If you could meet your teenage-self, what would you tell her/him?

1. 87

   Robie Benveposted 11 years ago

   If you could meet your teenage-self, what would you tell her/him?
   
   What are the life lessons that you wish you knew when you were a teenager?

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2. 60

   NornsMercyposted 11 years ago

   I actually wrote a hub about this, lol... http://hub.me/aeCI8
   
   It was lots of fun to laugh at myself a little bit. Something I didn't put on the list: for the love of Pete TAKE SCHOOL SERIOUSLY.

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      Robie Benveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I read your hub and really enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing.

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3. 60

   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   Straighten up, be kind, be compassionate and do not judge people.  Live a life that never causes you embarrassment or shame. 
   
   I was not a very kind person when I was a teenager and did many things I regretted for years.

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      mariacolomyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well said.

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4. 59

   Same DiNamicsposted 11 years ago

   Study harder and choose a different path and go away to college. I missed out on valuable life experiences by choosing to stay home for college.

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5. 67

   EJ Lambertposted 11 years ago

   Lay off the snacks, go for a walk and make some more friends.  What other people say doesn't matter.  Not everybody will like you.  Not everybody will hate you.  It's just a matter of finding out which ones.

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6. 80

   Seafarer Mamaposted 11 years ago

   
   
   Oh, wow. I wrote a hub about this not long ago:
   
   http://seafarermama.hubpages.com/hub/Lo … unger-Self
   
   I'd tell her to take AP science and spend lots of time in nature...and to find a university program to become a park ranger/naturalist, because she loves to be outside and deserves to make a living from what she loves. I'd also encourage her to sail on an adventure, to live before the mast and learn about other cultures.
   
   Therefore...I am bringing my daughter up to find her passion and to do it as often as possible...to have the confidence to try as many things as she can, and to practice what she loves so that later on she can making a living from it (and almost 9 years old is not too soon to be discussing the need for her to develop skills that she can earn an income from).
   
   My husband and I are also bringing my daughter up to take into account her responsibility for what she does and says, the decisions she makes, and to live a life of thoughtfulness and mindfulness. She already loves the chickens that our community is raising and does not want to eat chicken because of that.
   
   Great question, BTW.

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7. 72

   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   Be patient and focus on getting better at your hobbies. They will be with you for years to come. Think of others and be considerate. Not everyone knows what you know so communicate effectively.

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   Tonipetposted 11 years ago

   Go out meet more friends and be more friendly or active in school. I had friends but I wasn't that participative, I was more of a spectator - quiet, alone, lonely... in short, lowsy, lol.
   
   Making friends makes a happy disposition. I was in my 20s when I started to become the opposite of my teenager me, oh how I've missed a lot of fun! I realized the value of "belongingness."  Thank you Robie.

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9. 90

   Sharkye11posted 11 years ago

   Wow.. This is a very good question, but very difficult for me. I was a very mature teen. I was home schooled, and passionate about studying. I was ready to graduate at 14, but couldn't take the test until I was 18. So I immersed myself in studies of things schools didn't offer. I studied religions, history, needle-arts, nature, etc. I worked, I saved money. I practiced a frugal lifestyle (bought all my stuff second-hand), and I was very close to my family. I am pretty much the same now.
   
   I guess if I could go back to that time, when I really hated and resisted technology because it threatened my family's closeness, I would tell myself to get savvy sooner. Embrace the internet, learn everything possible, because the future would depend on it. If I hadn't been so stubborn, I could have already been successful online, and would have had a much more substantial nest egg.
   
   I would also tell myself to buy up all the bell-bottoms that came out then and hoard them for the skinny-jean re-emergence!

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10. 0

    lisasuniquevoiceposted 11 years ago

    
    
    Robie,
    I would tell my teenage-self that there is so much ahead of you. Life, love, laughter, children, grandchildren, and basic happiness. I would encourage myself to push forward no matter what, and to stick to it.
    Lisa

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11. 60

    calmclinicposted 11 years ago

    I will tell myself..YOLO (you only live once).. so don't sweat the small stuff

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12. 71

    Man of Strengthposted 11 years ago

    I'd tell my teenage self that your parents know exactly what they're talking about. Also, that the decisions you make as a teen can come back to haunt you as you enter into adulthood.

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13. 69

    To Start Againposted 11 years ago

    Don't be in such a hurry.
    Quit worrying so much.
    Savor it all.
    Work harder in college.

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    ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years ago

    There's not a thing I could have told myself that would have mattered.
    
    Maybe I would have told myself to drop out and get my GED.

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    europewalkerposted 11 years ago

    I would have told myself to go to college and start a career of some sort instead of getting married at 18. But at that age I thought I knew everything! The marriage didn't last and there I was with two children trying to start a career in my 30s. It was a struggle but I made it.

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    WANDERINGSTARposted 11 years ago

    DONT SMOKE,,TAKE DRUGS,,OR DRINK HEAVY,,ALSO LISTEN TO YOUR INNER SELF(ifu no its bad ,dont do it)  ---  ( ifu no its good do it)..STUDY MORE..  AND I WOULD LISTEN TO WHAT MY PARENTS ADVICE..,,ALSO BE GOOD TO ALL LIVING  THINGS... AND DONT DO TO OTHERS THAT YOU WOULDENT LIKE DONE TO YOUR-SELF..  peace to u...

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    Ginia456posted 11 years ago

    I would tell myself to stop drinking Coca cola now because that will be the hardest thing to fix when you are older. Also, I would tell myself to go to college and pick a career where you could be working with penguins like you want to do now, but can not because you are not properly educated. I would also tell myself to marry the man I should have when I graduated from college because he was the best man for me.

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18. 54

    Nicole Danielleposted 11 years ago

    Very interesting question.. I would have to say I'd tell myself to not let what people think/say affect me as much I did. To stand up for myself and deal with situations in a different manner.

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