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?

If I could travel back in time, I would take my 18 year-old self in my arms and tell her how proud I am of her, how much I love her, and how strong she is. (She hasn't been hugged since she was six when her mum died and has been utterly starved of affection since then.) I'd tell her that her dad will finally leave her abusive bitch of a stepmother one day, and that one day she will begin to heal.

I would tell her to believe in herself, to aim higher and that she is enough. To walk away from her toxic family set-up and never look back.

To nurture her friendships more, travel more, laugh more and not even think of settling down until she is 30.

To get a well-paid professional job with prospects and make sure she understands that financial independence is priceless.

That she should trust her intuition.

If I told her not to marry him I wouldn't have my children, so I won't. But in all honestly it was a mistake.

That man you’re about to meet? Go out with him, sure, give it a few years - no more. Use this relationship to decide what you actually want from relationships. It’s quite possible to leave home and go to university on your own. You’ll have a great time and meet lots of people who are like you. Don’t let small-town perceptions tell you that you can do no better than a half-hearted relationship and a dead-end job.

For the love of all that is holy, why the fuck are you getting so serious with your first 'real' boyfriend? You will end up cheating on him massively when you are stupid enough to get married one month after turning 21...

Stop trying to please your parents - they've never tried pleasing you. Move out and get your own place, there's something called 'housing benefit' and you will get a good job in less than a year anyway. You will be able to spend the night and go on holiday with your boyfriend, not like now when he isn't even allowed upstairs in your parent's house...

Wear sunblock on your face. EVERY DAY. You’ll be grateful you did 20 years from now.

Look after your teeth. Be obsessive about them.

Start running now. Don’t wait until you’re in your 30s.

That black henna is really not a good look.

Learn to drive now when it’s super easy.

Go out and have fun!

Go travelling and move away for uni!

(I met my husband at 17 and didn't really enjoy myself the way I should)

Don’t leave it too late to TTC
You are not fat
Get braces

I would tell myself to have confidence, stop tying yourself into knots wondering what people think of you , and try to take relationships with men lightly rather than treating every relationship like it’s the only thing in the world . Also to be far far nicer to mum as she won’t be around for as long as you think.

The person you meet in September, will still be standing beside you twelve years later . You can trust her more you think .

To live life to the full, when you are 29 something you love more than anything will come into your life and change it forever making you undateable, have no social life, lose your career and home.

He is a rapist.

Run

Forget the boys and go to school! Get a job and save your money. Always pay your bills on time. Have fun and no your worth!

Don't rush into marriage!

Don’t go to bed with someone who won’t go down on you.

Don't go to university now. You do have a say.

Don't date that bloke (my ex), and re-take A levels, followed by uni. In fact, go and do different A levels, you'll get a much better suited career and life. You have the ability to do A levels in one year.