What would you tell your younger self?

[InTheRoughAgain]

Everything happens for a reason...and:

 

In the end everything will be ok. And if it's not ok, it's not the end

 

2 very true wisdoms, I shoud have known 10 to 15 years ago.

[bigred90gt]

I ripped this from another website I've frequented in the past. I think it's probably the best summation of good advice a person had ever put in print (it was supposed to be financial advice, but obviously goes much deeper):

 

If you are a guy, you may not fully understand when you meet a really great girl that there are really good reasons to hang onto her, even if you feel that the "timing" in your life or her life is off. Contrary to how it may seem to you at the time, you may meet thousands of girls after her, but you might never meet one who is so great for you as this one is. There are a lot of pressures now in mens' lives to be bachelors to their late 30s and beyond. There is a price to pay for this, so just try to be aware of the pros and cons if you decide to let a special woman go.

 

And PLEASE communicate well with any woman you are breaking up with. They deserve to hear kindnesses and be treated with respect, and to know what really is going on in your thoughts and life. The silent treatment can be unbelievably cruel and leave lasting scars, even though it's easiest for you at the time.

 

 

Going through the divorce I currently am in the middle of, I can absolutely, without a doubt say, this is sound advice. I'm the one that left, and there are days I question if I made the right decision or not. I'm 36, so I fit the description quite well of the first part, and when we were in the thick of our worst moments, I was the one that shut down and just gave the blank stares. It eats at me constantly.

 

On that same note, I would say that if you are in your late teens/early twenties, don't fall into the peer pressure to get married and start a family. Thankfully, neither myself or my wife wanted kids, so we didn't fall into that pressure. But, there was immense pressure to get married, from her and from our families, and I went with the status quo at 24 and got engaged after 4 years of dating. We got married in 07. I was 20 when we started dating, and while I wouldn't change anything I've done in my life, as I'm a firm believer in that it has molded me into the man I am today, I would advise against getting into that kind of commitment at such a young age. For every fairy tale love story of the high school sweethearts who die together in old age, there are millions of stories of failures because neither party really knew who they were when they made the decision to marry. Once they figure it out, they realize they are not as compatible as they once thought, and every little thing starts to add up, slowly (or quickly) eating away at the fabric of their marriage. Take the time in your early/mid 20's to figure out who you are and what you want from life.

[bigred90gt]

Wear a wedding ring when you are single ; )

 

Funny, I had the opposite experience. I always had women approaching me before I got married, and when the ring hit the finger, it all quit (not that I cared, I was madly in love and wouldn't have done anything anyway). I only wore my ring for a few months, as at some point in my life I developed an allergy to metals so it broke my finger out in the nastiest rash ever. As soon as I left my wife, I became a magnet for women. I don't know if I am more outgoing than I used to be, more confident in myself now that I am older (we were together 15 years), or if it is a combination of the two. Or it could be the half grey beard, lol.

[Uncle Chunk]

Only 1.....Chad, when THAT 1 job calls and REALLY REALLY wants you, do me a favor AND TAKE IT!.That's really the only thing I can think of to tell myself, everything else he can figure out on his own, it's not that bad...Oh and when those 2 BIG time College coaches come to see you play DON'T get into foul trouble AND play like s***!

[tannyhoban]

Nothing cause I know he wouldn't listen anyway. At any rate it all works out, no regrets here.

[golfortennis]

When in doubt, always kiss the girl.

[Golf Symantics22]

Wear sunscreen

Wear proper mask when welding for 30 yrs

Go for the things u want hard

 

I had my helmet malfunction pretty badly. Then a new one went blinky while I was looking at the arc. Seeing flashes while you blink is fun.

[Sun Devil]

Take more risk - worry less about making mistakes

Get my MBA right after college

Should have closed the deal more with willing women

 

 

The old adage that if you don't take any risks ... you'll never realize a POTENTIAL dream. Very true, but I can think of a certain business risk I took when I was younger that I regret today. I would have told my younger self ..... Don't do it!!! But hind site is 20/20.

 

Ok, now I'm interested. Can you expand on that in general terms? I don't want to get anyone in trouble, but I am very interested in your lesson learned.

 

Not so much a lesson as ...... bad timing. I purchased an office condo 1 year before the recession hit. I would be better off today if I hadn't.

[Bob Cat]

Those days you're so dang busy in the office that you don't have time to take lunch... get the heck outa there and go to lunch!

[deetsal]

Your a little bit less of an a## h### when you got older.