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if you could go back 10 years

Sketcher

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Probably the same thing the pastor told me when he was counseling me out of my state of spiritual hopelessness. I'd also tell myself to make new friends. Both of those eventually worked themselves out, though. Other things that would have been useful:

High school life, status, etc. mean absolutely nothing once high school is over with. Therefore, don't worry about never being able to catch up with the popular jocks. You can shine on your own.

Stop listening to the big mouth of one of your so-called friends. It will make you look like a fool and it will get you in trouble.

Don't pattern yourself after bad examples, even if you think they are better than you - they are not. People don't like them for good reasons.

In a couple of years, you will notice a pretty girl at a youth retreat. Do yourself a favor and don't talk to her. At least if/when someone else hurts you in a similar way, you will have built better habits.
 
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lunalinda

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Ooh I'd have a heck of a lot to say to my 16 year old self. I'd walk right up to myself and say:

Linda, have more confidence in yourself. Don't let the hell of school, no matter how much you hate it, spook you from becoming more in life. Find your passions and dwell on them. Don't let them go or trivialize them. Go to college so that you can have an easier time discovering what you're good at. The world's an evil place that doesn't quickly give the "little people" chances. They want the ones who shelled out thousands of money to get a college education, even if it has nothing to do with the job you want. Just get your butt in there and get it out of the way. Don't give up your dreams and don't hold back because you're scared. Show yourself even more friendly. Break through your shell and get yourself out there without letting anyone intimidate you.

When it comes to men. When you turn 21, you're gonna meet this guy at your job. He's an alright guy. Go out with him. He's cute. And he'll like you for real. He'll give you your first kiss and first taste of love. But when it's over, don't take him back. He's gonna hurt you, but it's okay. Just don't take him back. It will be difficult to not want your first love back, but it's important. Because he's just not going to be ready for you and end up hurting you again. Just let him go. You'll be giving yourself more time to heal, and you won't be so vulnerable when you meet the next guy. And when HE comes into your life...

RUN.
 
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RosaVernal

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I'd say things that wouldn't really make any difference to my past. If I changed anything, I wouldn't be who I was now. With this being said, onto what I'd say.

1. Being a teenager sucks until you're smart enough to appreciate it. You'll have your heart broken a lot, you'll become cynical, depressed, and more often than not you'll make stupid choices. Enjoy it while you can, because when it's gone, it's gone.

2. All of the women you date will be as f**ked up as you are in their own ways, and you'll come to see that before long. Live and learn, boy - at least you'll be getting laid more often than the average high school male. Protip: this will irritate a lot of guys.

3. Despite all of this, you're not a bad guy and you'll mostly refrain from doing truly stupid things until you move out. Several times. Either way, you'll realize that your parents care about you more than you know, and the feelings are mutual.

4. Listen to your heart. When it comes down to it, it will always be right, through breakups and hookups, homework and tests, choices in friends, and political demonstrations.

5. You'll flip through identities like mad until you learn to be yourself. Expect your political positions to change, religions, lifestyle choices, musical taste, social levels, etc.

6. Move on. You'll get some dreams crushed, but life goes forward. After you lose two people you'd never thought you'd lose, you'll realize how true this is.

7. Every day is a miracle. Lift up your heart to God, such is the path to the stars.
 
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wmc1982

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Probably the same thing the pastor told me when he was counseling me out of my state of spiritual hopelessness. I'd also tell myself to make new friends. Both of those eventually worked themselves out, though. Other things that would have been useful:

High school life, status, etc. mean absolutely nothing once high school is over with. Therefore, don't worry about never being able to catch up with the popular jocks. You can shine on your own.

Stop listening to the big mouth of one of your so-called friends. It will make you look like a fool and it will get you in trouble.

Don't pattern yourself after bad examples, even if you think they are better than you - they are not. People don't like them for good reasons.

In a couple of years, you will notice a pretty girl at a youth retreat. Do yourself a favor and don't talk to her. At least if/when someone else hurts you in a similar way, you will have built better habits.
just chill bro. Only words you ever need to remember...

Everyone dies, and everyone poops.
 
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RosaVernal

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just chill bro. Only words you ever need to remember...

Everyone dies, and everyone poops.

Peter: I'm looking for some toilet training books.
Salesman: We have the popular 'everybody poops", or the less popular 'nobody poops but you'.
Peter: Well, you see, we're catholic...
Salesman: Ah, then you'll want 'you're a naughty, naughty boy, and that's concentrated evil coming out the back of you'.

:D
 
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wmc1982

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Peter: I'm looking for some toilet training books.
Salesman: We have the popular 'everybody poops", or the less popular 'nobody poops but you'.
Peter: Well, you see, we're catholic...
Salesman: Ah, then you'll want 'you're a naughty, naughty boy, and that's concentrated evil coming out the back of you'.

:D
So funny to me, I'm not sure why though.

lol, concentrated evil

500 years of now, Historians will be very confused.
 
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wmc1982

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Chill about what? 10 years ago was precisely the worst year of my life, and I'm a different person now.
Just chill about nothing and quit being lonely.

Go jump out of a plane (with a parachute preferably).

Sing your song to the world, even if most of them may laugh.
 
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GoodNewsJim

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God is real, Jesus is Lord. And Marry your girlfriend dude she's perfect for you!

If my future self came back, I'd believe him too.

Edit: But if it meant that I'd not hear from God himself, I'd rather keep the current reality because God means more than anything to me. Hearing it second hand, even from myself would be a letdown compared with hearing it from God. Even if I did get to marry my fantasy girl.
 
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Aquamarine81

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10 years ago I was 16, almost 17 and a junior in high school.

I would tell myself to just be myself, I would tell myself to just be myself, and not to fantasize about being someone/something else. And to put my trust in God.
 
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penNpaper

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what do you know now that you would tell yourself?

I personally would tell myself not to be so ambitious and to let life be life. That everything will work out in the end. I would also give myself a clue to the great future that would happen when I accepted Christ at 17. Because I was in a pretty hopeless state back than.

1998

Drew is around 14 years ago :D (Calm down ladies)

Remember to build a website and call it Christian Forums before Erwin does!!

Invent an online DVD chain hehehe..

Buy Amazon.com stock

All of my experience from my past relationships to build unto that than from scatch again and learning all over again from new..From from my mistakes and repeat them..

Get more involved with my church..

Finished Home School quicker ^_^ and finished community college with ease.

Find the guy that started the Y2K bug fears in 1999 and put him in prison!!

Stop 9/11

Regards,
Drew
 
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HoosierCanuck

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what do you know now that you would tell yourself?

I personally would tell myself not to be so ambitious and to let life be life. That everything will work out in the end. I would also give myself a clue to the great future that would happen when I accepted Christ at 17. Because I was in a pretty hopeless state back than.
I would tell myself not to ignore that urge to completely change the direction of my life and find a way to move to British Columbia. I was there 10 years ago visiting and DID NOT want to leave and come back to Indiana.

I sometimes wonder what life would be like today. I'd probably be thinner, healthier and in a relationship. lol
 
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