Forum Discussion Question: If you could go back in time and meet your younger self, what advice would you give him or her?

Live in the now. Sure it is fine to set aside time to work for the future, but if you spend all your time suffering for the future, you will spend the majority of your life suffering.

The skills they teach you in school will not make you happy. Schools are controlled by the establishment, and they will teach you skills that will make the establishment happy. The things that will make you happy will have to be learned on your own time, by your own initiative, without supervision by anyone serving the establishment.

You will not find yourself living someone else's story or trying to follow someone else's footsteps. At best, you would only achieve what they achieve but discover it was not what you actually wanted.

Your path has to be your own, no matter what others try to tell you.

Don't rush to fall in love.

Before saying anything noble and mature and praise-worthy, I will do the one thing that I needed the most at that time--- a warm compassionate hug.

I will give her a hug and whisper sweet nothings to her. telling her that it's going to be alright and breaking down doesn't mean she's weak and she lost everything. That it's okay to cry and give up for there are some things that are not meant to be hers. That she doesn't need to remain impassive and indifferent whenever she feels hurt because after all she's still human and she has to acknowledge those negative emotions too. That it's okay to be sad, it's okay to frown, it's okay to get angry, it's okay to protect herself sometimes. That she too has her limits, that she too is entitled to indulge herself into these emotions. Because no matter how she tries to craft herself as the kindest, nicest, best human being she wants to be, she isn't perfect. And it's okay to be imperfect. It's okay to stop smiling if she doesn't feel happy. That it's okay to stop laughing if in truth she's breaking inside. If the truth is she's falling apart and there's no one there, there's no one who can understand and there's no one who she can ultimately trust, being alone doesn't mean she is doomed. That sometimes, healing by yourself can be more powerful than being healed by others. That happiness doesn't always come with the number of friends, the number of conversations, the number of smiles and nods and hugs if you yourself doesn't try to help yourself to feel the warmth. If you yourself doesn't try to heal. Self love and self care aren't selfish, and being alone doesn't equal to loneliness.

I'm a total extrovert in my younger years. I love being the ball of sunshine in the lives of everyone. But after falling apart that bad, I realized a lot of things. That it may be true that another person can make a difference in one's life; that another person can maybe save another person; but in the end, doesn't it all boils down to the determination of the person to change for the better? Because my younger self has been hoping and wishing and praying that someone will notice, that someone will ask genuinely, that someone will save me. And it turns out that saving myself, taking some time to accept and heal, was the best solution. It was what saved me. Yes, there were people who were there for me the whole time and I'm thankful to them. But I like how I am right now. Not the ultimate happy-go-lucky ball of sunshine of my younger self, but the sensible contented person I wanted to be. And at least right now, I have the freedom to chase my happiness without thinking of other people. Hahahaha

Study photography bc thats your passion, dont compare yourself to extroverts, dont let people rush you, breathe, think about how he is treating you compared to how youre treating him

@Laura
dont date.....get those books done....sit in job, secure that first $200,000 and party......dates can wait.
all of them were not even worth an ounce of my time....wasted opportunities....should have just secured a job. the rest falls into place...

I didnt know....I didnt know guys like girls with titles ttthhhhat much. too late.

@Laurai i would tell myself not to judje people and get too much attached to person and never to develop deep feelings for anyone instantly

Be true to yourself... Being true to yourself will make you be true to all others who relate with you...

Put the phone down. Listen.

Be grateful of life and the people around you. Listen to the ones you love. Cherish not only the big things, cuz its the small things that usually matter. And most of all, follow your heart.

Don't panic. Things will work out.

You'll learn a lot from doing things you don't feel like doing and the sooner you start, the sooner you'l be amazed at the way your life will change for the better.