If you knew then what you know now...............

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Is there something you know now that you wish you had known years ago?

Maybe it's to do with relationships or your working life, perhaps it's gender-related, family-related or about your finances or goals in life - what is the one thing that you wish you had known much sooner?

― C J (C J), Sunday, 5 January 2003 22:18 (twenty-two years ago)

To my eighteen year old self: relax, and stop being so shy. Though it will be a while before your hair grows out properly.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 5 January 2003 22:20 (twenty-two years ago)

mainly it's personal stuff about people... mainly people that i trusted implicity, and i wish that i had been more cautious, even suspcious with.

i also wish that i hadn't quit my job just before the economy crashed. i know, it was fucking awful, and my health was really poor at the time, but i wish that i'd taken a medical leave of absence and stuck it out.

― kate, Sunday, 5 January 2003 22:21 (twenty-two years ago)

That having a child is a very worthwhile thing.

― David (David), Sunday, 5 January 2003 22:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Aw, nice. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 5 January 2003 22:29 (twenty-two years ago)

The complete answer would take a very long time. Short answer:if it feels right-do it.

― brg30 (brg30), Sunday, 5 January 2003 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

~~use suncreen~~
Don't pick at scabs.
Keep your old stuff as long as it works or can be fixed.
The devil you know, etc.
Learn to do things at work that no one else can do or wants to do.
Play the trust card first, but don't be a chump.
Smart and funny people are a dime a dozen. Nice wins every time.

― felicity (felicity), Sunday, 5 January 2003 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't scorn people, you may end up learning a lot from them later.

― Maria (Maria), Sunday, 5 January 2003 22:40 (twenty-two years ago)

a moment on the lips = a lifetime on the hips

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 5 January 2003 23:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't toss out that copy of "No New York", you'll be able to sell it for loads later.

― Sean (Sean), Sunday, 5 January 2003 23:53 (twenty-two years ago)

France to go out of the World Cup in the first round without even scoring a goal - i'd be a thousandaire!

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 6 January 2003 02:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't lend that out, you won't get it back.
Put that cigarette DOWN, young man.
Switch to diet soda. You think it's horrible because your mother drinks caffeine-free diet Coke, but the rest aren't as bad.
Assume that anything you don't bring with you when you move is gone forever. Grab stuff based on what's hardest to replace, not what you're going to want soonest.
Seriously, the cigarette, put it down.
The doctor was wrong. Get a second opinion.
Yes, you should ask her out.
What did I tell you about that cigarette?

― Tep (ktepi), Monday, 6 January 2003 03:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, I liked 18-year-old-you's hair!

― Nicole (Nicole), Monday, 6 January 2003 03:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Listen to the people who tell you to do English A level! Please! D'oh.

― Charlie (Charlie), Monday, 6 January 2003 03:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Same for me...stay in English Honors Seminar, grueling as it may be.
That guy (pick one)? He's an asshole. Not worth being upset over.
Take better care of yourself!
Sleep sometimes, and actually rest when you're sick instead of upping the caffeine intake...
Mellow out on the academic/work stress...
And the short haircut--not so flattering. And a bitch to grow out. Don't do it.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Monday, 6 January 2003 03:56 (twenty-two years ago)

oh yeah, and "undercutting your already bobbed and dyed-black hair won't make you look like an electrogoth sex beast, it'll make you look like a bit of a sad prick."

ah well.

― Charlie (Charlie), Monday, 6 January 2003 03:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't trust your sister to mind the pets.
High school doesn't matter.
Learn to drive while it's still cheap and you have nothing else to do.
Statistics can be useful.

― isadora (isadora), Monday, 6 January 2003 04:06 (twenty-two years ago)

i second tep's "put that cigarette down, young man."

don't be too hasty in giving away those Bauhaus cassettes, pilgrim -- you might want them one day.

maybe you should practice before piano lessons -- just because Rachmaninoff didn't practice doesn't mean that you shouldn't

don't take Freshman Biology and Chemistry. and don't blow off that Cost Accounting class.

maybe law school isn't such a good idea, after all. that Masters in Public Policy program might be a better bet. and don't worry about the "job prospects" if you get a Political Science Ph.D.

two things that i do not regret, and would give my younger self a hearty thumbs-up for doing (or not doing):
(when 16): don't get that mullet hair-cut. yer friends who have them are going to regret looking so stupid 10 years from now.

(when 22): don't get with that girl. she's bad news.

― Tad (llamasfur), Monday, 6 January 2003 07:06 (twenty-two years ago)

mine: don't pay any attention to your crazy cousin. shes crazy.

― di smith (lucylurex), Monday, 6 January 2003 07:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Girls - obey this simple rule of thumb: at the first sign of violence from a boy, however minor, even pushing, leave immediately. Don't question it. Whatever it takes to get the courage to leave, leave straight away. This is imperative.

― , Monday, 6 January 2003 08:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Just because you got into Harvard Law School doesn't mean you should actually go.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Monday, 6 January 2003 11:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Try and kiss her. It'll turn to shit anyway if you don't, and she definitely won't kiss you if you don't.

Pushing - Classic or Dud?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 6 January 2003 12:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Insanity is not for...FOR EVER.

Destiny is UNAVOIDABLE.

Love - if its real - actually is forever - especially if its your destiny, your fucking destiny

― Vic (Vic), Monday, 6 January 2003 12:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think I'd have wanted to know what I know now any sooner. Not that I believe in destiny, but if I'd made different (possibly better) decisions in the past, then I wouldn't be where I am now. And I quite like where I am now.

― Archel (Archel), Monday, 6 January 2003 12:38 (twenty-two years ago)

this is SO urgent and key I can't even begin to express it... and don't forget that physical abuse often starts with emotional abuse and control. If a man cannot handle you having friends and having him, dump him,not the friends.

To 2003 model self: drunkenness and laptops DO NOT MIX. Do not attempt to operate a computer while pouring/being poured sake. New keyboard, though... wheeeeeee!!!!

― kate, Monday, 6 January 2003 12:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Commitment isn't a bad thing. Being needed isn't a bad thing, nor is needing people. Taking credit where it's due isn't a bad thing either. Mind you I learned all that eventually.

Actually to my 9 year old self - you will end up liking football in 20 years even though you're shit at it so pick a fucking team to support and stop being so stuck-up about it.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 6 January 2003 12:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Stop fucking off in high school, get good grades and get accepted to a proper university. Enjoy the complete college experience, rather than visiting friends and getting all the fun for free and without an education. Wait a second....fuck that.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Monday, 6 January 2003 13:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Re: Actually to my 9 year old self - you will end up liking football in 20 years even though you're shit at it so pick a fucking team to support and stop being so stuck-up about it.

Tom, So what is your team?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Monday, 6 January 2003 13:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't have one DJ M. I'm hoping one will grow on me. :(

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 6 January 2003 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

go the shrews!!

― mark s (mark s), Monday, 6 January 2003 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe I should auction my loyalties on eBay!

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 6 January 2003 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't give away yr ideas for free.

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Monday, 6 January 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

i wish i knew then
what i now know sooner
cos ten dimes later
here comes Pac Jr.

(or something. chomp on that)

― g-kit (g-kit), Monday, 6 January 2003 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm still laughing at the inference that Ned's hair is cool now :)

― Mark C (Mark C), Monday, 6 January 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

implication?

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 6 January 2003 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

-Be patient. All good things will come to you.
-Being tall and skinny is a GOOD thing. The girls all love you.

― Aaron W, Monday, 6 January 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

-Being tall and skinny is a GOOD thing. The girls all love you.

that's a big old lie.....

― g-kit (g-kit), Monday, 6 January 2003 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, I liked 18-year-old-you's hair!

*bows* I believe you refer to the 17-year-old me. 18 year old was the transition phase from short to long. Imagine the hobbits without any styling at all.

I'm still laughing at the inference that Ned's hair is cool now :)

I like it, therefore it is cool. So hush. The Nediverse is clear on this point. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 6 January 2003 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

it seems you have just been neducated

― gareth (gareth), Monday, 6 January 2003 16:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I wish I'd had a better shot at music about 15 years ago before getting on the job treadmill. But mainly....

I wish I'd known that working in industry for a large international company, despite good money,would be so utterly soul-destroyingly awful and pointless. I really, really want to get out and directly help people in some way. Life is too f@cking short to be arseing about with Powerpoint all day. I'm almost shocked by how strongly and suddenly this feeling has come upon me, it's not really like me -I just plod on selfishly mostly. But I don't know what I could do. (Any ideas?) I wish I'd tried for medical school years ago, but I was too lazy. Now I'm too old.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 6 January 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

That not everyone you meet is going to like you, and it really doesn't matter, so don't worry about it.

Read a book is really the best advice ever (thanks Dad!)

There's nothing wrong with standing up for yourself.

Being tall and skinny is a GOOD thing. The girls all love you.

Really? I wish it were so.

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 6 January 2003 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

everytime you masturbate god kills a kitten.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Monday, 6 January 2003 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

So what you're saying is your yard is piled high with dead bunnies?

― Freez (amateurist), Monday, 6 January 2003 19:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't waste so much money on (insert boring nerdy junior high-level hobby here).

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Monday, 6 January 2003 19:57 (twenty-two years ago)

that's a big old lie.....

Really? I wish it were so.

Er, in the context of the thread, versus having weird body issues when you're 15-16, hell yes it's true.

― Aaron W, Monday, 6 January 2003 20:00 (twenty-two years ago)

If I had all the money I'd spent on drink...

I'd spend it on drink.

― Lord Byron Lived Here, Tuesday, 7 January 2003 01:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Confidence gets girls -- kiss her don't make shy awkward jokes then spring a love letter on her.

Good farce is hard to write -- keep the absurdity in the coincidence of the situations, not the way the characters act within them.

Learn to file and like it.

Just because a book is in the canon doesn't mean it isn't good.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 06:32 (twenty-two years ago)

High test scores may get you in, but not studying or going to class will get you out on your ass, or in the bottom 10% of your undergrad class.

Invest in amazon.com and ebay, sell late 2000.

Don't let that $6 haircut girl talk you into a year-long high school mullet.

Those girls that turn out to be psycho/liars/unfaithful/etc? you don't have to go out with them.

stop those multi-year relationships going nowhere.

Don't sell that synth for $50 just so you can move to Texas. You'll be back and want it back inside of two years.

― webcrack (music=crack), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 08:01 (twenty-two years ago)

an elaboration on my rather non-descript "(when 22): don't get with that girl. she's bad news."

it should read -- (when 22): don't get with that girl who chased you around a hotel with a doggy-bag full of meat. she's bad news.

(true story, in every way)

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 08:07 (twenty-two years ago)

untrustworthy until proven trustworthy.

― di smith (lucylurex), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 10:05 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread is depressing.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 10:55 (twenty-two years ago)

You're depressing.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 11:54 (twenty-two years ago)

You know what? I bet we are all doing things right now that we'll look back on in five years' time and say "If only I knew then what I know now......."

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

this was on the back of a matchbox when i wz small:
"footprints in the sands of time are not made by sitting down"

so i *did* know that then...

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 12:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I bet I'm fucking not, CJ.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 12:08 (twenty-two years ago)

famous last words

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 12:12 (twenty-two years ago)

wierd, i had a dream last night that i went back in time to my primary school years to tell my mate something. can't remember what it was though, but he didn't believe who i was anyway.

― Fuzzy (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 12:20 (twenty-two years ago)

You should have taken him an almanac of sports statistics to prove your case.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 12:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I suppose saying you're not going to be doing something in the future are pretty good last words, cuz you'll be right.

(or he could just lose his voice instead and sitll be alive to do his thinking, maybe about how this thread led to the accident)

― Graham (graham), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 12:50 (twenty-two years ago)

N's life is not a series of learning experiences, then. Although I suppose it rather depends on exactly *what* you are doing right now, dunnit? :)

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 13:16 (twenty-two years ago)

You should have taken him an almanac of sports statistics to prove your case.

or a picture of you and the doc by a clock, but wrapped up cleverly so he *thinks* it's the almanac when you give it to him, then is really disappointed when he opens it. that'd fucking show him.

what are we talking about?

― g-kit (g-kit), Tuesday, 7 January 2003 14:03 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

Don't shave when you're angry.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 27 February 2003 07:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't fry bacon naked.
Shaving is not a good way to remove excess eyebrow hair.
That green stuff next to your sushi is NOT guacamole.
One can eat too much tuna hotdish.
It's okay to admit that you don't like: Wham!; Cindi Lauper; Nina; Culture Club.
Don't adopt pets that die in two years, just after you've bonded with them.
It's a good idea to remember to ALWAYS set the parking brake.
That bully who keeps making you cry - he's gonna end-up with testicular cancer at 24 and you'll feel badly for him.
Clothing from Esprit will not be fashionable for years and years. Buy Levi jeans instead.
NO ONE looks good in red denim pants.
If the doctor says to do X and not Y, follow their advice.
It's better to spend money on books rather than bookcases.
Change the oil in your car! Regularly!
Just 'cause he's cute, doesn't mean you need to pick-up cigarettes to make him think that you're older. Trust me.
Grape kool-aid and Everclear never taste as good coming back up as one would think.
Hug those you love every day.
Tell them you love them, too.
Never pass on a chance to cuddle.

― I'm Passing Open Windows (Ms Laura), Thursday, 27 February 2003 08:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Trust your instincts and act on them.
Yes, he *is* abusing you and you don't have to try and work it out - JUST LEAVE!
Codiene is addictive, don't go there.
You *are* allowed to ask out a boy, forget what your mother told you.

OK theres more but this is depressing. And I think I'm getting the flu. Ugh.

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 27 February 2003 09:54 (twenty-two years ago)

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