If you could go back to yourself at an earlier time, what would you say to yourself?
It doesn't matter if it's a year ago or 30, is there something you would like to say to your younger self?
Maybe to make life easier, or maybe just more fun, it doesn't matter, is there anything?

Lotto numbers are not an acceptable answer

"Go with your gut: Skip college, be a builder. Go to college when the housing market collapses."

I would usually insert something smarmy here, but honestly there isn't much I would tell myself since it would most likely either go totally unheeded by my former self or would stop me from becoming the person I am.

That being said, I think I would like to go back and tell my former self what a monumental waste of money and time my college education has become.

"Be more confident in yourself, stupid!"

"And don't go to a college where you have to commute."

Leave a paper trail. It may cost hundreds of dollars to keep seeing the doctor and you may get nothing out of o but at least you'll be able to finish uni.....

I couldn't tell myself things if it would prevent me from becoming the person I am today. I'd rather go back and watch out for younger me during some of the sadder or tougher parts of my life.

I actually would not change a single thing in my life as I firmly believe that every decision and choice I have made has lead me to where I am now, and where I am is always right where I should be.

Midi - and everyone stating that their past life is what makes them the person they are now - that's the perfect thing to say.

Typically imperfect, though, I'm going to say that my life is so regret-laden that I would happily take a bulldozer to more or less the whole thing and start over.

"It's just panic attacks. Get medication, get an IUD and stay in fucking school!"

"Don't put so much stock into who you lose your virginity to, just go out there and have fun."

"Stop caring what the family and everyone else thinks and just be yourself. Burn all the bright girly clothes and stock up on the black clothes you've been dreaming about."

"Oh and your going to get the shit beat out of you tomorrow after school don't stand there and take it! Kick that blond haired short arsed bitch to the curb!!!"

Wolfie - so I'm not the only one that had that lovely beneficial side effect from an iud!

As for going back and changing things... Even though there is so very much that I could go back and change, I have to mirror Midi's sentiment and say I wouldn't. I don't believe in having regrets (life's too short for that shit) and I just know I wouldn't be where I'm at now if I changed even just one tiny thing.

However, on the chance that I would, I'd probably tell myself to be more self-confident. Don't let people get to me so much because 10 years from now, they won't even matter. And lastly, do NOT ever ever ever take Risperdal, no matter what!!

One thing I would tell myself would be:

"Stay in the military. A year before your ETS, start looking for someone who A) knows something, B) gives a shit. On the average military post, it will probably take that long to find them. Then look at the options they recommend. Do not waste time talking to a low life recruitment NCO or his slack Recruitment officer. These people are the "duds" of the unit, who get stuck there to get them out of the way where their f**kups will affect the fewest people. They neither know anything nor care anything about retaining people, so avoid them at all cost."

I didn't get one, that's why I would go back and do it if I could. They last for years(sometimes a decade) and would've helped a lot when I couldn't afford BC and wound up pregnant because my fiance(now husband) refused to wear condoms. Not that I regret having my kids, but if we could've held off even 3 more years things would've been so much better. I could've gone back to school in my early 20s instead of my thirties and my career would already be well on it's way.

Ahhh gotcha I was associating it with the "panic" part.

I don't even have the excuse of having kids or getting married. I still didn't end up going to school until I was 29 (and very close to 30). Oddly enough, it seems to be "the new norm" these days. I know SOOO many people in their 30s/40s that are in college now.

I have a friend that has five kids (had her first right before her 15th birthday - and he has spina bifida). Her life experience helped push her in the direction she is going now career/college-wise. She said she never ever would have been interested in being a special ed teacher or nurse before (she's kinda going back and forth between the two). She started going back to school shortly after I did, and she is my age too. Amazing how life can sway us in other major decisions. Which is part of why I say I refuse to have regrets myself

"Write down which band you just saw, because you will forget and lose track. While we are at it younger self, put down that spliff."