[Trace14]

What would you have really liked to have known when you were younger, that old age has taught you presently?

[divine1966]

You have to start saving money young. I mean I am ok. And I’ll be fine retiring. But I’d be better if I knew to save more when I was younger

Don’t spend hours in a sun tanning like crazy. Ton of sun damage now

[Skeezyks]

Boy I could write a book on this subject! (And it wouldn't be a pretty one either.) What I wish I knew is not something specific, which may be more what you had in mind.) But I wish I could somehow have understood what a train wreck I was. Perhaps I could have done something to avert all of the damage I did over the years. I don't know what it would have been I could have done. There weren't the kinds of mental health services available back then that there are today. But perhaps there might have been something. I don't know...

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by divine1966

You have to start saving money young. I mean I am ok. And I’ll be fine retiring. But I’d be better if I knew to save more when I was younger

Don’t spend hours in a sun tanning like crazy. Ton of sun damage now

Good ideas. Smarter investments would have been great to know. And to take better physical care of myself.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Boy I could write a book on this subject! (And it wouldn't be a pretty one either.) What I wish I knew is not something specific, which may be more what you had in mind.) But I wish I could somehow have understood what a train wreck I was. Perhaps I could have done something to avert all of the damage I did over the years. I don't know what it would have been I could have done. There weren't the kinds of mental health services available back then that there are today. But perhaps there might have been something. I don't know...

Good points. Mental health services were not as available as they are now. And what were available, you would have been labeled or shamed for going. It's hard to change something that you thought was normal, that everyone went through, just part of growing up. I feel that a lot of damage was done by parents that didn't know better, they were just a reflection of how they were raised. Maybe a little nicer though. I'm sure they had their own struggles that they never shared. Frustrating to find an answer. Having a better support system may have helped.

[*Beth*]

That money really is important.

[Travelinglady]

That I needed therapy to deal with my past and my low self-esteem as a result.

[Nammu]

Just chill.

[Trace14]

Would have joined a different branch of the military and not got married.

[pachyderm]

My life probably would have turned out a lot better.

[*Beth*]

Not to be a sun worshiper. Never used sunscreen, burned and burned every single summer. Now I obsessively worry about skin cancer.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by BethRags

Not to be a sun worshiper. Never used sunscreen, burned and burned every single summer. Now I obsessively worry about skin cancer.

Omg same here. And my skin is very damaged from sun.

[CANDC]

If I knew then what I know now, I would not have been me!

[RoxanneToto]

I’d have found, and stuck with, a good therapist. I used to think things that happened years ago couldn’t affect me any more. Turns out to be more like I downplayed in my mind how much of an impact things had really had on me.

[CANDC]

@RoxanneToto I hear you. I thought I was doing things that were keeping me healthy but some of them actually contributed to more depression.