What advice would you give your 24 y.o. self?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m 24 and having a pretty stressful time of it at the moment. Various family, employment, financial and relationship issues are all coming to a head at the same time in my life. But I keep telling myself that I shouldn’t be so anxious - on the scale of possible human catastrophies I’m doing well, touch wood - I’m healthy, my family is healthy, I live in a peaceful, prosperous area of the world, yadda yadda.

Does this remind you of someone? Your 24 year old self, perhaps?
Tell me it’s all for a reason, or whatever. :wink:

2

Don’t be so afraid.

It’s OK to be alone.

Try something new.

Think, really think, about what you want from life.

Stop doing drugs. Right now.

3

Above post directed solely at my 24 year old self, of course. But the don’t be so afraid part might help. You can’t possibly get yourself into the kind of shit at 24 that you can at 42.

4

What is it like in the future? Do we have flying cars? Will you give me stock tips?

5

Stop wasting money.

Actually, I need to tell this to my now-25 year old self, as well.

Stop wasting money.

6

“Why should I be giving you advice? You should be giving me advice! Sheesh! Asking your 15 year old self to give you advice! God, I hope I’m never like you. Dammit.”

:smiley:

7

Put down the credit card! I know you’re on vacation and low on cash and have a huge credit limit, but you won’t have a job when you get home, and you’re going to be really surprised to discover that the economy has changed drastically since you last looked for a job, back in 2000. You’re gonna end up begging your parents for money, then selling plasma to buy whiskey, which, BTW, don’t do that either. And put on some damn sunscreen. And dreadlocks look stupid on you. And don’t quit Paxil cold turkey, you’ll go crazy. But, on the upside, your boyfriend is a nice guy, so stop stressing about it. End transmission.

ZJ

8

I’d tell my 24 year-old self:
“Get divorced NOW. Don’t continue to hang around, mull it over, be wishy-washy and and try to fix this broken marriage. You’ll just piss away a major portion of your life and wind up tossing that goddam ring in the Gulf of Mexico anyway.”

Sorry, but you did ask…

9

“Kiss her, you fool!” Nothing ventured, nothing gained, you pussy! :smiley:

10

Don’t get married. Travel instead.

11

Take lots of pictures. Pictures of your current friends, your favorite places, where you live. Pictures of yourself in your favorite outfits ( this will be quite funny in time). As you get older you forget what these things were like. Pictures bring all the memories back.

Keep a journal, or some sort of record of what is important to you. For me it is in the form of letters I had written, but never sent. I love reading those now. Gives me a great perspective of how things that seemed so traumatic at the time become little footnotes in the grand scheme of life.

Make some time to develop some new hobbies. When you are the busiest and most stressed is when you think you have no time for idle pleasure. But that is the time you need some idle pleasure the most.

Learn to enjoy doing things alone. I always loved to go to the race track. But it was not often I could find friends who could go when I could, or even friends who wanted to go. When I was 37 I went to the track by myself for the first time. I loved it. Met a whole new group of people outside my normal world. I now am co-owner of several thoroughbreds, and recently got to witness my first foal being born. I wish I had done this sooner.

Try everything once. Well within reason. If you hate guns, but get invited to go to a shooting range, just give it a try. Even if you hate it, you will have a great story to tell. Makes you much more interesting.

Picture who you want to be in 5 years. Picture it in your mind often, get a real sense for what that will feel like. Then start to do the things that will help you become that person. For many, 24 can be a real make or break time. You are just beginning to feel the real pressures adult life brings. How you learn to deal with them can make a big difference. An attitude of hope and gratefulness vs despair and hopelessness makes such a difference.

I think you are on the right track just the fact that you thought to ask this question. Which leads me to my final thought. Ask for lots of advice, as you have done in this OP. Ask the people who you would like to be like, what they think is important. Even ask those you don’t want to end up like, learn where they went wrong. You will probably see some very strong patterns.

Remember you are the sole architect of your life. Lots of things you didn’t plan for or expect will come your way. That is part of life. How you deal with those things will determine your ultimate result.

12

I wouldn’t have listened to me when I was 24, but I’d love to be 24 again with what I know now.

Answering the OP: Talk less. Listen more. If a pretty woman suggests it, say yes. :smiley: :wink:

13

You’ll get a great programming job in 6 months. Hang in there.

Please do not date that INSANE NUTCASE BITCH SLUT WHORE SLIMEBAG, ahem, girl in tech support. Please trust me on this.

You’re moving to CA in about a year, so don’t buy that condo in IL. Here’s your future wife’s phone#, please tell her to not do the same thing. You’re both going to lose a bundle on these properties. Don’t do it.

When you get to CA, wait until 1988 or so, and put it all in real estate. Put the other 100% of your money in tech startups.

14

I had a similar thread about two years ago.

15

Interesting, very interesting. Thanks in particular to Grits and Hard Toast (for some reason I’m seeing you as a Clint Eastwood-type). Anyone else care to advise? I’d like to have lots to consider.
Oh and thanks for the link Muad’Dib.

16

Nothing particularly brilliant; I’d say to my 24 year old self, "Hey, it’s been one year, and you’re still kind of bored barely scraping by not really doing what you love. So, get off your ass now and try doing the things you love so you don’t have to face each day wondering why life is as frustrating as it is.

17

“Think very hard about where you’ll be in a year.”

  • Adam, 25
18

Ah, in all seriousness. I’d tell my 24-year-old self, “Get your ass out there and join Americorps! The oldest you can join is at 24! You’ll kick yourself if you don’t!”

19

Get a Government Job NOW and contribute 10% to the Thrift Savings Plan.

I’m 42, so if I’d done that, I’d only be a few years away from retirement, with nearly half a million in the bank.

Other than that, though, I’m not regretting anything much.

20

  1. Look for a less obstreperous mate.

  2. Stop drinking completely and permanently.

  3. Notice that expensive things are often no more enjoyable than free and cheap things.

  4. Somehow convert the overating compulsion into a health-nut compulsion.

  5. Don’t abuse your back.

  6. Ask your urologist about Polycitra and save yourself about 10 grisly and creepy surgeries.

  7. Your tentative philosophy and strategy about thriving when you work on something you love is 100% true and will serve you wonderfully.

  8. Dammit. You’re not listening, are you? Dammit. Man, why’d I come all the way back here if you’re not even going to believe me? Dammit.