Advice to a younger self...

What would I say to myself if I could go back in time and give myself some good advice? That isn't hard to say, though most of my advice would assume some hopefully existent modicum of motivation, and a willingness to listen to myself. I would have a bit to say about most things, and I sincerely hope that I was mature enough four years ago to realize that the dearly bought experience that I might contain in four years time could only be bought through a painfully potent blend of trial and error, and missed opportunities. I'm not saying that my life is hopelessly screwed up beyond repair, but it certainly isn't as great as it could be. I am young, and still have time to decide what it is I want to do with my life, to learn how to manage my assets (well), and to use the prodigious physical and mental abilities I was gifted at birth. What I am saying is that I have time to change (barely) and so hope that through the typing of this blog, I can encourage myself to do better. At life.

If I could speak to myself three years ago, I would tell myself to hit the gym. Stop eating, sitting around, doing nothing particularly important, and go exercise. Because six months ago, I became a diagnosed diabetic. And my life hasn't exactly improved because of this. In addition I'd tell myself to watch my eating habits. Not change them exactly, but observe and cut back a little. This is probably the singular most momentous occurrence in my life in the last decade. It has changed the way my entire life operates and it could have been avoided if I had been a bit more careful. On the plus side, I can still turn this around. Yes diabetes is actually curable if you catch it early enough...

I wouldn't just talk about my myriad of avoidable health problems though. I'd tell myself to get a planner. I don't care if the school gives me one. I'd make myself go out and purchase a personal planner, and monitor myself for a week to make sure I used it. It could have been that helpful. I pride myself on having a fairly good memory, but no one can indefinitely hold on to an increasing pile up of facts. At any rate, having a simple book to write things down in could have set me up for a success the like of which I have almost never known. I'd almost certainly be a much more productive member of society at any rate. So now I'm going to do my darnedest to make up for it as my next blog (posted tonight) will attest to. Yay productivity!

The next thing I would drill into my tiny untempered skull is to ALWAYS do my homework. Seems like a simple enough thing to grasp right? Well it is the one thing I have tried time and again to hold onto, and I have failed to master this simple tenet time and time again. Obviously I am already trying to fix that (even as we spea-I type) but this doesn't only apply to my past self. To everyone reading this of the age 16 or younger (not that that actually ever happens): DO YER FRIGGIN' HOMEWORK!!!!1!!!one!!! Seriously though, this is important. Because of my failure to grasp this concept whole heartedly, I didn't know how to study. I didn't have any homework to review as a result of my failing, and that resulted in, well, failing. Tests. Many of them. Many of then I would have been quite bettter off passing.

Finally I would tell myself to grow a pair and go for things. You can't win if you don't try. Not saying anything isn't better than saying something hurtful. It's just more secret. Maybe it wouldn't have been hurtful. Not trying is the number one cause of failure...etc.etc. It took me a while to grasp this, but I think bashfulness and an unwillingness to put my neck on the line occassionally means that I miss out on things. And worse yet, sometime trying does backfire. Still I would tell myself to do this. To join drama a year earlier, take an active interest in the clubs I join. To lead (to a small extent, because I truly dislike leadership and have no envy for the big leaders). Hopefully my non-inhibition won't backfire in any really horrific ways n the future.

At any rate, if I did get the chance to tell myself these things, I sincerely hope that I would listen. In fact, I'd probably tell myself to listen to me. On a serious note, I'm off to tackle the problems disscussed.