I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: kitkatz on April 15, 2008, 03:23:42 PM

Title: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: kitkatz on April 15, 2008, 03:23:42 PM
I am posting this question in the general dialysis section because I figure many of us would do things differently to keep dialysis at bay. Here is the question.

There is a country music song that gives advice to his 17 year old self.  I got to thinking.
What would you tell yourself at age 17? If you knew then what you know now?  What advice or changes would you tell yourself to make?
 




Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: Deanne on April 15, 2008, 04:04:23 PM
I'd've told myself not to worry so much because I was going to live a long, good life. I was diagnosed with CKD at 9 and spent my whole childhood thinking I was going to die at any moment, so I shouldn't "burden" anyone with me. So I pretty much grew up without friends and have never really had a long-term romantic relationship.
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: boxman55 on April 15, 2008, 04:08:27 PM
that's a tough one Kit, you can't tell a 17 year old anything....Boxman
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: Lori1851 on April 15, 2008, 04:14:18 PM
Boxman.
Thats Brad Paisley's song!!!!!! I like that song. I dont know if I would do anything different. I wouldnt want to start all over lol!!!!

Lori/Indiana
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: Ang on April 15, 2008, 06:16:48 PM
probably  not  much  as  i'm  not  very  impulsive  and  think  of  possible  consequences  before  i  do  em
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: twirl on April 15, 2008, 06:52:14 PM
you will get a scholarship
you will be head twirler
you will be able to have children
you will get an education so that you do not have to live with anyone you don't want to
you will be a better parent than what you have
you will not allow your children to live with a drunken stepfather, even if he does have money
stop worrying all the time
the problem is I would have my music up so high, I could not hear any of this information.                         ::)
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: Romona on April 15, 2008, 07:02:23 PM
Not being able to figure put what to wear or hating your hair is nothing.
Your friends that you can't live without, will not be important when you are facing life.
Your kids are going to break your heart more than once. Just like you are breaking your Mom's.
Laugh more, live more, love more, be kind and patient to everyone. Buy some stock in a crazy company called "Google" so you can retire at 40.  :rofl;
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: petey on April 15, 2008, 07:31:18 PM
I would tell myself:

 --  "Slow down and enjoy the ride!"

 -- and, "Don't sweat the small stuff!"

 -- and, "Write more journal entries.  Take more pictures."

 -- and, I'd also tell myself that all those things my mom told me then really WERE true (like "These are the most care-free days of your life.  You better enjoy them," or "You may not understand why I'm doing this now, but one day you'll thank me for it," or "Don't grumble about having to visit old Aunt Sally/or old Grandma/ or old anybody-else-in-your-life.  One day, they'll be gone and you'll regret not wanting to go and see them more often" or "Make new friends but keep the old.  For one is silver, and the other, gold").  That Mom!  She really was right all along -- and at 17, I thought she was clueless .... and OLD !! (When I was 17, my mom was 42.  Now that I'm 45 and looking back, she wasn't really all that old, now was she?)
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: paris on April 15, 2008, 07:38:35 PM
I would tell myself to not worry about perfection- try everything and not worry about failing.  
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: monrein on April 16, 2008, 10:24:39 AM
Not to be so focused on school and scholastic achievement.  To be more relaxed and have more fun, not quite so serious about causes and injustices.  Lighten up a little, exercise more and get my head out of the books.  But my 17 year old self would have told me to shut up, mind my own business and not be so superficial.  Lord that girl was a pill.
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: thegrammalady on April 16, 2008, 10:33:48 AM
finish college!!!!! (problem is, i was in my 40's before i knew what i wanted to be when i grew up)(still not grown up)
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: MiSSis on April 16, 2008, 10:52:17 AM
Don't marry the first guy that asked you just so you could get out of the house. 

Don't go to Acapulco with said guy, get horribly sunburned and come down with Lupus.

Don't try to hang on to said guy even when you knew he was a complete a$$ just because you were ill and were afraid to be alone.

But as others have said, I was 17 and couldn't stand my home life.  I'm sure I wouldn't have done anything differently.  I knew it all!
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: stauffenberg on April 16, 2008, 02:33:01 PM
Message to self at 17: You remember when you thought of killing yourself when you were diagnosed with diabetes at age 14?  Well do it now, because things are only going to get worse!
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: flip on April 16, 2008, 02:54:22 PM
Watch your blood pressure

Never get married
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: KT0930 on April 16, 2008, 03:50:29 PM
Have realistic goals so you're not stuck in a job that's not going anywhere.

Expecting to marry a guy and have him provide for you is not a realistic goal.

Your brother is really great, get to know him better.

That kidney Mom gave you 9 years ago is not going to last forever, and it's going to get harder and harder to get transplants, cherish each one as the precious gift it is.
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: Loretta on April 16, 2008, 04:06:34 PM
At 17 I was scared to death to go off to college because I was afraid my mom couldn't take care of my little brothers and sisiters.  I would tell myself to relax, they would make it just like I had.  All is not easy but they would come out OK.  I would also say to not try so hard to please my parents because nothing I could do would please them anyway.  Finally I would say to enjoy your health more.

Loretta
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: petey on April 16, 2008, 08:18:51 PM
I would also tell myself ...

... go to IHD.com and wait for the others to get there.  You'll need them.
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: Bajanne on April 17, 2008, 07:27:30 AM
To my 17 year old self:  When you start to work, SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!!!!!!!! and INVEST!!   By 58, you would not be still scrunting.
And watch your diet - there is diabetes and hypertension in your family;
EXERCISE!!!!!!

You already have 3 of the 4 high risk items for breast cancer (and your sister will die of it when you are 21 and that will make 4), so watch your diet, and EXERCISE!!!
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: Rerun on April 17, 2008, 08:04:06 AM
I would have went to school to be a Nephrologist.  What an easy job and I could treat myself and write my own Rx. 
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: rose1999 on April 17, 2008, 08:19:05 AM
Life is way too short, enjoy it when you can - as long as you aren't hurting anyone else then do it your way.

And Bajanne why did you choose 58?  you can't be 58 I've seen your photo, was it just a figure plucked from the air? Just curoius.  :bunny:
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: Sluff on April 17, 2008, 03:08:08 PM
Step out of the box more. Enjoy life. Make a career out of the military.
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: kellyt on April 17, 2008, 03:15:35 PM
"Put the fork DOWN!!!"
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: monrein on April 17, 2008, 04:40:52 PM
 :rofl; :rofl; :rofl;
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: Ohio Buckeye on April 18, 2008, 03:31:08 PM
don't sweat the small stuff.
find time to enjoy life.
strive to make a difference for God and in the world.
think on what you have - not what you don't have and what you can do - not what you can't.
and be grateful for those things..................
strive to eat, exercise and stay healthy because your genes are LOUSY.
do not be negative, a complainer or a whiner.

Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: KT0930 on April 19, 2008, 09:02:54 AM
To my 17 year old self:  When you start to work, SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!!!!!!!! and INVEST!!   By 58, you would not be still scrunting.
And watch your diet - there is diabetes and hypertension in your family;
EXERCISE!!!!!!

AMEN!
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: okarol on April 19, 2008, 09:28:57 AM

Unfortunately you can't tell a 17 year old anything! ::)
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: Bajanne on April 19, 2008, 11:58:22 AM
And Bajanne why did you choose 58?  you can't be 58 I've seen your photo, was it just a figure plucked from the air? Just curoius.  :bunny:

Girl, you made my day!!!!!  Was born January 23, 1950.
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: lola on April 19, 2008, 12:23:31 PM
The only thing I'd change is not to take a year off from college because I'd never go back.
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: spacezombie on April 22, 2008, 04:20:51 PM
If I could speak to myself at 17, I'd say:

Don't take yourself so seriously! Have fun as much as you can. Don't try to keep dialysis and your health a secret. People are actually much more understanding than you think. And if you have trouble affording your transplant pills someday, make sure you do anything and everything you can to get those pills. Even if you have to hold up a pharmacy.  :thumbup;
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: JasonEb on April 23, 2008, 01:29:00 AM
I'd tell my 17-year old self...

"STOP BUYING THISE $@#*$ COMIC BOOKS AND INVEST THAT MONEY IN STARBUCKS!!!"

I'd still be on dialysis, but I'd be doing it on my private island in the south Pacific.

Oh, and I'd tell him to stop spending so much time in the bathroom...everyone knows what you're doing in there....

~Jason E.
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: stauffenberg on April 23, 2008, 03:29:38 PM
How old are those comic books?  If you happen to have any vintage or rare editions of interest to collectors, perhaps you can still your South Sea Island.
Title: Re: What would you tell yourself at 17?
Post by: kevno on April 30, 2008, 03:48:15 PM
DON'T START THAT HOLIDAY COMPANY. FOR WHEN YOU ARE 20 YOU WILL LOSE IT ALL WITH BEING TO ILL (TRANSPLANT FAILED)  PLUS all the debt I left myself in at 20. Took me 5 years to get in the black again. There again you only learn from experience :-\