Chucky Mama Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 There is a great book called Dear Me: A Letter to My Sixteen-Year-Old Self Various famous people write a letter to their '16 year old selves' with the gift of hindsight. For instance this is the letter that John Barrowman would write (I have chosen this one as it is shortish, some are quite deep and some quite funny) "John, please turn off "Dynasty" and read this. 1/ I'm starting with this one because it will disappoint you. There are no flying cars in the future. No hovercrafts zipping up walls, no supersonic vehicles shooting out of garages at rocket speeds. Not happening. You, though have kept up your passion for cars of all shapes and sizes in the future you own some really cool ones. 2/ Dream big,work hard, and floss everyday. Trust me. All three will pay off. 3/ Continue to surround yourself with people who nurture your talents. Drop the ones who don't have passion or dreams. 4/ Finally, and keep this one to yourself. Remember the story you read in the Chicago Tribune about 2 guys who invented an amazing piece of technology in their garages in California a few years ago? Despite their company's fruity name, insist that dad buy all the stock that he can afford". So, what would you tell your 16 year old self? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Gosh thats a tough one, I like the: 3/ Continue to surround yourself with people who nurture your talents. Drop the ones who don't have passion or dreams. I also would say to follow your gut feeling as i now know most of them were right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Stop thinking about the opposite sex and get those A levels as when you are 49 you will regret it. Have your children in your 20;s not 30;s and 40's as by then you are too old, knackered and past it. Make the most of the time you have with those around you as when they have gone you will regret it .Dont let the sun go down on your anger as who knows whats round the corner - love and hug those close to you as every day with them is a bonus - oh and sorry you wont look good in leggings = no one does even a stick insect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 oh and sorry you wont look good in leggings = no one does even a stick insect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 PUT DOWN THAT CAKE.....when you are 44 you will really regret it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Nice one Cinnamon - forgot cake - how could I forget cake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Dear ANH Please try and decide on a career. If you're not careful you'll be 48 and still not know what you want to be when you grow up . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Dear ANH Please try and decide on a career. If you're not careful you'll be 48 and still not know what you want to be when you grow up . I will give a little thought to the letter - but I am rubbish at these things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElvisFan Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Firstly - LOVE the cake. I would write, someone will break your heart but you WILL get over it and your mother will be right there is someone out there for you and you will find Mr Right Guess what she was and I did and she's still always right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 How funny! My friend asked me a similar question last week. I said I would have not started smoking, taken every opportunity at school and college and saved money and not frittered it away. I would have also been much more careful about what I ate and make exercise a regular thing. And learnt to drive when I was 17 I still can't now and am too scared of the roads nowadays. Hubby says he would have bought a load of shares in Microsoft Oh, and I am almost 40 and still don't know what I want to be when I grows up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 To all girls, Never, ever put yourself in a position in a position when you are financially dependent on anyone else. No matter how much you love/think you love them. Never ever put yourself in a position where you have no escape. Never ever think I can change him..................you can't. Please, please sort out a career first & relationships second. You will be much more interesting in your twenties than as a teenager. Don't give up your football, hockey or any other sport you choose..............if football is your dream follow it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Gosh, these have made me smile, but thinking about myself at sixteen is a bit emotional. I wholeheartedly endorse sparkysmum's comments, especially the one about thinking you can change someone! Dear Olly, You're not fat, so don't start dieting; all you'll achieve is to gain weight and develop a dodgy relationship with food that will take you years to overcome! Don't spend so long wishing you had a boyfriend - actually there ARE more important things in life, and you can have fun without a Significant Other. Enjoy life a little more, and stop worrying so much - you're unique, wonderful and talented, and life will be good to you. Oh, and start paying into a pension. Right now. 34 years later, you'll be glad you did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sari Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I would say..... Try to remember school doesn't last forever, and that no matter how unhappy you are now, in a few years it will all be over...and next year you will meet a boy, who is a bit of an idiot, but give him a chance to stop being a rude synonym for a piece of anatomy and he will be your soul mate...honestly. He's a bit arrogant, but that will subside when he gets over himself... Stop drinking so much, going out clubbing on a Monday, and study harder....be a bit nicer to your Mum, she's struggling with madam menopause, and don't bother worrying about your weight, you're a size 10......in 20 years time you'll be an 18 and won't care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 *Errrmmm* Listen to your Dad, he is always right... my mother never was and never has been Don't ride motorbikes at high speed; your body is a delicate thing, likewise, don't stand next to the speakers at gigs unless you want to be stone deaf at 50 Don't waste time on drains and emotional vampires, surround yourself with positive people and don't try to help/change folk. Pay attention at school, an MA is self indulgent and not a good base for a career Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Fascinating, I will have to ponder on this one, but for starters, relax, life gets better as you age and contentment is not boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Dear ANH Please try and decide on a career. If you're not careful you'll be 48 and still not know what you want to be when you grow up . I agree with this soo much we often say, if life is a party, I'm still waiting to take my coat off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 This thread has made me laugh and cry - if only we knew then what we know now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 contentment is not boring. I really love this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 To my 16 year old self Stop worrying about your looks, in a year or so you will be stunning and you will stay stunning for about the next 10 years - make the most of it (as it won't last) and don't wait until you are are 40 something looking at photos of you in your 20's to realise how good you looked. Edited to add, the above is a message to all 16 year old girls ! Ignore anyone who tells you you're fat and don't give up on keeping your weight down because you don't think it's worth the effort. You were not fat then but you will be if you start eating what you like and stop exercising. And stick with the studying, it is worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 *deep breath* Dear Rhapsody, No matter how you are feeling right now let me assure you you will get out of there, by your own courage and effort- this is something you will hold like a bright shiny coin for the rest of your life. You will never make friends easily and gain a reputation far and wide as the Worlds Most Agumentative Baggage, but wear it with style. You will fall head over heels with a Walking Dream and marry him on a beach. Chin up my lovely, this too shall pass xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I wouldn't tell my 16 year old self much at all really because I'm a firm believer in fate, I wouldn't want a life without my girls and if I did anything at all differently maybe they wouldn't be here? The only thing I would say to 16 year old me is spend more time with your nan because she'll be gone soon and you'll miss her every day for the rest of your life My lovely nan died three days after my 17th birthday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Have a bit more confidence in yourself and stop trying to please everyone - just please yourself. Oh , and say yes next time that cute guy who sits next to you in french asks you out , or you're going to spend the rest of your life wondering 'what if?' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I wouldn't tell my 16 year old self much at all really because I'm a firm believer in fate, I wouldn't want a life without my girls and if I did anything at all differently maybe they wouldn't be here? The only thing I would say to 16 year old me is spend more time with your nan because she'll be gone soon and you'll miss her every day for the rest of your life My lovely nan died three days after my 17th birthday Griffin - I was going to say the same thing about my Nan. We used to see my Nan every week, then we moved and within a couple of weeks my Nan had died. I was 16 and I still miss her, she always seemed to understand me and was a larger than life character. I'd have loved to have had longer with her and to have told her how much she meant to me. I'd also tell my 16 year old self to just enjoy myself, my body at 16 is going to be the best it will ever be and that life can go by so quickly. I'd still do everything else the same though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Here goes, 1). Don't buy the first car you see. It is made almost entirely of egg boxes beneath that shiny paint. 2). If you think life at home is unbearable, move out. 3). If you think Maths is hard now imagine what it will be like in 15 years time when beer has erased what you now know about the subject. 4). In 3 years time you will meet a crazy woman, move in with her to solve point 2 (it is character building living with a psycho) . After 3 years and 1064 rows, living back at home will seem attractive, go do it. 5). Do not have row 1065. It ends with a pair of stilleto's embedded in your skull. 6). If you ever meet a girl from the other end of the country don't let geography get between you . 7). When you buy your first house, start decorating. If you put it off you still won't have finished when you are writing you this -. If you ever have an overwhelming sense of forboding about the well being of someone close, you are right, act immediately. 9) If you find yourself forever in the role of peacemaker, park your white tank, take off the blue berry and let em get on with it, some battles have to happen. 10). Don't laugh at people who have allotments and keep chickens Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 7). When you buy your first house, start decorating. If you put it off you still won't have finished when you are writing you this and 9) If you find yourself forever in the role of peacemaker, park your white tank, take off the blue berry and let em get on with it, some battles have to happen. Two essential truths - Kev! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
