If you could, what would you want to tell your 25 year old self?
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Anonymous
I think it's a balance. As a social worker who married to a social worker, I stumbled onto a path where I'm now making six figures, but it's still hard financially with kids. When we started out together, we were making $60k COMBINED and it would have been extremely difficult to make that work long-term with kids. In my higher paying job, I'm still doing work that helps people and feel fulfilled, but I think I should have been more realistic about the fact that making a certain amount of money is necessary to live the life I was envisioning. |
Anonymous
| Go to a career counselor and get tested for what careers your personality is suited for. Go into that field. You will have a much happier life. Work effects you even more than a relationship. Bad career can ruin your life. |
Anonymous
| Seriously reconsider having children. |
Anonymous
| You know you want kids. Start planning and trying MUCH earlier, or you will spend the entirety of your 30's infertile and freaking out |
Anonymous
I am 43 and I definitely don't feel this way. Most people who follow the money aren't the happiest in middle age. That being said, living within your means is key. I happened to end up making more money than I ever imagined in a career that had meaning to me, but it's not what brought me the most happiness by a mile. I left that high paying job after fifteen years and achieving my goals to pursue a lower paying new career, and feel fortunate that I am able to make those kinds of choices. I know plenty of people who envied me for leaving, but couldn't imagine giving up the $$$. You have one life... |
Anonymous
In my opinion, there is a middle ground. You do not have to be a complete sell out, but you can pursue things that follow your passion. In my case, I was faced with a choice after I finished my STEM PhD 25 years ago. I could have followed the passion of pure research. If things broke right, I would be making 80-100K today. But, the job offers I received: 1 was a postdoc paying 25K, one was with a gov't contractor paying twice that with benefits. I took the latter. Today, I have an interesting job making 200K. But, I do not have the intellectual freedom to look at a problem because it intrigues me; my work has to be somewhat practice -- someone needs to be willing to pay for the idea. But, where people get really rich is not from salary, it is from investing the money. I played in my 30's. The wealthy people I know lived like grad students; they invested. Some of them guessed right, and are wealthy. I took an approach to lock in expenses where possible, so 20 years ago, I bought a house. And I put money in the 401K to maximize the company match. The small starter house I bought for 250K in now worth 700K. My expenses for the 700K are 2000/mo. In 1997, that was hard. Today, it is trivial. In hind sight, I should have bought up every Vienna Rambler I could; back then, they were selling for under 200K. I could rent them for what it would cost, and sell the houses for 550K....I didn't. I am not wealthy, but am UMC, and comfortable (net worth about 1.4 million, but not liquid). |
Anonymous
| Relax, stop trying to be perfect, and have more fun. If you screw up, you screw up. Stop being so afraid. |
Anonymous
| Choose a different career field! NOW! |
Anonymous
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Don't volunteer so much. You can't save the world. Travel now instead because it will be harder later with kids.
And talk to short guys! They are overlooked and you will end up marrying one. |
Anonymous
| Step away from the tanning booth. Wear sunscreen. Being pale is cool. |
Anonymous
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Have kids earlier, have the extra kid.
Marry earlier. Emulate mature people. Take very good care of your body. Travel early and every summer. Talk to the elders, write down their stories and make that family tree. Interview them if you must, even if you don't like them. Avoid at all costs losers, violent people, angry people. They will suck you down. Burn no bridges, just gently sneak away. |
Anonymous
X100. Money matters. The only people who say it doesn't have a lot of it. You don't need to be rich but stay away from non-profits/teacher jobs unless you have family money/trust fund. |
Anonymous
You don't have to do this, especially if it's not your thing. Sex should always be on your terms. You'll regret more partners than you'll miss. At 50 you say, I wish I didn't rather than, I wish I had when it comes to sex |
Anonymous
| Be patient with yourself, learn as much about your own body and health as soon as possible! |
Anonymous
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1)Don't have sex unless there's a commitment involved, or both agreeing to be exclusive. Not worth a std or wasting your time and body. Your health comes first.
2)People, or friends that turn out to be users go into the recycle bin right away. 3)Make sure you make yourself happy because it's not another person's responsibility. 4)Don't be one of those needy people that can't be alone, or constantly needs to be in a relationship. 5) If someone doesn't treat you well get out. Don't try to fix them, or go to so called "therapy" because it's what the other sheep do. 6) If you don't like your job or current life, take steps right away to change it! |