If you had a time machine...
 

...and you could go back and talk to yourself, at what age would you go back, and what advice would you give yourself?

I would go back to when I was 14. This is what I would say.

"Losing your virginity really is a big thing, like your parents tell you, and you should save it for someone special. Trust me, who you are going to be with in the next couple of years really aren't special. Also, try to stay a little more active- don't want any weight gain! You will regret it forever! Stay away from the Super Saver intersection on the night of Feb 2nd, 2000. Go ahead and date this ex if you must, because you do learn some valualbe lessons from him (how to decide what you want in a real relationship). In February of your 20th year, don't go so short with your hair- another thing you will regret for a long time. Don't be afraid of the ACT's, but don't go far for college- there is someone you need to meet in September of 2002. Don't lose touch with friend Amy, because you will really miss her, and she is getting into a dangerous field of work. Go to your senior prom, despite what you look like in a dress. And during your graduation, avoid the last step on the stage, PLEASE!"

These are the kind of things I knew back then.

I'd tell myself in 6th grade to get my act right (I nearly failed 6th grade just 'cuz I was being rebelious), don't be afraid to speak up and talk to the "popular" people, play football and lots of it, and would warn my younger self of who to watch out for when it comes to back-stabbing friends.

I'd give myself a big ol' wad of cash. :thumbsup:

I would go back when I was 15 and tell myself to cheer up. I would tell myself not to get obsessed with computers and to treat my family better. I would tell myself to practice driving more because if I didn't, I would be deathly afraid of driving. I would tell myself that I am beautiful and that I didn't need to 'diet' and I would tell myself to eat in France because that's the proper thing to do. Also, I would tell myself to go talk to that creepy guy in band (nwlinkvxd) because he will be the best thing that ever happened to me.

I would tell myself that life isn't always easy, but I learn from every mistake, joy, event in my life -- so live them all to the fullest and understand when frustrated, hurt, etc. that it all pays off in the long run! (That, and to listen to my mom regarding my tone of voice as it does need work.)

Other than telling me what the numbers were for some of the Big Game lotteries....

In November of 1987, you are smart enough, you worked you butt off getting into that school, you should not give up.

In November 0f 1982, you are in an Ivy League school, your parents are paying for this (with a lot of help from loans and stuff) why on earth would you want to give that up just because you can't stand the people, it's only 4 years, people do longer prison terms.

In May of 1986, I retract everything I said in 1982, you done good, you went to the school you wanted to go to, graduated with honors, had a little bit of fun here and there, and paid for it all on your own (ok, so debt for the next 10 years or so) It was worth it.

In June of 1986, GO AN ALTERNATE ROUTE HOME.

In August of 1986. You should have showed up and read the victim's statement at that assholes trial, maybe, just maybe he would have ended up in jail for your accident, and not a few years later when he really did kill someone.

In October of 1995. Listen to your instincts, that guy was bad news.

January of 1996, I don't care how much they are paying you, that job is not worth the aggravation, and the other bullshit that you put up with. Money is not everything.

September 11, 2001. Make many phone calls to many friends and suggest today was the perfect day to play hookey from work.

----------------------

Except for the last one, I'm not sure I would really ever change a thing, or I would have even listened to myself, because all those events are what made me the person that I am now. Had I not done those things, I'd probably be a completely different person.

1981-I don't care, what excuses that you can come up with. You need to go to college on Uncle Sam's dime. Things don't always work the way that you think they will. You'll need that education.

1983-See that girl over there. You dont know this yet, but she's Miss Wyoming. She's going to come over here in about three minutes. What she's about to do is called flirting Don't be stupid, pick up on it this time, and flirt back!!

1985-Do NOT go to the park today. If you do, and you happen to see a raven haired cutie in distress...just avert your eyes and keep right on walking. Check that...run, do not walk. Run as fast as you can. No, I mean it! I don't care if it's out of your character, you'll damn well do it. Oh...and by the way, call your grandfather...today!

1989-Life, as you know it, is about to take a turn. Use it to your advantage. Don't be afraid to take risks. Get out of your comfort level, and dive in with both feet. If it's over your head, you have the skills to swim. Do it!!

Mid to late 2000: Tell dad to get a colonoscopy even if his doctor didn't reccommend it. Just in case he didn't think it was a big deal, bring a picture of the headstone from his grave.

If I could do that, any other changes I could make by giving myself advice would be trivial.

When you meet a girl named Laura... run away. She's loco man.

I wouldn't change anything. I like who I am today. I wouldn't want to change that.

Well, I'd go back before I slept with all thoes strippers. Not something that needed to happen.

I agree with this statement. I think all of the things that have happened to me have made me who I am today, and I don't think I'd change that. Of course, there are things that happened in the past I wasn't proud of or wished hadn't happened, but I would never change them.

Christmas 1999 - Say you don't want the car for Christmas. It's gonna take $4,000 to get it running because it's such a shitcan. It only sells for $1,100 later.

Early 2001 - Don't do the deal with Dad/Stepmom. The car is way too expensive for teenagers. Don't get it painted. It's a waste of money. Volvo's are nice, but not the $10,000 kind with a part-time job.

Summer 2002 - Don't buy the BMW on the side of the road. It's a nice car on the outside, but engine is shit. Do try and learn how to drive a manual car though, it's fun! Buy that Cavalier, but get transmission fluid in it ASAP. It's a shitcan, but it runs and doesn't cost much to fix. Drop Modern Theatre History at college...without it, you'll make a 4.0 GPA Spring Semester.

Summer 2003 - Buy the Tempo ASAP. Best. Car. Ever.

-Lasereth

I would go back to the the time of my adolescence and say all the attraction to mass media, "alternative culture," "sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll," and my identification of myself as an "intellectual," "rebel," or a "special type of person" is self-defeating nonsense that will hurt me in ways I will not comprehend.

March 13, 1986:
Convince parents to take out a 2nd mortgage on their home.
Buy 5,000 shares of Microsoft for $105,000.
Enjoy the $39M today.

Same here. Except for the part about the stippers. I don't regret that :lol:

ooh, good call. i like your thinking. :)

edit: of course, that would've been hard for me to do considering i'd have only been 4 years old at the time.

I would definitely go forward a years and have hover conversion done to the Delorian THEN go back in time. :D

I'd go back in time, smack myself in the head and say:

When you start your A-levels, go to the damned lesson that girl tries to drag you into, for gods sake go to the damned lesson, or i will come back again and hurt you.

Don't drop 10 E's in 3 hours, it may seem like a good idea, but you won't realise theres a sofa bed at the party until the next morning, and you'll feel like shit for a month.

Your dealer is your dealer, not your friend, never EVER think otherwise.

Leave me some cash in the bank.

Go to the doc and get the radiotherapy, because you don't want to do the chemo.

I'd save it for later in case I make a really bad decision along the way. So far, I'm satisfied with who I am and how my life has been.

I'd probably go back to 1986 to tell my parents not to listen to their broker and BUY MICROSOFT STOCK.

i wouldnt change a thing in my past.....


....i WOULD travel forward in time though, id like to see where i end up by choosing the path im taking now, and if i wasnt content with my future......i guess id hafta do something drastic.

Sept. 21, 2002 - I'd tell my best friend to stay off his motorcycle... I still miss him.

If God won't let me save him, then I'd tell myself the next set of lotto #'s.

That's it. I like who I am today and any change might mean I wouldn't meet Angella and we wouldn't have the most beautiful daughter in the world, Emily. The extra cash would just be the cherry on top. :)

September '01-March '04

That lady doesn't have a stop sign, wait for her car to pass.

Watch out behind you when you back up.

Watch out behind you when you back up again.

Ease the car to the left.

Slow Down.

Study for that test. Don't use that translator program. Do your homework.

At what point does the reckless ignorance of youth stop being a valid excuse?

I would capture this opportunity and use it wisely, but I can't think of anything that jumps to my mind right away.

the problem is this, what I have today, certainly not enough spending money, but I have a good house, big ass superduty air conditioner to go it the house (ok, cleaning it was a bitch), two cars, pretty small mortgage, a family...without going through all the shit in my life i wouldn't have what I have today, events are interconnected, and I might add poverty is a great motivator for some.

if I had the kind of money that I have now (which's not much btw) when I was 26, I would buy a bigger house to live with my parents, and finance their retirement sooner, come to think of it I didn't spend enough time with my dad (left home for school when I was 19)

if I had the kind of money I have now when I was 35, I would pay for the $8000 hospital package for my wife, but I couldn't afford it.

all in all, if I tweak anything in the past, then I probably would not meet this woman and have beautiful kids with her, then again, I probably don't have to fill out this fucking damn application for the kid's ballet school...

Probably when I'm 11 (6th grade) I'd say "God won't clean your room for you, no matter how much you pray, don't worry about trying to fit in, do some sports, and you will meet the man of your dreams soon- so don't feel like you won't."

Hear hear! A genious has spoken!
That's exactly what I would do aswell. Since there is so much fun i have missed out on just because I didn't have enough money at the time.

I would go back to when I turned 20 and met my ex-girlfriend (Who F'ed up my life for 3 years) and tell my self to dump the crazy bitch. It will save you 3 years of pain (mental and physical) and who knows how much money in psychotherapy bills.

I'd tell myself not to slack off in school....and talk less...

2000 - stay in frickin Canada
2004 - do not get arrested

We're talking about regret here. Sure I have as many regrets as the next guy -if not more...

But if I could do it over again -I would've not let the love of my life pass me by when I was 25.

Not a thing I would do. I am afraid if I did one thing differently, I would not be where I am today. Even the ex-wife and worst divorce in history resulted in two great kids. So, no regrets.

Do I have to go back? As long as we're messing with the fabric of space and time, I'd rather check in on myself at the end of my life. I'm happy with my past, it's my future that concerns me.

Good point!

Yeah, for as much has happened to me, and as much as I'd love to be back with the girl I love to this day, we would be in a very lack-luster situation... and not at all happy with our careers. She has made so much progress, I don't dare take that away from her...

Pretty much as some of the others, I'd leave it at that and be happy that shit didn't turn out worse.

Me to self: "Buy Microsoft."

Thats awesome. I would do something like that too. Buy stocks in sucessful companys.

2002 - make sure a friend takes all his medication for Epilepsy. RIP man.

First trip back would be to 7th grade and I would tell me not to fall for the teasing, the cruel remarks and the labels.(don't worry, kid-those same guys, when 'adults', will be wishing they could get near those long legs! And the skin WILL clear up!) Second trip would be to last year of highschool, where I could tell me, my father and everyone else who tried to discourage my dreams (and almost succeeded) to ignore them, be strong and go for it, no matter what.No money in Graphic Art??) Last trip before heading home would be to 1977-when I second-guessed myself and turned down the chance to go to Paris on the start of what would have been a modelling career.

I would go way back and murder every person who claimed to be a prophet or who attempted to start a religion.

I might end up with an impressive body count, but it would be millions and millions less than the numerous religions have racked up amongst themselves.

I would give myself this one piece of advice:
Don't smoke weed at 10:00pm in a park on graduation night. Duh!