Hindsight 2020
Advice we wish we had taken at age 18
Last night, I felt inspired to ask my twitter fellowship:
If you could go back in time and explain one thing to your 18-year-old self to spare them years of sorrow, what would you tell them?
Here are some of my favorite answers:
@girlziplocked Getting a job at a “for good” company will not, and cannot, replace political activism.
Capitalism is inescapable, it consumes everything and cannibalises all good intentions. So never trust your boss — instead set healthy boundaries with work so that it doesn’t rule you.
@girlziplocked "That thing you're feeling is shame and the reason you're feeling it isn't your fault. That's why you don't feel safe, but you won't be safe until you can learn that what you learned growing up was never right for you"
@girlziplocked You have some pretty bad anxiety and are headed towards some severe depression. Please, see a therapist.
@girlziplocked You are a good person. You didn’t deserve all you’ve been through, but isn’t it wonderful that you are still so beautiful and so strong? You’ll find happiness. That spirit of yours will take you to places you’ve only dreamed of. You are worthy of love. From yourself especially.
@girlziplocked I'm only 19 so this is easy; You can't handle 4 university units, drop two and become a part time student until you develop better work habits.
@girlziplocked If I am being honest not a damn thing. Because if I changed anything I might not have 2 great kids and 30 years of marriage. All the pain was worth it.
@girlziplocked @davidgraeber No, student debt is not "good debt" like the guidance counselor sincerely and emphatically said
Don't go to college 😢 which is heartbreaking, because you will love learning, but it will be a brief moment of joyful exploration that will be used against you the rest of your life
@girlziplocked I'd tell her that she's not fat or ugly, that she is capable of great things on her own timeline, to not listen to other people. And never, ever get married!!!
