A Thought

[PurpleVeggie]

If there is anything

any advice or any warnings

any knowledge and any messages

any thing you wish you could give to your 16 year old self

please give it to me.

It will be taken to heart. please post here or PM me.

[Riot Da Woof!]

I know I'm not too much older, But a couple of things other's have told me:

Follow your heart over your mind.
Live for the journey, not the destination.
Don't forget your past, But move on from it.

I don't quite know what you wanted, but I hope everything goes well for you.
Best wishes.

[Neox]

The number one message I find myself telling younger people is to respect the people whose roof you're living under. I tried telling my 18y.o. sisters this and I hear that they've aggravated our parents so much that dad is kicking them out. Living for free can be easily taken for granted until it's taken away from you.

Another piece of advice that my parents taught me which is probably my favorite philosophy that I live by is that nothing is free and all good things are worth working for. I was taught at an early age how working hard always has its rewards and it's enabled me to get far in my early life on my own.

Above all, keep an open mind and don't turn down good opportunities. Be respectful and objective in all debates and arguments.

In my opinion, the fact that you even created this thread shows you as being more mature than most people your age (and even many that are older than you AND me). Kudos to you. =)

[mediar]

Short, simple, not too sweet and you proly heard it before. Don't be a douche and treat others how you want to be treated. Just following those two steps will take you so far!

[Renwaldo]

"You need to get out more, turn off the god-damn tv and go for a fucking walk or something."

That's what I would say.  :)

Also, "Do your bloody homework."

[Luna]

Things that looked gigantic and earth-shatteringly difficult ~5 years ago, impossible or embarrassing.. All I see now is a whole bunch of 'why didn't I just -do- x thing instead of obsessing over it?'s.

And with people.. I only graduated a year and a half ago, and I am currently in contact with -one-, maybe two people from high school. I can't believe how much I cared about what everyone that wasn't my friends thought, and how little they mean now. <3

[Silvermink]

Understand - I mean really understand - that you don't know everything, and that the things older people tell you often come from a position of greater experience. It's a lot easier to see this in hindsight, unfortunately.

Furthermore, take the opportunity to absorb that kind of advice and experience (you're obviously off to a good start on that) while you can. For example, I always wished I'd spent more time helping my mom cook, because nowadays I do most of our cooking and while I do a pretty good job, I think, there are places where I say, 'Damn, I really wish I'd let mom teach me how to do this'. I mean, she's still alive and well, but they live an hour out into the Valley and spend half the year in Mexico, so it's a lot harder now than it was to benefit from her advice on that front. My dad also did a lot of maintenance on my car (he was a mechanic for 40 years or so) and I ended up wishing I'd spent more time paying attention.

Appreciate your parents as people, not just as "mom" and "dad" and as dispensers of food, shelter, clothing, money, love, etc. Understand that they've probably gone through a lot of the same experiences, feelings, and such that you have. Seeing your parents as people rather than solely as "mom" and "dad" is harder than it sounds.

Things that looked gigantic and earth-shatteringly difficult ~5 years ago, impossible or embarrassing.. All I see now is a whole bunch of 'why didn't I just -do- x thing instead of obsessing over it?'s.

And with people.. I only graduated a year and a half ago, and I am currently in contact with -one-, maybe two people from high school. I can't believe how much I cared about what everyone that wasn't my friends thought, and how little they mean now. <3

Yep. Realize (and this is good advice for everyone, not just young people) that the things you're losing sleep over today may not even matter to you in 20, 10, 5, or even 2 years. That's not to say you should just blow things off, but try not to get so buried in some particular problem that you lose perspective. I still struggle with that one myself.

And yeah, I keep up with exactly one (1) person from high school, and not very often at that. I have a few others on Facebook, but I can't say I ever really talk to them much.

[Neox]

Understand - I mean really understand - that you don't know everything, and that the things older people tell you often come from a position of greater experience. It's a lot easier to see this in hindsight, unfortunately.

I despise how true this fact is.  I'm only 22, and I can look back even four years and think to myself, "Wow.  I was a real dumb fucking kid back then."

I'm still dumb though, so really... what's changed? XP

[Silvermink]

Understand - I mean really understand - that you don't know everything, and that the things older people tell you often come from a position of greater experience. It's a lot easier to see this in hindsight, unfortunately.

I despise how true this fact is.  I'm only 22, and I can look back even four years and think to myself, "Wow.  I was a real dumb fucking kid back then."

I'm still dumb though, so really... what's changed? XP

Yeah, I think part of it is the difference between intelligence and wisdom, if I can make reference to D&D stats. ;)

[heartsend]

i would probably say...

do what you know is right, and stand up for what you know is right.
there are good people out there, and there are bad ones too...always make sure you know which type you are dealing with.
value the people who care about you...people are never perfect, but if they really care then you need them in your life.
don't dwell on the past too much...your experiences teach you, so take what good you can and focus on moving on...
there is a lot of good in the world, and beauty...look for it. sometimes it's hard to see...

i know i've repeated some things others have said...and there's always more...but i hope it helps a little...

[Peli]

I'm probably not the right person to be giving advice, but I think I know a thing or two.

Learn to cook before you leave home. Even just a little bit. This can't be stressed enough. Nothing will be worse on your body than living on sidekicks and KD. Even something as simple as learning to make good veggie stirfries or casseroles will be a lifesaver.

Everyone seems to say "be nice to everyone, treat everyone how you want to be treated". It's good advice, but if you really want to get anywhere, it's more often true that you have to be ruthlessly ambitious, and prepared to think only of yourself and what's best in your interests (I'm saying this in a professional sense, not in a relationship sense, of course. Always be nice to your friends). Obviously this has a lot to do with what you want to accomplish professionally, and what field you want to get in. But if it's something high-stakes and high-paying, be prepared to step on people to advance. :3

Otherwise... I dunno, screen your roommates before you move in somewhere so you don't end up with someone who has sex in your bed when you're out of town.

[Akonite]

If there is anything

any advice or any warnings

any knowledge and any messages

any thing you wish you could give to your 16 year old self

please give it to me.

It will be taken to heart. please post here or PM me.

Don't give up any of your dreams or alter them for someone else in your life. No matter how much you love them.

If they love you back and the love is true, they will become part of your dreams... not put them on hold.

Love can be fleeting. You might only get one shot at your dreams.

[terutt]

I was even more stupid when I was sixteen than when I am now, so this list is non-exhaustive. Also, if you're gay, or bi, do the obvious gender switches.

• Ask her out. Go for it. Even if she says no, you'll be no worse off.
• No one cares what you think of anything, best to keep your mouth shut.
• No one is having sex in high school, so you don't have to feel left out.
• Don't go to university or college unless you want to. It's a waste of time, money, and effort.
• The friends you have now, even the stupid ones who you leave to go on to greener pastures, will show up, within the next hour if you ask them, to exact bloody vengeance on anyone, no questions asked, but only if you keep in touch.
• Being a furry is the last thing you'll have to worry about when it comes to fetishes and/or fixations. You'll see, meet, and hear about a lot worse.
• Study your ass off. Never burn any bridges because you didn't put in the effort.
• Learn to read, learn to write. Good writing will serve you for the rest of your natural life.
• By the time you graduate high school, learn to cook one simple thing, really well, so you can do it by memory without measuring cups or spoons, with a moments notice.
• Learn how to deal with money, both having it, and not.
• Make sure you want that specific girl, not just a girlfriend.
• If you are a furvert, tell your partner. It's more important than you think.
• Your parents, unless they are addicts or they beat you, love you in their own fucked up little way. You'll realize this when you're in your late 20's.
• No one needs to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or businessman. Carpenters, electricians, plumbers and bus drivers make more than them on a regular basis.
• Read every damn contract you sign ever, for the rest of your life. Never ever be surprised by something you agreed to.
• People, in general, are good, trusting, non-judgmental, and like other people. There is no need to be afraid of anyone before you speak to them.
• Look 'em in the eye.
• Never be a different person in public than you are in private. I guarantee almost every person you see on the street will forget your face by the end of the day.
• For all things good and holy DO NOT tell your parents you are furry. They have a right not to know this. (Unless you want to ruin their lives or not have them speak to you again, then go for it.)

[Renwaldo]

• For all things good and holy DO NOT tell your parents you are furry. They have a right not to know this. (Unless you want to ruin their lives or not have them speak to you again, then go for it.)

I had a similar thing happen to me when I was fifteen.  :(
Mine eventually forgot about and forgave me for it though.

[Roffo]

• For all things good and holy DO NOT tell your parents you are furry. They have a right not to know this. (Unless you want to ruin their lives or not have them speak to you again, then go for it.)

I had a similar thing happen to me when I was fifteen.  :(
Mine eventually forgot about and forgave me for it though.

How much I love hiding that fact that I am a furry with my family and parents. Its right under their noses and they can't catch the hint. My mom even mentioned furries to me at a time. Its like a game where hiding every ounce of evidence becomes crucial. Than again, I am very open about who I am.

As for advice, since I am still in the teenage years, I say to enjoy your hobbies. Everyday I pray for free time from school so I can get that extra bit of rest and comfort so I can do what I love.  :)[/list]