TED Conversations

Casen Askew

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

What advice would you give a younger you?

Consider, for a second, your life. Consider all of the life lessons you've learned and the experiences you've undergone during your brief existence here. Consider the trials and tribulations you've faced and the lessons you've learned "the hard way." If you could write a letter to you, at any point in your life, and give yourself as much advice as you saw fit, what would you say? Would you remind yourself that life goes on? Would you promise that things always get better no matter how terrible they might seem? Would you take the philosophy of Frank Sinatra and explain to your younger self that "That's Life"? Would you plead with yourself to turn to God sooner? Would you warn yourself to stay away from soda, salt, and red meat?

Of course, this arouses the argument of "I like my life the way it is now, and everything that happened happened for a reason thus I would not change anything." If that is your stance, then I pose another question: What advice would you give to a younger being? Age, culture, ethnic background, and special circumstances are arbitrary, irrelevant, and up to you.

This is your chance, here and now, to give any and all of the advice you've found so essential to happiness and well being, to a youth that might sincerely need it.
______
I created this duplicate question for those who wanted to post on the earlier question but stumbled upon it too late to do so.

If you have not read through the answers on the other post, a task that, while a sizable feat, is definitely an inspiring read, here is the link to do that.

http://www.ted.com/conversations/12365/what_advice_would_you_give_a_y.html?

Topics: A letter to you Life Lessons advice happiness life
0
Share:
progress indicator

  • amal mohammad

    • +1
    Aug 25 2012: be happy in your life because it will not be repeated again

  • Practicing Philosopher

    • 0
    Aug 24 2012: Actual thought into your morals and beliefs. We're all capable of being better than who we are, it takes a strong person to do the right things. I know people argue that right and wrong are a subjective ideal and feeling, which is true, so everybody's definition changes change with each and every individual, whether they're a follower or a leader, it's funny to me how deep I went inside my mind and somewhat shared how my thoughts work and that I tried really hard to get my point across, I failed, because everybody here thinks that I'm vain, which to an extent I am, and your probably thinking that I have issues that I need to real with, all of that is true, but I believe I know how to deal with it in a healthier way than most, hopefully you'll get a chance to read my book, it could be a year or it could be 20, but It's my goal and I will accomplish it.

  • Practicing Philosopher

    • 0
    Aug 24 2012: If you made it through my first post, I apologize for the scattered brained ideas and the rabbit trails. It's just that it's three in the morning and I'm venting, whatever comes to my head, I'm typing it, I usually organize my thoughts and omit the rambling, but I realized that I'm a philosopher and I need to write my ideas down and organize them, but I decided to use posting boards like this, to write my rough drafts on. Reason being, that people are brutally honest on the internet, and I want the criticism, from all types, so I can dwell on them when I start my next draft. But I doubt many people will even read this, in it's entirety, but if you do and better yet, understand me, I will value any criticism you put forward.... Just took a break and realized that my idea is not a very good one. I now believe that I should do all my drafts, allow the people who I know who are objective and wise critique my drafts and hopefully write a book and get it published. It's too much and overwhelming to do it here, (during my beak, I realized that the only person who can make sense out of my unorganized thoughts is truly myself and myself only)so I'll just quit rambling and work on it, I promise that my book, whether it gets published or not, it will contain a clear cut, no rambling, but it will be explanatory.... I know I've apologized a lot in these posts, but thanks for taking the time to read this, but I know I talked about myself a lot, but my main objective is to educate and get the things that are constantly going through my brain out into the public. To those who care about philosophy and human thought processes keep on doing it and start writing your thoughts, no matter how scattered they are, the best outlet is writing, I've been a philosopher my whole, but never truly knew it until tonight and I'm in my mid 20's. To those who think this posting is stupid, which I don't blame you, I would too if I wasn't in the state of mind I'm in, I would part with mediate and put

  • Practicing Philosopher

    • 0
    Aug 24 2012: I believe most people, if not all, ask themselves this question. The reason being, that when they leave the nest and actually realize how life really works, they self reflect and wish they made better decisions, which they believe would put them in a better place, be ahead of the game of life, go to college get a degree in a high paying field, trophy wife, in short everything they dreamed about. None of that will actually make you happy though, you could the poorest person on this earth, but still be the happiest, the most content person. And some people wonder why? The simple reason is their thoughts and attitude towards life and by being poor(the strong good poor people anyway), please don't think that I'm saying every poor person is good hearted, because we all know that poverty breeds violence and just awful types. Just as you see unhappy rich or well off people that are grumpy and hate people, but others are the nicest people, give the shirt off their back type, and then even there are the rich posers who like attention and do good or bad things to create an image for them (that's mostly with Hollywood celebrity types, and socialites, and even all the way down the chain to small town humble who think and act like they're they're the absolute dictator of all people.... You guessed it, those last types irritate me the most)I still tell myself that I'd change everything about my teenage rebellion years, if given an actual opportunity to do so, I would refuse. I'm not saying that I was good then or that life is great now, it isn't, far from it. Yet, it baffles people how optimistic and upbeat I am, and it all has to do with my attitude towards life. About me, I've had some pretty bad things happen to me in my life, and I'm not here to whine about it. To be continued...

  • Random Chance 30+

    • +1
    Aug 9 2012: Well, when I think of a younger me I think about me in context to what I call my very clear pre-earth memories.
    I would not allow myself to have come to this planet.

    Before I did, a very clear voice, not mine, told me to go down there to earth. I was watching it from afar and I said (at least mentally), that I did not want to." But the voice urged me on, saying it would only be for a short time, so I did.

    I have regretted it ever since.

  • Christine Prokupek

    • +1
    Aug 5 2012: Advise to a younger me? "Brace yourself. Question everything, and don't settle for an answer until you've explored every possible known avenue. Stand up for yourself and the beliefs you have ingrained inside of you naturally and the ones you choose to adopt. Patience will not come easy for you, this will be something you must learn, and then learn to control. You have more capabilities than anyone is willing to tell you about, and it must be your own desire to seek these out. Things are not as they appear, nor are they as others want you to think. Embrace this knowledge and create your desires-even if no one is there to encourage and support you. When in doubt-look up. When you fail-get up. When you achieve-celebrate. Live each day as if there is no tomorrow. It's okay to have regrets, mistakes and hardships-don't let them kill you, or keep you down- these are tests of strength and abilities. Prove others wrong but do it gracefully. Be thankful for what you have- and be thankful for what you dont. Challenge yourself and find peace in your choices. You may think you are lost at times, but trust me-when I tell you to trust in yourself above all else. Develop the legacy you want to leave."
  • thumb

    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

    • +1
    Aug 2 2012: Dude, look around you. Look at the trees and fruits. If you dont like the harvest, dont ever so the seed.
  • thumb

    Arthur Aguilar

    • +1
    Aug 1 2012: Listen to your parents.Don't be afraid just go for it.Set goals
  • thumb

    James Zhang 30+

    • +2
    Aug 1 2012: Be curious, never stop asking why!
    • thumb

      Arthur Aguilar

      • +1
      Aug 1 2012: That was always me. Asking away questions to my dad most of the time until he yelled at me and i stopped.I always said to myself.There is a question for a question and a answer for an answer..
      • thumb

        James Zhang 30+

        • 0
        Aug 1 2012: LOL I'm sure I've bugged the crap out of my parents a lot of times, even now

  • Scott Koenraadt

    • +1
    Aug 1 2012: My first piece of advise would be to try harder, to do more sports and to follow through more. Not that I am not working to make myself happy right now, its just that I reflect what it would be like if I did follow through or took different opportunities
  • thumb

    Gerald O'brian 50+

    • +2
    Aug 1 2012: - How're you doing, kid?
    - Look, I don't have any money.
    - I'm not asking for change, I just want to talk to you.
    - Can I help you?
    - Actually, I'm here to help YOU.
    - Do I know you?
    - I am you in 2012.
    - Wow, what happened to me? Where's your other shoe? You're not here to tell me to study harder, are you?
    - We both know you just can't.
    - So what brings you here?
    - I want to tell you something depressing.
    - Great. What is it?
    - I never saw my older self as a kid, so whatever choices you make will affect a brand new reality. In other words, nothing you do will change the choices I've made.
    - So when you said you were me in the future, you meant you're a totally separate person.
    - Yeah I guess.
    - And are you stuck in this new universe with me, or are you going back to the other one?
    - I don't know, ok? I just got here, somehow. I'm not a theoretical physicist, obviously.
    - If talking to me won't affect your life, then why are you doing this?
    - I didn't get in the time machine on purpose. But I'm here now, so out of curiosity I've decided to meet my younger self and share my experience and wisdom.
    - So what's the depressing thing you wanted to tell me?
    - The depressing thing is that I've given a shot at a lot of activities and we don't seem to have a special ability whatsoever.
    - Really? What about making movies?, I always pictured myself as a creative movie director.
    - That, I haven't tried.
    - What about music? Are you still playing the piano?
    - Nope. It was hopeless.
    - I'm getting the feeling that you haven't seriously tried to accomplish anything. You've wasted our talent and snuffed out every dream we've had, just by being so fucking lazy.
    - I guess you're right.
    - So what else can you tell me?
    - I met a great woman. So that's something you can expect for yourself.
    - Did you bring a picture?
    - Sure.
    - She looks like a man.
    - It's not her best picture.
    - Ok. Anything else to share with me from the future?
    - Yeah. Scientific knowled-... oh shit here I go! Bye kid!!
    • thumb

      peter lindsay 30+

      • +2
      Aug 2 2012: This of course raises the question. Imagine yourself age twelve. What question do you think you would ask the older you? WHAT THE HELL WENT WRONG?
    • thumb

      Casen Askew

      • 0
      Aug 5 2012: That was pretty great. :D Depressing, but a good read.
Showing all 15 comments