How would you live your life differently if you could live your youth time again?

[kindlychung]

Hey, friends. I am a 22-year-old, and I am wondering since you have much more experiences tham I have, surely I can learn some lesson from you.
So I want to ask: How would you live your life differently if you could live your youth time again?
Your answers may be advices to a young man like me.
Thank you.

 

[kindlychung]

Sorry, wrong place. I meant to post this on the Golden Eagles.

 

[InterestedAtheist]

And there I was just thinking how nice it was to see a question like this!

Please, let's carry on this thread. I am four years older than you, kindlychung, and eager to share my ancient wisdom.

Off the top of my head, if I were to have my time to live over again (and not worrying about how, why or whether or not I'd be bored or frightened by this) I think what I'd do is take more risks, stand up to bullies, try harder to make friends, help others more, study harder and take better care of my teeth.

Of course, I'm still only 26. So I'll start doing that now. Hooray!

 

[£amb]

Sorry, wrong place. I meant to post this on the Golden Eagles.

I would of been more out spoken. I don't mean in a mean or aggressive manner, but to voice my opinion.

I would of had more confidence in myself, and not let other people bother me with their own judgements.

I wouldn't of acted like such a "teenager" to my parents, and realize that they were right on many things.

I would of been more selective of my friends.

And, I would of done a better job in school.


Those are all my own personal experiences, but the things that I experienced, whether good or bad, molded me into the person I am today.

 

[RealSorceror]

Heck, I would have lied a lot less.
I would have actually tried to pass my classes (I passed 'em anyway, but I could have done so much better).
I would have managed my friend-time a little better.
I would have done something about my non-existent love life (wait, I still have time for that now!).
I would have actually paid attention to other people and their feelings.
Really, I just would have been more awake and aware.

 

[The Nihilist]

I wish I would have tried more things, because I know now that being in trouble is a false idea. Also, I would have had sex when I thought I was too young. And never joined the National Honor Society, on account of it being the biggest waste of time ever.

 

[Bombila]

I would have thought more carefully about my career, and chosen one that had a good track record for well paid and rewarding employment, and a good expectation of running one's own business.

I would have travelled more and further than I did.

I would have bought land or a house as soon as I possibly could.

I would have adopted a good dog sooner.

 

[quatona]

Being 22 with the experience and the knowledge of a 49 year old is not an attractive scenario, to me.

The really interesting hypothetical: After going through your scenario (of being young again and having things the way people say they would rather have done them), what would they do differently if offered a third youth?

 

[sinneD]

There are many, many things I would want to do differently, because I am wiser, more experienced, and yes, smarter..

But then, here I am in my 50's, with a wife of 25 years, 2 adult kids who I enjoy being around, doing the type of work I really enjoy, making a decent living and, for now, in decent health...

All I can say is that God has been good IN SPITE of my youth..

 

[wanderingone]

There's not a lot I would change because I like the woman I have become, and all of my experiences, mistakes and all are part of making me this person. In a "do over" my parents would have made a stronger effort to educate us on their own belief that credit is something not to bother with except for the largest of purchases (a home, sometimes a car, sometimes an education)

When I look back over the 20 years of adult life I have lived the ONE thing that lingered and caused me the most trouble was credit problems caused by youthful indifference to "the future"

All the other experiences that maybe a better person would say they wished they hadn't done (like becoming sexually active fairly young, trying a few illegal substances..., having a child when I was 17, are things that while they represented poor decision making at times didn't cause long term problems.. and contributed to forming how I view things and how I talk to my children...

 

[Boomygrrl]

I was such a goody two shoes when I was younger, and still am but not as much.
If I could relive my youth, I would have been more outspoken. More rebellious. Not in a mean and aggressive way, as that goes against my nature. But I would've questioned my parents' authority more, lived my life without so much fear, and live with the consequences.
I would still value education and I wouldn't do anything to hurt my dreams and future.
I guess just be able to voice my opinion and spend more time with my friends (regardless of whether my strict, uncompromising parents agreed to it or not).
I think I would've stood up for myself, stood up for the kids who got picked on, and I would question a lot of assertions that were made in Sunday School.
I'd definitely have more fun.


Boomygrrl

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

I think I would probably have never taken it upon myself to start practising my family's nominal Catholicism, and instead realised much sooner that I don't need over-zealous, soul-destroying and scrupulous devotion to my cultural heritage in order to be secure in my individuality. Having said that, those years were a experience of sorts, and I suppose it was good to get the fanaticism out of my system somewhat, and it opened me up to spiritual questions, which is a great thing, I think.

I would throw away every television in the house...now it's too late...I'm a square-eyed addict. :o

I would have spent more time going out with my friends and getting to know new people.

I would get into a very early habit of working hard at school and in other stuff.

I would take up more hobbies, learn more languages, learn to play an instrument early on, go to more swimming lessons...stuff like that.

I would sneak out of the house more, and sneak back in hours after curfew more.

I would eat better and more varied foods when it was easier.

I would enjoy and appreciate everything I did much more.

There's a few specific things that, on the whole, stem from that first one...
I would have started experimenting and having fun sooner.
I would start dating sooner.
I would be totally honest about every aspect of my personality, rather than trying to bottle up my true emotions.

But, as I'm only 17 and a half, hopefully it isn't too late...:o

peace

 

[justanobserver]

Hey, friends. I am a 22-year-old, and I am wondering since you have much more experiences tham I have, surely I can learn some lesson from you.
So I want to ask: How would you live your life differently if you could live your youth time again?
Your answers may be advices to a young man like me.
Thank you.

Been giving this thread a lot of thought. Theres so much I could/would do different or wished was different when growing up as a kid but what I could change (very little), I would. Most of my life as a kid I could not control or had any control over some events.

Older, well, enlisting into teh miltairy and going where all i went - wouldnt change the experiences for the world. mayve moving left on a trail instead of going to the right one or twice I would do different but on teh whole, wouldnt change a thing. except to have had total control of my drinking and not lose my retirement due to it.

the only thing I know I would love to go back and change/correct/do different if i could and that is to have spent more time with my kids when they was growing up. I was gone with my job and away (as in far away) where I got shipped off to a lot so I missed a lot of thier lives and periods of events in their lives. 2 of the 4 four kids are grown now and we are making up for lost time BUT so much was missed. The other 2 are almost out on their own and they live quite a ways away BUT I am in contact on a daily basis (thank god for myspace! and the telephone)

That is the most "kick myself in the a** " thing I would do different.

 

[MorkandMindy]

What would I do differently?
I agree with these points made previously:

Bombila
1. Thought more carefully about my career

All that 'worked harder at school' is wasted if it doesn't go to the right end, and it is easier to learn if you know why, so it is hard to learn if you don't know what you are going to do with it.

I wanted to be an engineer, took family advice and ended up an unemployed physicist instead. Whole degree wasted. Spend a year
or three choosing a career. Wander in the library and see what takes your fancy.

Go out and do temp jobs, anything but take teachers or someone who has predjuced advice. Getting this badly wrong will ruin your life.


From Boomygrrl
2. Dump the fear
Some things are dangerous, but I was far too self concious.

From Robbie James Francis
3. Dump the TV - when you are too old to do anything then watch TV.
4. Spend more time meeting people. It's fun and people have ideas and opportunities.
5. Date sooner - I missed opportunities with young women and I still regret that 30years later.
6. Be honest about myself - most people can see right through me anyway!

My own additions
7. Ask for advice. Don't ask just one person, if it is important ask ten, weigh the answers, if you find two or more sound convincing, present them to those who gave the opposite opinions. Don't waste years from wrong decisions.

Don't just accept the advice of someone with conviction. Someone who is totally convinced is more likely to be wrong than someone who considers alternatives more carefully.

8. don't bother about holding political or religious or maybe any other opinions; it just slows down changing these opinions; what is the point in wasting 10 years to change an opinion that should be changed in a day?

9. Where there is a long standing or important problem don't just do as expected - write down alternatives, don't stop before 15, and don't reject any without a good reason. Chose the best (or cheapest) from those left.

10. Reserve some time slots for fun; make sure you enjoy life. Happy people attract friends. Happy people see opportunities where tired people see problems.

 

[Gwendolyn]

Cool thread, even if it was misplaced by accident

I would have honestly listened to my parents' judgement rather than trust my own. I was a stubborn and hard-headed fifteen-year-old who made some stupid mistakes as a result of not listening to them and believing that I knew better, even though my parents had the foresight and the insight to see what laid ahead on the path I wanted to walk.

I would have tried to see life more from their perspective rather than from my own narrow perspective, because then I would have been more loving, more understanding, and more compassionate towards others... and more forgiving of myself.

I wouldn't have been so lazy in neglecting to find a job until college. By then, hardly anyone would take me because of a lack of experience, and I had to fund my own education.

And, unlike some of the other posters, I would have embraced my faith at an earlier age. Why? Because through this faith and the wealth of philosophical and mystical writings it has to offer, I have found freedom and peace, and continue to pursue it to the best of my ability.

 

[Caylin]

The three major things I would have done are standing up to my father and telling him exactly what I thought of him, not getting involved in church, and coming out of the closet much much sooner.

 

[UberLutheran]

I'd probably become a meteorologist and specialize in severe storms forecasting.

 

[sinneD]

I'd probably become a meteorologist and specialize in severe storms forecasting.

That's what my father did for the US National Weather Service

 

[sinneD]

The three major things I would have done are standing up to my father and telling him exactly what I thought of him, not getting involved in church, and coming out of the closet much much sooner.

A little pent up resentment ??

 

[Caylin]

A little pent up resentment ??

Why? One of my biggest regrets on my life was not having the courage to stand up to my father and denounce his Neo-Nazism.