AIBU To ask what you would tell a younger you?

[Diel]

I stumbled upon a photograph of me as a teenager. It got me wondering what I wish I could have known then.

Don't be so flattered by male attention...it doesn't make you special unless it is the right attention.

Plan a little bit more for the future

You are as good as anyone else. Don't apologise for being you.

Enjoy the freedom of being young.

What would you say?

Don't be in such a rush to grow up! Just enjoy life while you are young and have responsibilities.

Get off the sofa, stop spending your time watching TV. Get a hobby..... get several hobbies!!!!
You have tons of interests just do it and don't worry so much what others think!

Don't waste so much money!!!! Seriously!!! You do not need to blow £100's on every shopping spree you go on! It won't make people like you more.

Don't buy the flat, it's a money pit!!! In fact don't move at all. Stay at home save save save and once the recession has passed then buy!

Think that's all !

Having recently seen a home video of myself from 1997 when I was 16, I would tell myself the following:

You are NOT FAT!!! In fact, you're pretty hot. Make the most of it, be confident. Get into exercise now and then it won't be such a chore when you're nearly 40. In a couple of years, they invent a thing called HAIR STRAIGHTENERS. So don't worry, your hair won't always look so shit. Don't worry, your stutter will disappear in a few years time, you won't be so shy forever, you have lots of interesting things to say so just say them. Appreciate your grandparents, you're really going to miss them when they're gone. You will find someone who loves you and he's lovely.

Take your mum's advice with a pinch of salt. Invest more in your friends and less in men. Stop people pleasing and accommodating twats in your life. And for the love of God.... Do. Not. Discover. Alcohol as a medication for anxiety. It'll cause you a decade of hell.

You’re not fat, you really aren’t.

Don’t give up on maths which you are actually quite good at just because your new gcse maths teacher is a male misogynist who ignores your direct questions and won’t explain where you went wrong on a problem because he doesn’t believe there’s any point in girls studying A level maths. You don’t know this yet but you deserve to be taught just as much as the male students. Trust me this will be a lifelong regret.

You're right. Life IS shit.

Do everything the same except don’t buy all the stuff. Moving house every two years with it all will be hideous, and you don’t need most of. Save the money instead.

Oh so many things! Don't get store cards, they lead to years of frightening debt. Learn to drive when you are young, it gets harder when you're older. Don't have a boyfriend in university, be free and ahem joyful! Travel lots when you have no responsibilities. Enjoy being young and slim and carefree

You're bloody lovely, ignore the shitty, bullying behaviour, especially from so called 'step-grandad' who said I was too ugly to have a boyfriend or husband........yeah you were a catch too with your greasy hair, leathery skin, bandy legs, false teeth and lazy eye
Wish I could turn back time, to tell him he was totally wrong

If it feels wrong, it is wrong.
Don't stick at a relationship because your mum always told you you were a quitter.
Leave the bastard.
You deserve better.
When the bullying reaches physical violence, get out, don't wait another 10 years.

You will be happy one day, I promise.

You will get to be a mum.

You will think I'm lying about being happy one day, because you have to go through a lot of bad stuff first, but trust me, your life does get good!

Be kinder to your parents.
Save more money.
Don't smoke. It's hell to give up.
You'll be a mum. Don't faint. You really will.
Size 8 is thin you numpty.
Take That get back together.

Don’t keep thinking if you change enough your parents will suddenly value you. They are bastards. Stop trying with them now.

Oh and you have beautiful hair, don’t listen to Mum. She’s cruel because she wants to be cruel, there’s nothing wrong with how you look or the person you are.