What advice would you give to your younger selves?

[Hercule]

Protestant guilt is going about your life feeling vaguely guilty that you're not sure what you're supposed to be feeling guilty about, so you hedge your bets and distribute it around to more or less everything.

The idea of religious guilt is interesting and as irreverent and as factious as these posts may appear, there are genuine, real world characterizations that can be made. In my experience, with regard to assuaging guilt, a Protestant is most likely to work it off whereas a Catholic would more readily pay it off.

 

[Zombie_61]

"Pay attention, it goes by quickly"

"She's just using you for your money."

"Never buy anything from someone who is out of breath."

 

[Tiki Tom]

If you run out of dough, she will dump you like yesterday’s stale bread.

 

[Hercule]

Before you pop the question, consider how her parents act towards each other. Because ultimately that's what you'll be getting.

 

[Tiki Tom]

Before you pop the question, consider how her parents act towards each other. Because ultimately that's what you'll be getting.

This is very true. If she (or he) came from a family train wreck, tread carefully.

 

[Hercule]

This is very true. If she (or he) came from a family train wreck, tread carefully.

I think the bottom line that nobody probably wants to admit is that all of us eventually become our parents.

 

[Frunobulax]

I think the bottom line that nobody probably wants to admit is that all of us eventually become our parents.

That would make me proud.

 

[Zombie_61]

Before you pop the question, consider how her parents act towards each other. Because ultimately that's what you'll be getting.

In 1980 I started dating the woman who would become my wife in 1981. My immediate work supervisor at the time was not shy about offering me the "life lessons" he'd learned, and one of his pieces of advice was for me to observe my wife's mother and pay attention to the way she treated my wife's father because, according to him, my girlfriend would attempt to treat me the same way. I had learned fairly quickly to pay attention to this supervisor because his observations were spot on at least 90% of the time, and when they weren't his conclusions weren't too far off the mark. And, sure enough, he was right this time too. She (my girlfriend) tried, but hadn't considered that I was not her father, and was not the type to simply "follow orders" as he generally did...unless I was getting paid to do so...at work, for example. Anyway, we found our way, I let her have her way when the subject wasn't particularly important to me, and we will be celebrating our 40th anniversary as husband and wife later this year.

 

[Frunobulax]

In 1980 I started dating the woman who would become my wife in 1981. My immediate work supervisor at the time was not shy about offering me the "life lessons" he'd learned, and one of his pieces of advice was for me to observe my wife's mother and pay attention to the way she treated my wife's father because, according to him, my girlfriend would attempt to treat me the same way. I had learned fairly quickly to pay attention to this supervisor because his observations were spot on at least 90% of the time, and when they weren't his conclusions weren't too far off the mark. And, sure enough, he was right this time too. She (my girlfriend) tried, but hadn't considered that I was not her father, and was not the type to simply "follow orders" as he generally did...unless I was getting paid to do so...at work, for example. Anyway, we found our way, I let her have her way when the subject wasn't particularly important to me, and we will be celebrating our 40th anniversary as husband and wife later this year.

Congratulations, Al.

My mother-in-law was slightly insane, but I loved her to death.

My wife? Completely insane. Number 29 in less than a month, with no end in sight.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Another good one to my young self:

Boy, train a little, get a little fitter. No need for sports and fitness studio, but work on yourself. Hold on William Shatner: "Train, improve yourself."

 

[Turnip]

„When you get slapped on your left cheek, thrash your tankard right into the center of your opponent’s face.“

 

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

Went right to Aldershot and the paras after Cambridge. Quit Trinity for the Army when I could easily have sat Solicitors since I read all papers. Not that I regiment regret but my only silk worn is a parachute.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Not so much advice as an observation: "Whatever you think is going to happen to you, don't count on it."

 

[tonyb]

Not so much advice as an observation: "Whatever you think is going to happen to you, don't count on it."

No foolin’. We are so prone to wasting psychic energy fretting over what is unlikely ever to happen.

My late brother would run worrisome scenarios by me, to which I would typically respond, “Man, I take this as a sign that you have very few actual problems, so you gotta make some up.”

The flip side of that coin is magical thinking. I’d rather deal with a fretter.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Learn ways to not let provocations effect you.

 

[belfastboy]

I am thinking it would be a waste of time as I would have been young and would not have listen to an old fogey anyway.

 

[tonyb]

I am thinking it would be a waste of time as I would have been young and would not have listen to an old fogey anyway.

I recall older fellows with health problems telling me I would find myself in their condition should I continue in my ways, and that it would be wise of me to change certain habits while there was still time.

I heard them clearly. I appreciated their concern for my future. And then I did nothing about it.

 

[Zombie_61]

Not so much advice as an observation: "Whatever you think is going to happen to you, don't count on it."

"Life is what happens while we're busy making other plans."
Paraphrased from John Lennon, who paraphrased it from someone as well.

 

[Trenchfriend]

"Relax. Life just consists of episodes."

by me

 

[Trenchfriend]

Boy, DON'T think about the Germans!
It's waste of time. They are, what they are and they will never change. Still nothing more than the mirror image of their worthless public education system.