# If only I knew then... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 9, 2000, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616 "2000-02-09T19:33:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Girlbysea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Girlbysea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girlbysea)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/21 "2000-02-09T22:16:00Z")
I would not have changed a thing. I’ve enjoyed the dance. * * * * * * Girlbysea (AKA: ChiefScott’s GBS) ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/22 "2000-02-09T22:47:00Z")
At the moment: I would go back and tell myself to get laid and relax and start drinking earlier, and don’t **worry** about it! * * * I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/23 "2000-02-10T02:59:00Z")
I would have told myself at 16 to enjoy living at home rent-free with no bills what-so-ever!! I would have enjoyed my teenage years more. They seem like a blur now! That’s about the only thing I would change though. Every mistake I’ve made has made me into the person I am today. Had I not experienced that heartache and pain I would not be the strong independent woman that I am today. * * * That John Denver’s full of shit man! ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/24 "2000-02-10T03:05:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Every mistake I’ve made has made me into the person I am today. Had I not experienced that heartache and pain I would not be the strong independent woman that I am today. This is just how I feel. I’ve been through some nasty stuff, but if it _hadn’t_ happened, I wouldn’t have become the person I am right now. ## Still got a little bit of tweaking to do, but overall, this particular model of me is the one I like best. Changing my sig, because Wally said to, and I really like Wally, and I’ll do anything he says, anytime he says to. ---
**Author:** ![AzRaek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/azraek/32/16739_2.png) [@AzRaek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AzRaek)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/25 "2000-02-10T03:44:00Z")
Psst, young Az, buy Cisco, not candy. And learn to play pool and drive a stick. * * * I’m not a fallen angel, I’m a risen demon. ---
**Author:** ![Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout_Mask_Replica)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/26 "2000-02-10T03:53:00Z")
What would I say to my younger self? Go on, ask her to dance. What’s the worst that can happen? – TMR ‘Oh yeah, and wearing a T-shirt and flannel to a job interview is a Bad Idea.’ ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/27 "2000-02-10T05:14:00Z")
If I only knew then, what I know now… I’d still make all the same stupid mistakes ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/28 "2000-02-10T08:30:00Z")
Don’t talk so much. * * * Remember, I’m pulling for you; we’re all in this together. —Red Green ---
**Author:** ![bunnymom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c4cdca/32.png) [@bunnymom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunnymom)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/29 "2000-02-10T09:18:00Z")
If I could go back , I’d tell myself that lonliness doesn’t last forever-it only seems that way when you’re 14 and have bad hair. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/30 "2000-02-10T10:18:00Z")
I would’ve told myself to get a decent haircut, to wear better clothes, and to have mor confidence in myself (and hopefully be very convincing, because I don’t listen to my own advice even now). It’d make my life a lot different, that’s for sure, and I don’t care if it would’ve meant I’d end up in a different place than where I am today. * * * **-PIGEONMAN-** [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - **Shadow of the Pigeon** Weirdo of the Night ---
**Author:** ![Salustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Salustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salustra)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/31 "2000-02-10T15:42:00Z")
At 23, I’d tell myself to not rebound to get even, how was I to know I’d get pregnant and it would altered my life forever. Going back 1 1/2 yr.s ago, I’d tell myself to investigate the situation a little deeper, I could have saved myself a lot of heartache. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/32 "2000-02-10T15:46:00Z")
I think I’d have told myself to listen to my father. And actually do what he said. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/33 "2000-02-10T15:53:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by three bunny mama: > **If I could go back , I’d tell myself that lonliness doesn’t last forever-it only seems that way when you’re 14 and have bad hair.** …for some people… * * * Habit rules the unreflecting herd. - Wordsworth ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/34 "2000-02-10T16:02:00Z")
I would tell myself that contrary to what everybody says, the boys are NEVER going to catch up maturity wise. That was one big lie they were spreading around in junior high, maybe they thought we couldn’t handle the truth. That and: you are in the process of becoming everything you will ever be. * * * “Wisdom is the booby prize, they give you when you’ve been unwise.” ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Plays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dan\_Plays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Plays)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/35 "2000-02-10T19:32:00Z")
I would say to myself at 15, self? Don’t start smoking, you’re not going to believe what this will cost you in the year 2000. And self? Whatever you ever do in this life again, don’t go out with Wendy tomorrow. She will ruin your life, and any trust you ever had for women. Danny * * * Madness Takes its Toll, Please Have Exact Change. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616/36 "2000-02-10T20:34:00Z")
I’d also tell myself at 15 to wake up and pay attention to the captain of the soccer team. I have a friend who SWEARS up and down that he had a crush on me, and I had one on him, and that I was just so up in the clouds all the time that I never noticed. DAMMIT! * * * Habit rules the unreflecting herd. - Wordsworth [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-i-knew-then/13616.md?page=1)