What's something you wish someone would have told you about life?

[ThatFraggle]

If you could go back in time with that knowledge, what would the knowledge be?

That you don't have to hide your imperfections. Everyone has their quirks. It's fine to be different.

This would probably have changed my life.

Children break your heart and ruin your pelvic floor.

It is ok to prioritise your own well being and mental health. It is not selfish.

To go and do everything your heart desires when you are young because when you hit 50 perimenopause will eat you alive and take away the person you once knew so well and replace it with a shell of your former self.

Choose who you have children with VERY carefully.

Don't worry about what other people think.

That you aren't meant to be happy all the time.

Don’t get fat
Marry well as far as you can (ie kind interesting not mental and your own equivalent)
Move to London when young

Baby groups are for the mum not baby why did I endure the hell of baby swimming? Utterly pointless

Wow, so many things.

Don't waste time in shitty relationships, you can leave and you'll be fine!

Stop thinking about what you 'should' be doing and start doing what you WANT to do

Stop caring what other people think

Learn a trade / get a degree in something that will help you travel in the future.

Stop losing and regaining the same 2st 😂

You don't have to do things you don't want to. Put yourself first.

Drink more water.

Always brush your teeth.

Don’t take everything so seriously.

If they want to do it, they’ll do it.

Save at least 25% of everything you earn.

Take advantage of the low interest rates and low deposit mortgages and buy a house. Mid 20s, we just didn't want that commitment, then a few things happened and we missed the chance. Now we're here.

I could have had paid leave from work during the first lockdown. Not sick pay, not annual leave, just because dependants made working from home difficult. No one told me and I struggled so much and was in tears numerous times most days with a just turned 3 and 5 year old trying to work. It was absolutely awful and I didn't need to do it.

That being an adult is unrelentingly shit and stressful.

You can combine travelling and being free and having fun while young with saving and buying a property and setting yourself up for the future. I’ve had a wonderful youth, but playing catch up now I’ve hit 40!

That no one really knows what they are doing and everyone is fucked up in their own way

Don't waste your money in your twenties, save as much as possible as you'll appreciate it in your thirties.

Start exercising at a young age. It's good for your mental health and of course your physical health.

Don't drink so much in your teens 🤣

Most work or education commitments can be worked around but opportunities to visit family or to be part of a milestone moment of somebody’s is much more important.

if someone hasn’t been in contact phone them

everyone has their own crap

sleep is so important

sitting down and chatting with elderly people about their past is as brilliant for you as them

all children ever really want is someone to listen to them and play with!

to learn to swim

there are more ice cream flavours than vanilla!

grief will always be in the background but it definitely lessens over time

Choose who you hitch your wagon to very, very carefully.

Don't expect opportunities to just appear.
If you want to do something, you are the one that needs to make it happen.

Wear suncream on your face everyday from an early age

Don’t marry the first seemingly nice man who comes along. Nice isnt all that it seems.
Dont give up work to look after your children, you’ll be screwed when the ‘nice’ man f’s you over in divorce court.
Stop people pleasing and learn who you are and what YOU want
Its easier to lose that extra 3 stone than you think, therapy to address the emotional overeating might be the best money you ever spend for your overall health.

Start paying into a pension as soon as you get your first job.

Pay the max into your pension from the get go - there is so much free money you miss out on otherwise

That the type A teachers pets often grow into type A jobsworths. Be careful not to fall into a career full of them.

Don't waste time sweating in the gym instead of finding ways to exercise you enjoy.

Travel Travel Travel

Don't get fat. It's hard to lose it.
Don't get married
Have more sex with more people.
Keep at least a bit fit!
Do a degree that will be more useful in life.
Overpay your mortgage if you can.

Do it when you are young. You'll only get more sensible and scared. So just do it.

Don’t start smoking.

Do exercise
Don’t get fat