What would you tell yourself at 17?

[kitkatz]

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?  

[Deanne]

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.

[boxman55]

that's a tough one Kit, you can't tell a 17 year old anything....Boxman

[Lori1851]

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

[Ang]

probably  not  much  as  i'm  not  very  impulsive  and  think  of  possible  consequences  before  i  do  em

[twirl]

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.                         

[Romona]

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. 

[petey]

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?)

[paris]

I would tell myself to not worry about perfection- try everything and not worry about failing.  

[monrein]

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.

[thegrammalady]

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)

[MiSSis]

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!

[stauffenberg]

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!

[flip]

Watch your blood pressure

Never get married

[KT0930]

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.

[Loretta]

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

[petey]

I would also tell myself ...

... go to IHD.com and wait for the others to get there.  You'll need them.

[Bajanne]

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!!!

[Rerun]

I would have went to school to be a Nephrologist.  What an easy job and I could treat myself and write my own Rx. 

[rose1999]

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. 

[Sluff]

Step out of the box more. Enjoy life. Make a career out of the military.

[kellyt]

"Put the fork DOWN!!!"

[monrein]

 

[Ohio Buckeye]

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.

[KT0930]

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!