Recently, someone on the radio posed this question: what advice would you give your 15-year-0ld self?Would you offer guidance about peer pressure, bullies, high expectations, or high-waisted jeans?
I'd tell myself to travel a little bit before buying a house. I was 21 when I took on a mortgage, and although it was a sound decision, I think a couple of years of whimsy never hurt anyone...much.
I'd also tell myself to take my writing hobby seriously. I'd suggest digging in to that diary I kept, and turning those nuggets into a piece of fiction. I'd even go so far as to suggest sending that manuscript off to an agent or editor. It's never to late to start, or too early.
Just for fun, what would you tell yourself at that age? If you turned down Bill Gates when he asked you to the junior prom, that definitely counts!
photo credit: flickr
I'd tell myself to chill out! No need to stress so much. (I was a mega stress case in high school.)
ReplyDeleteFun question! Thanks, Julie.
I would also tell myself to not be so shy of who I was, reach out more to others and dream big!
ReplyDeleteWow. Great question. I'd tell me not to buy the first house I saw, practically. No matter how much my mother tries to tell me what a great buy it is.
ReplyDeleteI would tell myself to be more active in the decisions made about my life. Fight harder and better for what I wanted.
ReplyDeleteHi, Julie. Hmm? Let's see...
ReplyDeleteSave your work. That's always a fun lesson to learn.
Don't drive to Fresno, Ca. to visit that friend the day my cherried-out 64 Volkswagon was totaled and towed away, never to be seen again.
I guess what I would tell myself is not to worry. Everything will work out in God's perfect timing.
Thanks for asking, Julie. Have a great weekend.
-Jimmy
My answer is the same as Shallee's - stop stressing! Also, stop being so darn shy and insecure! :-)
ReplyDeleteFun question! I'd tell myself to flirt more with boys and to stop being a grade whore (to focus more on learning than on getting the "A"). I'd also encourage myself to enjoy each swimming race instead of getting so nervous.
ReplyDeleteThis is an easy one for me - right now - I'd tell myself to stop being the peace maker all the time and stick up for yourself once in a while.
ReplyDeleteI would have told myself to prepare for medical school. But alas, I did what most kids did and majored in what I liked the first go around, which was English. However, it was still a good choice, for me.
ReplyDeleteJane
I would tell myself to get individual counseling BEFORE I got married. I brought a lot of baggage into our marriage that almost ended in divorce in (our 4th year of marriage). I got individual counseling and we went through marriage counseling. We are happily married having just celebrated 22 years, but there are regrets that even time can't hide.
ReplyDeleteThat question stated because a debut author posed that on Twitter as a promotion for her book. I think it's a good question.
ReplyDeleteI'd tell myself:
Study more - party less
Buy that house when the time comes - the market's going to explode and if you don't buy, you'll be left in the dust.
(Like you) Believe that you have the ability to write. Start writing now.
I would tell myself to have more confidence, take a few more risks and to believe in myself a lot more. :)
ReplyDeletethis is a fun one. Me: Lighten up; stop being so self-conscious... :D I guess "take that writing hobby" serioiusly is good advice, but I didn't have enough life experience I don't think (or depth) to write anything lasting. :o)
ReplyDeleteagree with shallee --- i would tell myself not to worry so much. high school is so very quickly in one's rear view mirror.
ReplyDeletedid you really buy a house at 21??? good lord girl that's incredible! i was merely bussing tables at that age!
I don't know what I'd say. I'm almost afraid to really think about it. But I can say that I'm glad you waited to write, for selfish reasons. I don't know if we'd have met otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI would tell myself to reach for my dreams, to think big and work towards it.
ReplyDeleteI too would tell myself to take my little writing hobby a little more seriously. Oh and not to shop quite so much!
ReplyDeleteI’d tell myself to choose the people who I look up to, very carefully.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Shallee and Anna. I would tell my 15-year old self to CALM DOWN. Ha.
ReplyDeleteI would tell myself to hug my father and spend more time with him. Then I'd say start going to writer's retreats, workshops, and conferences IMMEDIATELY. Pursue my writing and don't wait. Life is too short.
ReplyDeleteI would tell myself to not evaluate every guy I dated on whether or not he was boyfriend and/or marriage material and spend a lot more time just dating and having fun.
ReplyDeleteI would also tell myself that it is incredibly important, and possible, to do what you love for a living and not to be worried so much about money.
Great post!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd tell myself not to take myself so seriously. That every other teenager is thinking about themselves, too. They're not thinking about YOUR every flaw (ie. how many zits you have, going over in their heads what you said last week, how you embarrassed yourself the other day, etc...) I spent a lot of time hiding because I was so self-conscious.
I like my characters to have more confidence than I had. :)
Amy
I'd tell myself to stay the geek route - it pays off!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your Top 10 TV Shows today!
Great topic, Julie! :)
ReplyDeleteI would tell myself to be true to me, to care a little more about others and less of what they thought of me. I'd give myself a hug and tell her she has a beautiful life, both with the good and the bad that happen. Because that is what life is.
Have a great week, friend!
Great post! I agree: never too late or early to start. I would tell myself to write my books out in notebooks and beware of the evil crashing IBM computer that would one day eat my first manuscript and kill my ambition to write novels. :-) That would be a life-changer.
ReplyDeleteThat's an easy one: stay away from that guy you meet right after you graduate! Definitely stay away.
ReplyDeleteYou guys had some great stuff. If only we knew then what we know now!
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful blog. I'll be back!
ReplyDeleteI'd tell myself, don't go to prom with the same guy both years. First off, how boring can you get? And second, he's going to dump you the first month of college anyway.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd tell myself to stop fiddling around with those silly poems and write some fiction.
"Don't be afraid of making a fool of yourself. If you don't try things you'll never now how many things you might be really good at."
ReplyDeleteI'd tell myself to find Julie Musil and get a seat next to her in class!
ReplyDeleteI'd tell myself for the love of style to please throw away those massive jeans and stop drowning my figure in the world of baggy. I'd also tell myself to listen to the advice given to get work experience at a newspaper, to take my writing seriously, to believe in myself more, and to dismiss those sad bullies as insignificant.
ReplyDeleteGreat question!
I would tell my 15-year-old self never to be afraid of your dreams. They will be the things which give you the best ideas. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd tell myself not to worry so much about what others think. I would also say not to forget about my writing. I took a 10 year break from writing and I'm just catching up now!
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about this one, since you wrote this. I really cannot think of anythind I"d tell myself. Maybe to NOT go on that trip to Pismo an stay home and work. But who knows where I'd be if I had stayed home. I may not have my beautiful Mary and Teresa. I'm just fine. = ) No need to give myself any 'tips' on the future. = )
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