What would you say to your 18-year-old self?

[bearlyactive]

This has probably been done before, but a group chat of mine was talking about this earlier and I didn't know what to say!

What would you say?

Lose weight
Boys are not all that
If you want to join the police force, do it. Don’t listen to the doubters!

Don't go to university at 18, wait a year.

Go travelling then finish uni. Don't worry about having an LTR.

Don’t let him put his career/uni first.

Don’t move away.

Be more independent

Yes university is a bit of freedom away from your controlling mother but if you carry on in this way you won’t make it pass the first year. You will end up in a crappy college doing a crappy pointless course.

All through school you never had a boyfriend but all your friends did and that really affected your confidance & self esteem. So at 18 when he showed an interest in you, you immediately got sucked in. Don’t! You will waste 5 years of your young life.

Have more self esteem, and take that move abroad!

Pick a different career.
Don't get married.
Don't have kids.
Learn now that no one will ever really give a shit about you so you don't waste years hoping one day someone will.
Put yourself first.

Put as much distance as possible between you and your mother - she doesn't and never has had your best interests at heart, you'll never please her so don't waste your life trying.
Don't do law.
Don't overpluck your eyebrows.

LTB now. Right now. Fucking run.

You are not fat, you have an amazing figure as one day you will look back at long for that figure

To echo @Sevensilverrings

'don't carry your birth family's dysfunction - it is not your fault'
you are worth a fully committed relationship with a fully functioning adult: don't settle for anything less, certainly not the one you marry
be aware that if you have children you may lose your health & become their Carer at the same time (H will leave you as it is all too difficult)
NO ONE will ever 'have your back'. Face that fact now. And YES,
you will always feel like this, but stay alive, life IS worth living (mostly)

Leave that dickhead boyfriend, he will hold you back and waste ten years of your life.

Travel, instead. Go on your own if you have to - ask your Dad for ideas and he will probably lend you the money to go because he'll be so pleased you've dumped that loser and you're planning to see the world.

This eat what you want and still stay skinny thing won't last - learn to eat healthily now!

Dump the BF, sow your wild oats for a year then get back together - because in 20 years time he’ll still be around and you won’t be able to get rid of him
Only joking!

GO TO FUCKING SCHOOL

Or just take the exams! They're a piece of piss! FGS. Just do it. It's not a trick it really is that easy.

Stop over plucking your eyebrows

You're not fat, but you will be if you carry on eating and drinking like you do. Pack it in!

Stop smoking now, you're getting addicted and it's really hard to stop once it's ingrained

Be a bit kinder. There no need to be so blunt defensive all the time

Stop wasting money and spending over your means, getting out of a cycle of debt is very difficult

Work hard now and it'll pay off later

It'll all be ok in the end. One day you're going to have everything you dreamed of and more so stop worrying. It'll just take a while.

Although 18 year old me would have thought 36 year old me was ancient, past it, boring and would have told me to shut the fuck up, probably!

Don't marry your ex. Set your bar higher. Make more time to spend with your Dad, he will die soon.

Buy shares in a couple of unknown companies Apple and Amazon.
Get all the money you can and invest it in them just do it, you don't need all those clothes and shoes buy more shares.
You'll thank me for it in the future

You absolutely are worthwhile.

Stop worrying about what other people think. It's really not important.

Don't stay with boyfriends because you are scared of being on your own. Be with someone because you want to be with them. Don't go out with someone because they asked unless you want to go out with them too.

Study harder in final year uni.

Don't let your parents worries and fears become your worries and fears.

But the most important is that you are a worthy person. There is no evil or bad side to you that you have to keep hidden in case someone finds it. Despite all your mother says, you don't have that badness inside you.

Yes, move. Don't feel guilty, your parents won't notice you've gone

Yes he is worth it. Yes his family are all raging alcoholics and selfish as all go to hell. But he knows that too and the two of you together will be fine.

Oh, and you'll be really ill for a few years. He'll be great and the two of you will work through it all just fine.

You boyfriend is a dick - end it.

Do some work!

Trust your instincts. Don't put male feelings over female safety. Don't start thinking everything is problematic. Wait longer and buy the detached house. Research politicians before voting for them. Other than that, you're doing fine, keep going, it gets better. Also buy shares in hand sanitiser.

Don't get back together with your ex;the life he offers you might seem secure and what you think is attractive but it turns out to be a nightmare;it's all BS;you'll end up lonely and miserable and a victim of financial;verbal;emotional and occasionally over the years physical abuse.Run in the other direction;do not look back

Take up that place at university instead of getting pregnant by him;have a career;be happy and start a family with a man that'll be a half decent dad

When you go to job interviews and they ask what you do in your spare time, just make something up. They don’t really want to know.

I'd say crack on! It's going to be great. You know what you're doing so just have fun!