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Thread: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

  1. #1
    leedsveg
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    Default Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Looking back at yourself to when you were 16 years old, what advice do you wish you could now give the 16 year old 'you'?

    To 16 year old Ian (leedsveg), I would say:



    i) Think more about animals and their suffering.

    ii) Don't waste time with a girl called Pat, 'cos she'll only break your heart.

    iii) Learn to play the guitar.


    leedsveg:smile:

  2. #2
    Eat Y'self Fitter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    1. The whole vegan thing.

    2. Don't obsess over girls named Pat, Molly or otherwise they'll only waste your time and break your heart. (21 year old me could use that advice as well.)

    3. You never drove anywhere more then 10 miles when you were 16 you could of rode your bike everywhere like you do now. Especially to school. I lived 2 miles away and I drove my car. Thats so shameful to me now.

    4. Don't be fucking wuss. By that I mean I was incredibly shy at this age, if I went out of my way to be more social talk to girls etc. I wouldn't be so socially inept now.

  3. #3
    danaeonyx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    It will get easier.

    Start medication now.

    You are not fat.

    Study.

    You have OCD.

    Look in to veganism.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    1. Stop faffing and go vegan.
    2. Ditch the boyfriend, he's not worth it and doesn't treat you right
    3. Make the most of the time with mum, talk to her more. In a few years she'll be deaf and you're wish you could talk to her all the time.
    4. Tell your PSHE teacher to fuck off. He's wrong, you can be a writer and you will be.

    I'd also want to say well done to my 16 year old self and to keep trying. I wasn't as stupid as some of my friends were at my age, but I still had fun. I also had lots of issues but I got through them.

  5. #5
    fallingup's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    • Forget partying and men
    • Try your best at school and go to college and try your hardest there too
    • Make friends with mentally healthy people
    • Get a job and keep busy
    • You deserve respect. Don't hang with people who don't give it to you.

  6. #6

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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    1) Become a vegan. NOW.
    2) Move out of/run away from your dysfunctional home situation asap
    3) Have some fun
    4) Get some life experience
    5) Get your license
    6) Get a job
    7) Listen to your German teacher and major in it in college


  7. #7

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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    -take up yoga now, not in 15 years time

    would be my only advice

  8. #8
    Ex-admin Korn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Regarding starting to eat vegan:
    1) Don't compromise re. taste. This isn't meant to be any kind of sacrifice. If the food isn't as good as the food you're used to eat, learn how to make better meals.
    2) Accept that the transition may not happen over night, and don't even think of giving up permanently if you have some slips.
    3) Make sure you get meals that are nutrient rich and filling, make sure you get enough protein - and don't rely on rice and cooked vegetables too much.
    I will not eat anything that walks, swims, flies, runs, skips, hops or crawls.

  9. #9
    pearlgirl00
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    -be vegan
    -don't be so shy
    -learn how to really play the clarinet
    -don't date someone just to be dating someone
    -be proud of yourself

  10. #10

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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    - Stop bleating about farming conditions and continuing to eat animals - make the connection already!
    - Your mother has mental health problems. You can't fix her. You need to look after yourself.
    - Don't give up Irish classes. You'll feel closer to your heritage as you get older.
    - Boys are rubbish at 16. Stop trying to make them like you and wait until you meet some grown-ups.
    - The haircut doesn't suit you. Really. You'll look back at the photos and cringe.

  11. #11

    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    I was a bit of a shy girl at 16, which I still am at 31, I just hide it better I know full well though I'd not listen to my advice.


    • People don't realise you are crushing afraid of everything unless you tell them, which is odd because it's pretty much the default state of the human condition.
    • If you are going to stay on at school, you might as well actually study.
    • It's okay to put yourself first now and then, it's putting yourself only that's wrong
    • You will always have a crap relationship with your Mum. Talk to your sister about it, she experienced the same thing, and it's not your fault.
    • If you meet a bloke called Nick, avoid him. He really is the scum of the earth and things will end in bloodshed.
    • You aren't the only one who has been through darkness, hiding in the shadows is not the best way out.
    • Vegetarianism isn't really enough.
    Last edited by Ms_Derious; Mar 1st, 2010 at 09:16 AM. Reason: Formatting
    Quitting something because it's hard is wrong, and quitting something because it's wrong is hard. One takes cowardice, the other bravery.

  12. #12
    patientia
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    1. Do not by any chance go to the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. It might be called computer science, but there's no science there, just brain dumping. Study math instead.

    2. Print Robert Hare's Psychopathy checklist and carry it with you, don't fall for superficial charm/manipulativeness.

    3. You might lose best friends when they start envying you, it's OK, true friends will stick with you.

    4. Go vegan now. Don't eat dormitory food.

    5. Tell your mother now that if she hits you again, you'll hit back.

    Bonus: Don't drink that much alcohol. One drink a day is OK. People around you might seem less boring when you're drunk, but it destroys your neurons.

  13. #13

    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    -Go vegan
    -Choose your friends carefully
    -Think about universities outside Scotland. Argue with mum about doing the degree you actually want to do, instead of the one you're currently trapped in.
    -Start listening to the Dresden Dolls now, while people still know who they are
    -Avoid a certain Slovenian like the plague
    -It'll be happy later on, I swear.

  14. #14
    V for Veganica Sarabi's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    1. Read The Miracle of Mindfulness and get on with your life.
    2. StevePavlina.com
    3. Major in Culture & Politics
    4. I love you.
    "To become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana." - Buddha

  15. #15
    Fervent vegan DiaShel's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    - Be vegan
    -get active and stay active
    -don't go to binghamptom Uni
    -stop messing with boys not worth your time
    -be nicer to your parents
    -don't be dependent on others
    "To reduce suffering means to reduce the amount of ignorance, the basic affliction with us." -Thich Nhat Hanh

  16. #16
    BJJNick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    I'm going to go in the opposite direction that many of you went.

    Advice:

    "Nick, waste your time with MORE girls. Many many more girls!!"

    That's pretty much it.

  17. #17
    helen105281
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Helen, make the most of your friendship with Penny, she won't be around forever.

  18. #18
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Quote BJJNick View Post
    "Nick, waste your time with MORE girls. Many many more girls!!"
    Yes, actually I was thinking along the lines of "party as much as possible now and then you will have time to do some work when you get to college". I suppose if I'd done too much partying I wouldn't have got in, but there must have been a middle way.

    And go vegan, of course, although I'm sure I'd not heard of the concept back then.

  19. #19
    ♥♥♥ Tigerlily's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    -It's not your fault what happened to you
    -It's going to happen to you again, but it's not your fault, just avoid a boy named **** like the plague
    -Spend less time on the computer
    -Don't start binge eating, it will only get harder to stop once you're older
    -Don't smoke!
    -Go vegan earlier (I actually went vegan at 17)
    Peace, love, and happiness.

  20. #20
    cobweb
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    *you have Borderline Personality Disorder - it doesn't sound too good but it's not that scary, get some professional help and advice asap.
    *your body has to last you a long time, please be nice to it
    *make the most of your intelligence - it's ok to have fun but try to lay down some foundations for your future
    *try to see the bigger picture
    *alcohol is your enemy, not your friend

  21. #21
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    1. Try harder when you get to college.

    2. Speak to girls. They don't bite....unless you're lucky. Don't waste your time on Katy and Jo.

    3. Have that thing looked at. It'll save you 18 months of being housebound and you won't wind up severely depressed either.

    4. You'll follow Fugazi on tour many times. At a gig in Leeds look for a girl with long hair and glasses. It'll save you from meeting later on and you both won't have to keep wishing you'd found each other sooner.

    5. Oh and on June 13th 1990 at 11:27..... Duck.

  22. #22
    JC
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Quote Glen Lambert View Post

    5. Oh and on June 13th 1990 at 11:27..... Duck.
    ^ I literally LOL-ed at that one. (I apologise if it wasn't meant to be funny)

    I actually have no advice for myself at 16. I have no regrets. It's now that i feel i could do with some advice from a future me, but logically i'm pretty sure that's not going to happen, so i guess i'll just have to figure it out for myself. As in, my 2010 self.

  23. #23
    LiveVegan
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    1) Don't stay with someone just because he knocked you up.
    2) Don't compromise your values....ever, especially over a jerk. See above.

  24. #24
    CATWOMAN sandra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    I became vegetarian at 16............I would tell myself:-

    1. Go vegan instead.
    2. Don't date your driving instructor in 2 years time.
    3. Stop worrying so much........it NEVER does happen.
    4. Tell your mum and dad you love them every day.
    5. Don't be so shy.
    6. Don't worry about getting older (which back then meant 30 ) things
    actually get better with age.
    I like Sandra, she keeps making me giggle. Daft little lady - Frosty

  25. #25
    Cake Fairy Cherry's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    I think there are LOADS of things I'd do differently, but then things might not have worked out so well now.

  26. #26
    patientia
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Oh, I guess I should give her some lottery numbers, too.

  27. #27
    Divided by 0 MoonDance's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    1. Do your research and go vegan!
    2. Don't bother with a boy named Ruben. He doesn't love you.
    3. Cherish the time that you have at school and with your friends.
    4. Do some studying!
    5. Don't smoke!
    6. Cherish the time that you have with your guinea pig. He won't be around forever.
    7. When a boy named Damien enters your life, don't make friends. Run.
    8. Re evaluate your friendship with a certain 'best friend'
    I hate it when I'm studying and a velociraptor throws bananas on me.

  28. #28
    Can't cook. Sarah_'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    1. It's well and good that you went vegetarian, but it'd be better if you went vegan instead.

    2. Stop being such a depressing antisocial loner.

    3. Start running or something 'cause you're looking a bit fluffy round the middle.

    4. Stop wearing that hat.

    5. Go to class. Do your homework.

    6. Get over that one guy, 'cause it's never going to pan out 'cause he's secretly a homosexual.

    7. Punch a boy called Nick in the face in Econ.

    8. Make the most out of your relationship with your stepmother before she goes completely bonkers.

    9. Go to the clubs you signed up for (veggie club, yoga club, environment club, liberal youth of america, GSA). You will make friends.

    10. Don't go to your Senior prom. You will be miserable and you will see people having sex in close quarters with other people. It will make you angry and vomitus. Dress up in a prom dress and do your hair, and then sit around and watch horror movies all night instead.
    Either this wallpaper goes, or I do.

  29. #29

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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Quote Sarah_ View Post

    7. Punch a boy called Nick in the face in Econ.
    LOL! I love the idea of random violence followed up by "my future self told me to do that to you!".

  30. #30

    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    I wouldn't say a thing! I had a great time at 16.
    context is everything

  31. #31
    twinkle toes's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    * stay in college
    * hang around with positive people
    * don't do drugs

    sounds a bit 'save the last dance' doesn't it

  32. #32
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    I was a horror at 16. Here's advice for 16 year old Keeley...

    *Drink less
    *Enjoy life more rather than thinking about when you go to uni
    *Work harder on your maths A level, you really should have done better there
    *Don't get involved with Glen (disturbed) or Louis (breakes your heart)
    *You want to be a nurse so there is no point dong environmental chemistry
    *You are not fat and are attractive
    *Your friends do like you
    *You and your mum will be really close again so there is no point in arguing
    *Talk to your Dad and sister (she's growing up quickly)

    That's a lot of advice

  33. #33

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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    * Take better care of yourself because you can't count on anyone else to.
    * Stop caring so much about what Mom -- and everyone else -- says.
    * It'll get worse before it gets better, but you will survive.
    * You really will love fruits and veggies, it's just Mom's cooking and the local restaurants that suck.

    I wish I could tell my 16-year-old self to go vegan, but -- and maybe this is selfish -- I don't think I could have handled it with all I was going through and there's no way my mom would have supported it. As it stands, our relationship is pretty much done right now. Things really came to a head after I went vegan because she is all about using and eating animals and can't stand for anyone to disagree with her.

    I wouldn't want to really change anything, though. Even as bad as 16 was, and how bad some of the years were afterwards, I'm glad I am where I am now. I wouldn't want to jeopardize that.

  34. #34
    leedsveg
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Can I add another one to my list?

    iv) The only way you'll ever 'get your own back' is by pissing in the wind. (Might sound funny but it's true.)

    leedsveg
    Last edited by leedsveg; Mar 6th, 2010 at 10:52 AM. Reason: correction of Roman numeral-very sad!

  35. #35
    Kevin2's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    While there are many things I could have done better, my advice would be simply this: Have a POV.

  36. #36
    [LMNOP] ellaminnowpea's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Sarah_, you're list is soooooo great!


    What I think I needed to know:
    Stopppppp trying to be perfect. You're beautiful.
    “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” ~ Alcott

  37. #37
    Why hello! xwitchymagicx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Quote Cherry View Post
    I think there are LOADS of things I'd do differently, but then things might not have worked out so well now.
    I agree! If I hadn't have been miserable at 16...I may not be a more confident and independent as I am now!!!

    Plus I went vegan at 15 years old...so I can't really go vegan any earlier sensibly.
    "It's not that people suddenly start breeding like rabbits; it's just that people stopped dropping like flies" - population explosion

  38. #38
    [LMNOP] ellaminnowpea's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Oh, and 16 y.o. Sarah, don't go snowboarding in March!! You'll crash haaaaard, get a concussion, break a few vertebrae, and damage some nerves in your back and neck. And break a few other bones. That kid that cut you off on that double black diamond is a complete f****r.
    “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” ~ Alcott

  39. #39
    Loss's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    I decided to go vegetarian at 16, but I sort of rushed into it without knowing anything about how to get a balanced diet. It was the pre-internet era (:P) and I didn'tknow where to get information. I also didn't know much about farming etc, I just didn't want to eat the flesh of another living being, so I ended up eating loads of cheese (yuk). Sadly I soon gave in to my mother and settled for a part-time pescetarian diet (fish once a month or so. Gah. I even hated the taste of it, why did I do that?!)
    So, that's what I would say to myself:
    1. Learn to cook, so you can prepare tasty vegetarian food for your whole family. There's a whole world outside of Tomato-and-Lettuce Land.
    2. Don't be weak. Ethics are more important than avoiding quarrels. Also, friends that make fun of you for your moral choices aren't friends;
    3. As soon as you get an internet connection, find all the materials you need and go vegan!


    4.

  40. #40

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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    I'd give myself the beautiful advice I was given by a random stranger two months ago... "All in good time" and that would be that.

    It got a bit rough for me for a while there, but it's helped make me who I am, and I like me. Wouldn't change a thing (except, lol, I'd go vegan earlier...)

    xxx Lou

  41. #41

    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    - Brush and floss everyday!
    - Use sunscreen
    - Know that your mother ISN'T always right- she has deep emotional feelings too- teenage behavior hurts when you say you "hate them" and don't actually mean it.
    - a goldfish might be cheap, but its expensive and annoying to take care of. I had too many pets!!!!!! (my mice ate their kids...)
    - Don't forgive the girl over and over who stole everything from you, because she'll be your friend if you do (Biatchhhhhhhh- still to this day)
    - don't go to rotten.com
    -DONT GET INTO MMORPGS. what a waste of 4 years

  42. #42
    Hemlock's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Keep out of the sun and never smoke or let your weight fluctuate or by 40 your sagging skin will hang to your knees.

    Start putting money every month into a pension fund the minute you get your first job. If you wait until you are 40 there is no point bothering and you will be on the breadline for the last 40 years of your life.

    Never be satisfied with Mr 'ok' or 'nearly good enough' and never go out with dickheads - you will never change them and will waste the best years of your life on an idiot.

    Be happy and take chances, what is the point in having the fantastic luck of being born and being alive just to waste it all by working in a depressing call centre for 40 years.
    Silent but deadly :p

  43. #43

    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    I was vegan at 16, so I would tell my newly vegan self back then to be a healthier vegan and be nicer to your non-vegan family! Being angry and self-righteous is not the end of the world at that age, but it isn't the best thing either.

    And oh - I would introduce myself to nutritional yeast! I didn't know about nutr. yeast for my first couple years of being vegan. How did I survive?

  44. #44
    Tishy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    1. Open your eyes, go vegan.
    2. Every time something bad happens always think: Will it matter in 5 days? Will it matter in 5 weeks? Will it matter in 5 months? Because it makes you feel better.
    3. Say no to ******* in September.

  45. #45
    tombenarye1234
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    i don't really have any suggestions to myself...

    well, except of course for the winning lottery numbers [what? i'm a jew...that's our hobby]

  46. #46
    Johnstuff's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    I wouldn't dare influence my past in any way...Any change no matter how small could cause a chain of events that could really mess things up now.

    Also you may cause a time paradox that would unravel the fabric of the space-time continueum and destroy the universe

    Not really...I'm sure a few lottery numbers and nifty investments wouldn't hurt...

  47. #47

    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    You know, I think I would just say

    1. Keep being you

    2. Never be bored

    That is about it really, I enjoyed my teen years and did pretty well in my opinion.

  48. #48
    leedsveg
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Quote Johnstuff View Post
    I wouldn't dare influence my past in any way...Any change no matter how small could cause a chain of events that could really mess things up now.
    How do you know that you've not already returned from your future and influenced your past? Maybe things would have been really shitty otherwise!

    leedsveg

  49. #49
    Tishy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    *brain explodes*

  50. #50
    patientia
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    Default Re: Advice to a 16 year old 'you'?

    Quote leedsveg View Post
    How do you know that you've not already returned from your future and influenced your past? Maybe things would have been really shitty otherwise!
    Because it's impossible to travel to past. Luckily.

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