Psychology experiment #3

Unashamedly stealing this idea from jockeys who initiated experiment 1 and experiment 2. This morning while shaving I came up with another great question for you all. And worry not Bruno, I will be answering my own question too. The question is:

If you could go back in time to speak to yourself when you were younger, what single piece of advice would you give yourself about growing up?

Now I believe I get a cup of coffee before I have to answer my own question, dont I jockeys? Let me go and make it now.

:tu Sandy

well I know I'm breaking the rules, but I'll say don't smoke and don't procrastinate.

well I've only had half my coffee, but I'll go ahead and take a shot:

"don't believe their lies, don't let them make you doubt yourself. hit first, hit hard, and hit often. first and always, take care of yourself."

also I might enlighten my younger self about the wisdom of certain stock purchases I made in middle and high school. :hmmm:

It wouldn't matter what I said. Younger me wouldn't be listening anyway!

Little bastard.

lol

-rob

Easy one.

I would tell myself to get a degree in a field that gave me a good job and not in a field that would "change the world" . I now know that I have much more fun with my hobbies than I ever could on anything serious and that I will never "change the world" with my career choices. Life would be easier for me now and far less stressful and more productive if I had a "good job" not training for a dream.

I was to much of an idealist, and not enough of a scholar.

Save your money .

I would say, "Listen up, Maggot! As soon as the Guv'mint legalizes ownership of Gold, BUY IT! (The price had been artificially held to $32 an ounce, that QUICKLY changed.) Buy all the Gold you can get your grubby hands on and watch the money roll in. At the IPO of 'Microsoft' liquidate the Gold and put every dime in Microsoft Stock! It won't be long until you'll never have to work again."

Ok, so I have more than a single piece of advice, I screwed up more than my share. The 4 pieces of advice I would give myself are:

Whatever you do, enjoy the time you spend with your parents, I regret having not gotten to know them better, especially now that Mom has Alzheimers.

Save your money

If a woman says that she loves you: if she's married run like h3ll & don't believe her, and if she's not married take it with a grain of salt.

Appreciate yourself more.

Well today has been VERY busy and in fact I never got a chance to get that cup of coffee. But at nearly 30 my advice to younger me would be this:

Don't be in such a hurry to find love. Showing your affection for someone only to have it turned down hurts. Stop doing it and get on with enjoying your youth. :o

I would pat myself on the back and say "straight ahead".

1. It is almost impossible to put old head on young shoulders.

2. Amarilo Slim said just because some dude smells like ape crap, don't mean he's Tarzan.

3. Trust God and lean not unto your own understanding.

My Grandfather told me to believe half of what you see and nothing that you read. Not bad advice in hind sight. :)

I don't know. Anything truly good would just go straight over my young self's head, or maybe in one ear and out the other. Also, I know that had I done anything else drastic during my youth, I wouldn't be where I am today. While not so great in some places, it's perfect in others, and I wouldn't want to lose that. If I could do anything though, anything at all, I'd take myself from about 3 years ago a laundry list of information about various things, including some investment stuff. Maybe then I could afford to have RAD:D

1. Never let 'em tell you it can't be done.
2. Never get into a stinking contest with a skunk.
3. Never shoot a man who's committing suicide.
4. You can't shine s--t.
5. When you're in a hole, stop digging.

I did think of one that I know I'd listen to: telling the truth and being open in relationships isn't always the best answer, like when you go to the bar. No matter how much you didn't enjoy that blonde rubbing her body all over you, the girlfriend/mrs won't be glad you were honest.

All in all, I am happy with how my life turned out.

I would be tempted to explain to myself some of the facts of life, like how to talk to women, how to behave and to date the eautiful redheaded girl who -with hindsight- practically begged me to call her and ask her on a date. But I love my wife, and I love my baby girls even more. So I wouldn't change what went before because I might never have met my wife (otoh I believe we were meant to be together).

The one thing I regret to this day is that I really hurt someone's feelings when I was still a young twerp.
I would tell myself to not do that. Then again, this regret changed me in the long run and taught me something very important.

So all in all, I would probably look at me from a distance, occasionally mutter something, shake my head and console myself with the fact that it would turn out allright.

"Don't listen to that fool."

Actually I wouldn't do it. I'm happy with everything and have no regrets.

Spend more time outdoors. Mainly climbing.

And dont get out of shape, its much harder getting back into it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sidneykidney

If you could go back in time to speak to yourself when you were younger, what single piece of advice would you give yourself about growing up?

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I wouldn't take the offer of going back in time; "this is more power than a good man should want or a bad man should have".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by freebird

If a woman says that she loves you: if she's married run like h3ll & don't believe her, and if she's not married take it with a grain of salt.

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Oh really Capt'n? And what about the love that is borne out of friendship (even if the lady in question is married?)";"

I would tell my younger self "Don't waste your love and affection on loosers and a******s, don't be so bloody gullible and fall for any old sob stories. And most important of all don't do what you did when you were almost 18!!!!!"

Every time I think about giving a piece of advice which would have changed the direction of my life I can see the thread of it unraveling. My advice to my younger self at any given point would be that which I intend to impart to my son when he is old enough to understand it and thence forward until we are separated by devouring time and that is; "Be happy and enjoy this time. The treasure of this moment will fade too fast. And show your love to the people for whom you feel that affection. There is nothing more important. So smile and share your gifts with the world".

X

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xman

Every time I think about giving a piece of advice which would have changed the direction of my life I can see the thread of it unraveling. My advice to my younger self at any given point would be that which I intend to impart to my son when he is old enough to understand it and thence forward until we are separated by devouring time and that is; "Be happy and enjoy this time. The treasure of this moment will fade too fast. And show your love to the people for whom you feel that affection. There is nothing more important. So smile and share your gifts with the world".

X

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XMAN,

I like what you said!

I guess all I could add would be: Buy property! - and don't start drinking and smoking!

Steve

"Tell the truth. If you ever tell a lie, it had better be a rare exception, make sure it's for a damned good reason, and know it's going to cost you anyway.

"Stop taking the easy way out.

"Do something you're afraid of every day. Try to end every day braver than you were the day before. Get it through your head that fear is sometimes a reason to do something rather than a reason to avoid it. Never make a decision about your life out of fear.

"If you like her, ask her out. If she says no, don't sweat it. See immediately above.

"Learn things that don't come easy to you. If it doesn't come easy, work harder. And work harder than you need to at the things that do come easy.

"Be grateful for your talents. They are called 'gifts' for a reason. They don't make you any better than anyone else. Or any worse.

"Hard work and self-discipline will get you further and accomplish more than all the talent in the world. Make them habits.

"Pick up those damn weights. Run. Swim. Learn a sport. You're no good at it, so get better. Work out every day until you sweat. Make it a habit.

"Learn about money.

"Learn to fix things--cars, plumbing, furniture.

"You aren't the most important person in the world. Get over it and be happy."

Of course, my actual younger self would have tuned out by paragraph 3, if not sooner. But if I could talk to that young whippersnapper and make him listen ... well, you can see I'd have a lot to say to him.

~Rich

I'd beat him up, take his money, and return to the future a little happier :)
I love weird hypothetical questions!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I'd beat him up, take his money, and return to the future a little happier :)
I love weird hypothetical questions!

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That's the funniest thing I've read all day:D

Tell my younger self "There's this girl in Wolves who is perfect for you. Here's her number!" & give him Silver's number. My life would have been a lot better a lot sooner :D