^ Unless it's only possible to travel forward.
"To reduce suffering means to reduce the amount of ignorance, the basic affliction with us." -Thich Nhat Hanh
If somebody claims they are you from the future, at least do a DNA test.
I would say to that geeky 16 year old:
-Don't lose touch with your friends, keep all of them in your address book.
-Take as many classes as you can, look into more college courses.
-Skiing is really not your thing, just bring a good book when your son says he wants to learn.
-Your son will be shy, just like you, give him lots of extra attention. Get him interested in musical instruments as early as possible, he's got talent.
-Your Dad is not the man you think he is, take him off the pedistal!
-Don't worry about being underweight, someday the weight will find you.
-Don't worry about being broke, you ain't seen nothin' yet, and along that line, please think twice about spending your hard earned money.
That would be my advice to my 16 year old self.
Cows milk for baby cows, Human milk for baby humans.
16 year olds don't usually take any notice of advice anyway
I sure didn't... but if it was from myself I might.
Last edited by RubyDuby; Mar 15th, 2010 at 05:41 PM. Reason: added
Each snowflake in an avalanche pleads not guilty.
One good thing about being a parent is you get the chance to help your kids avoid the pitfalls you fell into yourself...my kids were way more 'well-adjusted' at 16 than I was. Maybe that has something to do with being brought up vegan and home educated, I don't know. But I do know I've had a lot less worry and trouble with them than my parents had with me! I feel very grateful for that.
once in a while you can get shown the light
in the strangest of places if you look at it right
-You may be homeless now but it won't always be that way.
-Don't do that, they'll lock you up but if you still do, don't worry you will learn from it.
-Get off the drugs, they will effect you for a long time even when you do quit and you'll sell too much stuff to pawn shops in the meantime.
-Become Vegan again. Don't let those memories of lentil patties every night by your non-understanding mother put you off.
-Slow down.
-That guy who said to wait until your 20's to get a motorcycle license, good advice, take it.
-Stay in touch with your dad.
-In a few years you will meet a girl. It will be a long but rocky relationship, you learn a lot from it but for 8 years you'll be stuck in a rut and that's 8 years of your life that you'll never get back. How you use this information is up to you.
-Find something to interest you and regularly maintain the interests you already have. Never lose sight of your dreams because no matter how old you become or worn out by life and world weary, no matter how outrageous or difficult things may seem, these are the things that will ground you again. Take a moment with them.
-Stop worrying, it'll all come out in the wash.
Interesting how some of you would say so much and others nothing. Also some of you are really nice to your younger selves and some of you are kind of harsh. Haha.
Anyway, these are the things I would say to myself...
- Research veganism, trust me it's for you. And it's one of the greatest things you will ever do! (I was already vegetarian and became vegan when I was 17 but the sooner the better!)
- Exercise everyday, you will have more energy throughout the day, sleep better at night, wake up fresher, and feel better emotionally, mentally, and physically altogether.
- Get a job, it will give you more independence and freedom, you'll meet new people, and you're really gonna need it for when you get kicked out of home soon.
- Be nicer to yourself.
- Be nicer to other people.
- Eat, say, think, wear, listen to, read, etc. whatever you think is right for you. You've always known you're an individual, time to embrace it.
- Try harder at school, the work is easy for you, so why not actually go? It will make it simpler for things you want to do in the future.
- Also most people you are attracted to in terms of friendship/romantic relationships, are usually not the nicest or most reliable types. Come to terms with this now. I'm not going to tell you to make 'nicer' or more 'normal' friends, you can't help who you like. I'm still dealing with this, just accept that if you surround yourself with emotionally unstable or extremely selfish or needy people, it's going to be an emotional roller-coaster ride for you. And I've learnt in recent times 'nice + normal' people can be really good friends, and not as boring and/or shallow as you might originally have thought. Just keep this in mind.
Oddly enough, that was kind of cathartic. Hehe.
Live honourably by becoming what you pretend to be. - Socrates
Indeedies.
Haha. We probably all did.
Live honourably by becoming what you pretend to be. - Socrates
I don't really have regrets, though there are lots of things I didn't do when I was 16 because I didn't dare to, but I did it all when I was 17-20.
Mainly:
1) Screw mainstream education, it's not for you.
2) You can't make other people's lives right, EVER. Only your own.
3) Stop being scared of your own wits and courage.
I doubt I'd listen but:
- Stop trying to be something you're not.
- Don't listen to those doctors and therapists, they just don't want to admit they don't know.
- Don't bother doing all that homework, at the end of the school year they'll make you quit school anyway. Go read some books instead.
- You don't have to eat beans or tofu every day, you can try something else once in a while.
I'd probably give the 16yr old me a good kick in the pants yabbies If I could.
-drop out of high school and get a GED
-respect your parents, staying with them will get you financially independent, and they love you
-go to community college for a year, work, save up money, become independent
-move out to Laffy, and start a new life
-have fun! see everything! DO STUFF!!
-don't tie yourself down. something awesome will find you soon enough.
-go see as many concerts as you can!
^I know! But apparently there's other food out there that's pretty good too
my advice to my 16 year old self would be
1) don't sweat it - it will all work ouot
2) don't worry that you don't fit in. Don't even try to fit in. You can't and it will just make you miserable
and lastly - 3) don't procrastinate. It will just stress you out (actually my 31 year old self should still listen to that piece of advice!)
or it's possible to travel back in time, but not to our time.
some professor here in israel said it is theoretically possible to move back in time, but only to places and times where you've started a wormhole (or something like this). the reason no one came back to our time is that no one created a wormhole.
1. Be more confident, and stand up for yourself.
2. Realise when you've got a good thing, and keep hold of it.
3. Be less selfish.
4. Work harder at college.
5. Go to uni at 18 - otherwise you'll be studying til you're 30.
6. And study law, not psychology - it'll save you £6,000 and a whole year.
7. Stop caring so much what others think.
8. Coffee IS addictive, and you will never be able to wean yourself away if you start.
9. Learn to like and respect yourself, and don't let some tosser called Richard affect the way you feel about yourself for years to come (or anyone else for that matter).
10. Get organised and stop procrastinating!
And of course, go vegan!
"Born on the same planet, Covered by the same skies..."
Let's see...
Check out veganism. It's rad. Start with post-punk kitchen, I know it's up your alley.
Kissing girls is fine. You're going to end dating boys anyway, so you might as well practice in the meantime.
Terry will be a waste of time. Don't get attached. But move to Calgary anyway, even though you don't need an excuse to break up with him now.
Drugs are bad for you, but you know that. Whatever...you'll learn from it.
DO NOT START SMOKING!!! QUITTING SUCKS AND YOU WILL QUIT. TRUST ME.
You will definitely be terribly confused for the next five years and go through really awful things and have your heart broken. But I saw it coming, so you will too. Fear not. Just do what you do, keep trying, you WILL end up in a program you like and you WILL meet the most incredible boy. Give it time. Have fun in the meantime, even when things are bad. Your best (albeit most depressing) artwork, most educational life experiences and craziest stories will come from it.
I want to say that:
1. become a vegan! now!
2. do not skip school or date that boy, he is such a jerk and awful person, you would meet the man of your dream 2 years later, so why waste time on this guy?
yea, my teenage eyars were full of my stupid decisions and actions, so if time can turn back I would like to be a more wise person and study harder in school
Having already posted my advice, I must add that when I look back on my life, and especially where I was at certain ages, there are so many things that I'd like hypothetically to have not gone through. I think I'd have wanted to make better decisiions, and a heads up on which boys to avoid would have been cool.
But then it occurs to me that any change I might make, no matter how small, could vastly alter who I am today and where I am today.
Sure it would have been nice not to have my heart broken, struggled with quitting smoking or had so many god-awful jobs, but if I took that out of my life I wouldn't be half as tough as I am now. And I might not have met the love of my life. As nice as it would be to avoid the emotional complexes that have come from a really rough few years, I don't think I'd trade it for the world.
^ Here, here! You sound like a real trooper Lacey, and that's something to be very proud of.
I hate it when I'm studying and a velociraptor throws bananas on me.
Aw. Thank you. Just stuff you learn from being alive, getting screwed over and refusing to give up. I've been blessed with a mother that gives excellent advice.
No worries. That's great that your mother gives you excellent advice.
I hate it when I'm studying and a velociraptor throws bananas on me.
At the end of the day, I couldn't agree more with this. Sometimes I look back on the last 10 years and cringe at the way I behaved/the things I did/decisions I made. But I also acknowledge how different things might be now if I hadn't made those "mistakes" - for both myself and others
I've learnt and grown from my mistakes. Not always, but then even weaknesses can be a strength sometimes (i.e. in developing a better understanding of others, being able to emphasise with and help others). If that makes any sense...
"Born on the same planet, Covered by the same skies..."
^ I kind of agree.
But I'd already gone through some of the toughest times of my life at that stage. And I didn't tell myself to not do things, that in retrospect were wrong or stupid, because I know I learnt from them. I only sort of gave mysellf tips about things I should do, that would make things a bit easier.
But it is very true, if you were change minor things about yourself in the past, it's possible you would be a very different person today, and not necessarily for the better.
Live honourably by becoming what you pretend to be. - Socrates
^^Exactly. And furthermore, I suppose most people don't really think about it from this point of view, but it's also important to note how much of an impact you probably made on other people's lives, just because of the way yours was. I think maybe we are supposed to meet certain people, and have certain experiences with them (no matter how seemingly insignificant) because of the way that those things will affect who they are as well.
Butterfly effect kind of a thing, y'know?
^ Yah, makes sense.
Live honourably by becoming what you pretend to be. - Socrates
- Don't worry, life doesn't end at 20. In fact, the world you live in is just a make-believe, miserable parody of real life. Your life will greatly improve during your twenties, and get even better in your thirties.
- The staunch atheism and proud meat-consumption that you cling to so dearly will both fail you. I know this must sound scandalous, so I won't say any more. Just trust me that you'll eventually be happier than you've ever been. When you feel the change coming, embrace it.
- Get dreads. You always liked them, and you'll regret not getting them when you're bald! In fact go nuts, get earrings, body piercings, become a Goth, whatever you like. Just don't get tattoos for at least 10 years.
- Explore your creative side more, and get back to computer graphics and drawing. You'll love it one day, and the more you do it now, the better you'll be at it at my age.
- Stop listening to all that guitar music - this grunge thing isn't really you, and deep down, you know it. Go and buy a Massive Attack CD, find out about something called Goa Trance, and look out for a CD by someone called "Shpongle" when it comes out in a year or two. You'll love it.
- That fiery, impulsive passion you have that makes you tightly wound and good in arguments? That's called anxiety. It's not as cool as you think. Relax a bit.
- You have a decent amount of integrity, and a strong determination to forge your own path in life. You should feel really good about that, and know that it'll put you in a much better boat than a lot of other people.
I read this a couple of days ago but thinking of my list of advice made me very sad and depressed about me at 16 and thinking about what I could have done but then I realised I have done lots of stuff I'm proud of so heres my message to me
1) You will marry a wonderful man who will truly love you and be your best friend, will love all the weird things about you.
2) You will leave home and live somewhere safe and loving before you marry.
3) You will find good jobs that you enjoy and have the courage to leave when you stop enjoying them
4) You will get lots of counselling which will help you see you had a horrible childhood, were innocent and will be much stronger.
5) You will go to lots of festivals, sing in a band and do fun stuff.
6) You will still be friends with people you know now.
7) You will forgive and become friends with your sister.
8) Both parents will lose any power you think they have.
9) You will be happy, and still more than a little weird but thats a good thing.
That's a lot of predictions, what if the act of finding that out changes the outcome?
I'm not 16 yet, so I wont bother giving myself advice! :P
"Life is life – whether in a cat, or dog or man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man’s own advantage."
Maybe you could use other people's advices to themselves
Embrace your weirdness
Be vegan
Realize that Nicole is the warmest, kindest, strangest, most in-tune person to you and treat her as such!
Don't let your parents hinder you
Devote yourself more to what you care about and don't feel like a lack of money should stand in the way
Stand up for your beliefs and tell your parents you don't agree with "training" horses and you won't take part in doing so any longer!
Be more adventurous
X
1) You are beautiful and people care about you.
2) Smile more, find delight in the things that delight you.
3) For goodness sake, put down the horrible food, you know it's not good for you.
4) Go back to eating veggie, remember, you LIKED it when you tried it.
5) Laugh. Please laugh more.
6) Don't fall for one person for ever, think about why you do things.
7) The person you love the most is right under your fingertips.
I was horribly depressed when I was 16, horrible issues with body-image, eating, and just a general wreck of the world.
I'd love to say that I'm past that, but geez, it's been a long journey and it aint over yet!
I love your number 7 Torio!
I like Sandra, she keeps making me giggle. Daft little lady - Frosty
Thanks Sandra, I met a friend online 11 years ago, 11 years later, one long-term relationship and broken engagement (that's me) and one losing touch with the other because of stupidity (that's him)...We're together, albeit long-distance, but incredibly incredibly happy.
If I could tell myself then that falling in love with him was an okay thing to do, I totally would've, instead of tearing myself up about it while engaged!
I would say: To be a vegan you're gonna have to eat some vegetables!
^ What are vegetables? Are they those evil things that grow in the ground?
I hate it when I'm studying and a velociraptor throws bananas on me.
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