(no subject)

[noahgibbs]

Every so often, I look back and I think about the advice I'd give to me earlier in my life, knowing what I know now.

And I realize, looking back to the most important decision point in my recent life, that I don't know quite what I'd say to me. But I may know in a few months.

Or I may not.

Do other people go through these exercises? Do you think about what you'd say to yourself?

Comments

[dr4b]

Yeah, all the time. I teleport back to March 1997 and go "Deanna, if you switch majors, you're going to be fucked for life. I know you don't believe me right now and I know you're still bitter about SML and 15-312, but for the love of god, don't do it."

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

Sigh. I remember that class. In fact, I think you were in it the second time I took it.

Brooks. I think that was the Head Sadist's name. Stephen Brooks.

And I took it the second time when I did because Peter Lee usually taught that semester, but he wasn't because he took a sabbatical, so it was Brooks again. The things you remember.

[dr4b]

yeah, I took 312 with you. I wasn't aware whether it was your first or second time. And yeah, Brookes... nice guy, HORRIBLE LECTURER. Oh well. But still, if I hadn't been so bitter over that class, who knows what might have happened.

[karenbynight.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, there are incredibly few things I actually regret, and that I would do differently if the opportunity arises. I tend to perceive even my dumb moves as required steps in constructing the character that is me... a character that, all in all, I'm pretty happy with. Perhaps it's just a lack of vision that makes me unable to see how it all could have been different. :-)

I do think carefully about my past, and consider what lessons I've learned from various life escapades. I reflect on that often, because it's just silly to experience the same pain you've experienced before simply because you didn't take an obvious opportunity to learn how to avoid it, or to pass up the same pleasure you've experienced before becuase you didn't take an obvious opportunity to learn how to invoke it.

If I were to give my past self advice, I think I might stop at a few points and chuck myself on the chin, and remind myself that my happiness is under my control, not other people's. And that I have both the right and the obligation to do what makes me happy, "an harm ye none".

[skamille.livejournal.com]

I think most of my advice would be something like:
"Don't do X, it'll make you puke."

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

I'm way too scared of paradox to even consider it...

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

And I realize, looking back to the most important decision point in my recent life, that I don't know quite what I'd say to me. But I may know in a few months.

Bet nobody ever reads this.

Looking back in the wisdom of 2004, I now say: shoulda done it sooner, but the decision was 100% correct. Oh, and you'll chuck it all and date the bad idea you're considering (though not as bad as she seems) in nine days.

[rightkindofme.livejournal.com]

And what does the wisdom of 2006 say?

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

The wisdom of 2006 is about the same. I think that was a bad idea I needed to pursue at the time. That would have been Choletta, who I got together with on Christmas, and with whom I stayed for four months, give or take.

[rightkindofme.livejournal.com]

And what do you wish you had changed in the past few years? Any pearls of wisdom?

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

Nothing comes to mind. The last few years have worked out pretty well :-)