I thought this was a very interesting thread. I am only 31 but I would say for example if I had to give my younger self advice, well it would probably be a 300 page book because I have tons of regrets already but my number one thing would be don't put yourself in a box. What do I mean by this? I live my life very much "outside the box" right now because a lot of life goals didn't work. I never could find a fulfilling career, and I really tried, but somehow once I got to the point where I had to do it for a living, I didn't like it, but I have tons of hobbies Then I got to right now where I couldn't possibly work for many reasons. I don't regret trying hard in school, actually I should have worked harder and taken it even more seriously, but I wish I hadn't had such a 2 dimensional goal of become a this or that. Your job is not who YOU are. I think we should spend just as much time if not more understanding ourselves because once you know yourself you will be better equipped possibly to figure out what you would like to do (still working on that)
Also, one reason the above failed is my main goal in life was to be a wife and mother. I saw myself as the crazy Christian lady who homeschools her 3 kids and is like Martha Stewart and Bree from desperate housewives,etc. Problem is I have always been overweight and never got out there and dated. Then I got cancer and biological children were no longer an option. Yeah I cried for a week or so then I realized, I had locked myself into goals that weren't really GOALS. They were like little checkmarks on a list. The real goals I think I would advise people is to take each day and treat it like a goal. It takes 365 days of good eating and exercising to lose weight. I was always looking into the future for that some day goal and missing what I had right in front of me. I regret not spending more time with my mom who was my best friend who passed away last year. I regret not investing more in friendships because my mind was always somewhere else, or depressed about what I didn't have yet, etc. I regret not being the best person I could be on a daily basis. I do kinda wish I was married sometimes but as long as it does happen some day, I am pretty content in that department, accepting that I want to do a lot more before then. I am happy that I am raising my beautiful 8 year old niece who has autism. I probably wouldn't have stepped up if I had a family early on. I think some things do happen for a reason, but I don't want to get too spiritual for those who don't believe in those things, but sorry for writing a book but I would say 1) you are more than your goals. Make a goal of being YOU and knowing YOU and loving YOU. 2) be flexible because most people don't end up exactly where they thought they would be at say 30-40 when they were younger. 3) No matter what happens in life, take each day as a gift and goal. Whatever failures happen that day try your best to think of it like a chalkboard, erase and start a new day. Those are my goals now. When I am 60 I will probably be a mass of wrinkles and be fat or bony, and maybe even totally gray. It will pay to be happy and have grown to accept the me inside and not just assume no one loves me because of the way I look. I might have challenges physically or mentally and have to live my best day with those challenges. But what I have given myself and others will always last.
Ok now to put all that and really apply it to myself lol (easier to give advice than to take it.)