsical]

43. "No one is thinking about you"

All those little slip ups or embarrassments or cringe moments you think about at night and live in mortal fear of making again are remembered by no one except you. They're too worried about you noticing their own embarrassments to spend time remembering yours.

So just go do what you want without worrying what people think.

[gratuitous]

44. Short and simple

Don't trust Tom.

It might or might not have made any difference, but I think it would have cushioned the blow.

[Meowmee]

45. Go back to Canada immediately!