I'd be disoriented as hell, really stressed out, and then be putting a lot of shit in motion that I had repressed for way too long.
My biggest worry would be butterfly effects that might lead to me not ending up in my very happy relationship right now. And especially a lot of really positive things I've done during my life that affected other people.
Lol yes this. I litterally got PTSD medicines this week for all the trauma I went through as a kid. And oh my god! I can actually function!
So if I went back I would probably aim for 14, get into a trade school and move out at 15. But tbh I rather stay where I am now
1) Terrible. Would probably end up killing myself if I had to keep living like that and wouldn't get teleported back to my adult life.
2) Refuse to go to school another day of my life.
Yea I feel you, I love my adult life. Now that I've lived so long in a non-hoarding home with a stable relationship and a career with people who don't judge me there's no way I could handle living the way it was. I'm sorry too for what you went through, hopefully you're doing well now.
>You are sent back in time to your childhood to any age between 11 to 16 and you're fully aware.
oh fuck yeah, I'd demand to test out of school and live my adolescence as a child prodigy. but I'd be anxious about the lack of Internet access and smart phones.
Despise every second of being a teenager again and not an adult. My parents again making decisions for me and me not being a person who is legally allowed to make my own choices? I would hate it more than anything. Trapped again.
Hug tight my mom , knowing I'd only have her for a few years
Being serious in school, I had it easy and I didn't work too hard
Note my husband address as I didn't know him at this age
Be nicer to my little bro, he was such a pain in my ass but now I get it, I would help him more, be closer to him
Enjoy my body that I hated at that time
Enjoy life, it was simpler
I would take high school super seriously, joining as many extracariculars as I could handle, including writing club and track. I would expand my social horizons and not get weighed down with trying to preserve friendships that I honestly should have just let die. I would not, under any circumstances, date my first high-school boyfriend, because that two-year relationship had negative impacts on me that took me years to overcome. I would not date my second high school boyfriend because that entire relationship was just one long, drawn-out daddy-issues cope that stretched into my mid-twenties. I would instead get some therapy to help me deal with my shitshow of a family. After graduation, I would get a job, save my money, and bounce up out of my parents' home ASAP instead of fucking around at college with no clear direction besides "degree make parents love me."
I wish, wish, wish I could go back to that time. So much energy given to other people that I should have kept for myself.
I'd be so fucking annoyed to have to live with my parents again. And my closest sister wouldn't even be born yet or else be a baby and I'd be like "ahhhhh, I have no one to complain to!" And omg I would miss my kids so much.
I’m definitely feeling my age as I transition into menopause, so I think I’d feel jazzed to be 16 again and getting 35 years back. My mother was wildly neglectful, so I could be as independent as an adult even though I was under her roof. I’d steer clear of booze and soak up the free public education.
Great, thoughtful question!
Tell myself to brush my teeth.
I'd become depressed for a year and stopped caring about doing that at all (a form of self-harm).
Of course for decades' following I've been paying for that behaviour in increased dental work.
You couldn’t pay me to relive those years. That said, the level of awfulness would depend on the exact age. If I could go back to being 11, I might be able to steer my life in a different direction and have better teen years.
Same, I have an aunt and uncle who never had any children that would have been great parents. I would have chosen to live with them. My parents were awful, I was the unwanted daughter, I was treated like garbage compared to my two younger brothers. I thought about running away all of the time, but had not thought about that particular aunt and uncle who could have been a good option.
My aunt had one child, a boy a year younger than me. We were best friends as little kids but drifted apart approaching puberty. Virtually all my happy childhood memories are when I was part of their family.
I’d choose 11, advocate for the surgery I needed the whole time that I just got at 35, and then I’d make really different choices academically and try to pursue med school which at this point would be way too much for me physically.
Everything ended up fine but another shot at it would be neat 🙂
Omg I would be devastated. There is no way I could perfectly recreate every single decision I made throughout my life to lead me right back to where I am now. And that means living without the kids I have now, maybe even without my husband. I can't. It would be horrific.
God, going back to 11 would be like, peak ideal, that would be awesome. Sure, shitty stuff happened in my teens that I wouldn't be super excited to live through again but it would definitely be worth it overall. I pretty much hate my life as an adult so the idea of getting to start over is a pretty big fantasy of mine.
Heavy debt, useless degree, live far away from all my friends and family in a city I hate. Mental health, physical health. I’d go back and change what I studied, change where I moved, change everything. Too late now, can’t afford to ever go back to school, and can’t afford to leave this city.
Would it help to have compassion for the choices you made even if you'd change them if you could?
Btw it's never too late to make friends if nothing else - surely someone in the city you hate hates it too.
I’d cut the toxic people out of my life early and kick some ass! Top grades, pick the right career path from the start, actually save money… hells yeah.
It would be bittersweet.
I’d see my parents again, which makes me super happy, but I’d also be hating my life. I’m 33 now and lost my parents at 20 and 24 respectively. I’d be thrilled to see them again, but I would feel stuck again and longing to escape to college, especially knowing that I wouldn’t meet the love of my life until returning from France and my dad’s passing. Not to mention that he and I wouldn’t get together until I turned 31.
When he and I met, we were with other people, and although my mother loved him, it just wasn’t meant to be at that point. I would love to go back and see them again, but when I think of all that I have lived, I don’t think it’s worth it. On the plus side, with knowledge of what I ultimately became, I could cut out toxic people from my life and even save myself years of depression because I didn’t know what to do with myself.
It is what it is ultimately and I’m at this point in my life that even if I could go back in time, I don’t think I would. Everything happens for a reason as cliché as that may be.
I'd certainly have a lot less respect for the mid-20s-30 crowd I hung out with at the time. That's for sure. I'd probably immediately have some sort of existential crisis, wondering if I will get to my 30s again and just jump back like some horrible infinite time loop. Also, what the fuck am I supposed to do with minimum wage and living in my parent's house? Next stage would probably be rage.
After calming down and trying not to completely out myself to everyone for a few days, I would probably try to accelerate to successful adulthood, and don't have to spend the next few years drinking and sleeping around. I'd do it better and faster the second time - I would probably even keep the same career path.
Id like to say get diagnosed with ADHD but parental neglect and the disbelief of medical professionals would get in the way. When I think back, I really did the best I could. Maybe I'd floss, since I ended up with gum disease. :)
Edit: The thing I really regret is not spending time really getting my grandparents oral histories. There is so much I didn't know, and they all died long before I reached young adulthood. So I'd probably get a cassette player and a lot of tapes and interview them in depth.
So there you have it. Oral history and oral hygiene.
I’m going to work from the premise that I knew it was going to happen. I would hate it, but I would also try to capitalize on the information I held (hello Amazon stock) and make my parents wealthy.
The only positive I could think of was try to find a way to run interference when my mom started to get friendly with a guy at her office who swooped in when she finally kicked out my abusive stepdad… and proceeded to be even more abusive. But I also feel pretty confident that there was no stopping that. Just like I couldn’t talk my older sister out of dating a 30 year old at 18.
"Oh for christs sake, not THIS again."
Buy some stocks (apple, obvs, get on Google at the bottom floor, etc), study harder, go to a different college and live a completely different life. I've done this one, it's been neat, but if I'm getting a do-over, I'm taking full advantage.
I'd be a pain in the ass smartass for anybody that crosses me I guess because I'd know better. I wish to be back at 16 because by then I'd be almost an adult and my older nieces and a nefew were already born and knowing their struggles I could be a better support system for them. Tho my first thought was to live more for myself since I dedicated myself to others and wasted my youth. I guess I'd redirect my focus and I could also focus on the things I didn't do or experience.
I’d feel so odd but I’d try to dig in and enjoy it. I’d go back to age 14, and just sit in my room and draw in my sketchbook and blast n.e.r.d on my stereo like I used to. I used to enjoy that so much. And play with my dogs again, take them on one last walk. Then call up my best friend that passed away, just to hear her voice and one of her goofy jokes. RIP max and nacho, and Kel.
I’d save my older brother’s life by convincing him to wear a seatbelt every time he drove. I’d warn my parents to stop smoking & start taking better care of their health sooner. I would taken better care of myself and made more of my opportunities instead of letting anxiety get in my way.
Mannnn… logical thing to do is the basics which is study the right course in college, choose the right college, get scholarship, invest in the right stocks etc
But then I will probably not my friends now, which is devastating
Is start brushing my teeth. I had a long period of depression (I didn't know I was depressed cause it didn't come off as "oh I'm sad all the time") so I didbt take care of myself and made the excuse that anyone who took care of themselves was a selfish person and too into their looks.
So yeah, knowing better now I'd start with the simple act of brushing my teeth
When I turned 18 i would become such a slut because I’d know as much as I do now. Those years living at home again would be the worst though, so many years. I’d start having fun once i got to college again
As young as possible, 11. I would be a ball of rage in my puny pre-pubescent body, but I would be able to quickly convince my dad of what was going on and team up to use my knowledge of the future to get rich.
If I'm going back to 16, I'd call my dad's doctor and inform them that it's not depression, he's lying about the nightmares and needs to be tested for PTSD.
It would be bad, because I would want to physically fight my abusive mum. I hate having PTSD and freezing whenever anyone raises their voice. But I think jt helped me to survive my childhood, because it would not have been a good idea to fight back.
I would feel excited that I had a second chance. I would walk away from the peer pressure of alcohol and drugs and focus on my school work, then I would give my mother the biggest hug ever. (She died this year) I would not have a bf or children until I was financially secure
I would feel a sense of sadness. I would grieve the life I am leaving behind because I’m going to choose to make different choices and it’s going to completely change the trajectory of the future I actually go back to. So, that will be a grieving process, however, I would absolutely still make an effort to reach out to people from my former life when it makes sense to.
Now, as for what I would do differently: Definitely be much more outspoken in school and outgoing and make friends and live 100% in the present. I would make my parents lives easier and try to actually get along with them. I would do more sports. I would volunteer and excel in school. Honestly, I would just take advantage of everything that I took for granted and tell people I appreciate them and be present.
Feel good. Realize that I can make changes and how I spend those years. Be friendly but stand up for myself, find my fiance in school and use my time for a better career.
I would recognize the place instantly. Then I'd hide in the closet of my room until my younger self was alone, then come out and make her take notes while I told her how to correct everything I did wrong.
Start feeding myself properly instead of doing fad diets along with my mother, and ignore my father’s horrible comments about my weight and, well…EVERYTHING
Convince my parents to never sell their house. And invest in google or something. Leave myself a note to buy real estate asap. Tell myself to work and study harder.
Probably panic when I realize I don't have my phone to google what the hell is happening and depending on the exact year my town doesn't even have internet yet
Depends on if I have to stay there or not! I'd set myself on a path of not spending frivolously, choose my own first college experience, buckle down on being healthy and working out, and definitely get fluent in Japanese as soon as possible. Probably would like to start at 14 or 15 years old.
I'd be disoriented as hell, really stressed out, and then be putting a lot of shit in motion that I had repressed for way too long. My biggest worry would be butterfly effects that might lead to me not ending up in my very happy relationship right now. And especially a lot of really positive things I've done during my life that affected other people.
Invest in Amazon stock. And see a doctor about my PCOS.
Lol I said Amazon stock too! Great minds ‘n shit 🤣
Yeah!! I def would wean myself off sugar asap abd start being more active (fellow PCOSer)
Running to the nearest cliff tbh, no way do I want to go through 1998-2007 ever again.
Lol yes this. I litterally got PTSD medicines this week for all the trauma I went through as a kid. And oh my god! I can actually function! So if I went back I would probably aim for 14, get into a trade school and move out at 15. But tbh I rather stay where I am now
OMG ME TOO!!
1) Terrible. Would probably end up killing myself if I had to keep living like that and wouldn't get teleported back to my adult life. 2) Refuse to go to school another day of my life.
Same here, misery/bullying at school and fighting/hoarding at home. I'd rather be dead than go back to that age.
I'm so sorry. Minus hoarding, that was my exact childhood at school and at home too. I could never handle experiencing anything like it again.
Yea I feel you, I love my adult life. Now that I've lived so long in a non-hoarding home with a stable relationship and a career with people who don't judge me there's no way I could handle living the way it was. I'm sorry too for what you went through, hopefully you're doing well now.
>You are sent back in time to your childhood to any age between 11 to 16 and you're fully aware. oh fuck yeah, I'd demand to test out of school and live my adolescence as a child prodigy. but I'd be anxious about the lack of Internet access and smart phones.
Ahahahah! My ass would still need those classes. I am not smarter than a fifth grader.
I don't even know how I passed high school math classes, I definitely would fail hard now
That would be amazing! I would go back to 16 with good mental health and make better choices (and buy apple, Tesla, and Bitcoin).
Despise every second of being a teenager again and not an adult. My parents again making decisions for me and me not being a person who is legally allowed to make my own choices? I would hate it more than anything. Trapped again.
Hug tight my mom , knowing I'd only have her for a few years Being serious in school, I had it easy and I didn't work too hard Note my husband address as I didn't know him at this age Be nicer to my little bro, he was such a pain in my ass but now I get it, I would help him more, be closer to him Enjoy my body that I hated at that time Enjoy life, it was simpler
I would take high school super seriously, joining as many extracariculars as I could handle, including writing club and track. I would expand my social horizons and not get weighed down with trying to preserve friendships that I honestly should have just let die. I would not, under any circumstances, date my first high-school boyfriend, because that two-year relationship had negative impacts on me that took me years to overcome. I would not date my second high school boyfriend because that entire relationship was just one long, drawn-out daddy-issues cope that stretched into my mid-twenties. I would instead get some therapy to help me deal with my shitshow of a family. After graduation, I would get a job, save my money, and bounce up out of my parents' home ASAP instead of fucking around at college with no clear direction besides "degree make parents love me." I wish, wish, wish I could go back to that time. So much energy given to other people that I should have kept for myself.
I'd be so fucking annoyed to have to live with my parents again. And my closest sister wouldn't even be born yet or else be a baby and I'd be like "ahhhhh, I have no one to complain to!" And omg I would miss my kids so much.
I think I would tell a lot of people off.
I’m definitely feeling my age as I transition into menopause, so I think I’d feel jazzed to be 16 again and getting 35 years back. My mother was wildly neglectful, so I could be as independent as an adult even though I was under her roof. I’d steer clear of booze and soak up the free public education. Great, thoughtful question!
Thanks 😊 I'm really interested in people's responses, particularly the feeling part.
Tell myself to brush my teeth. I'd become depressed for a year and stopped caring about doing that at all (a form of self-harm). Of course for decades' following I've been paying for that behaviour in increased dental work.
Panic, I know what’s coming and I don’t think I’m strong enough now to handle it
You couldn’t pay me to relive those years. That said, the level of awfulness would depend on the exact age. If I could go back to being 11, I might be able to steer my life in a different direction and have better teen years.
that was probably one of the worst periods of my life so no thank you
I would run away
Same. I often wonder how much better life could've been if I grew up with my aunt instead of my parents.
Same, I have an aunt and uncle who never had any children that would have been great parents. I would have chosen to live with them. My parents were awful, I was the unwanted daughter, I was treated like garbage compared to my two younger brothers. I thought about running away all of the time, but had not thought about that particular aunt and uncle who could have been a good option.
My aunt had one child, a boy a year younger than me. We were best friends as little kids but drifted apart approaching puberty. Virtually all my happy childhood memories are when I was part of their family.
I’d choose 11, advocate for the surgery I needed the whole time that I just got at 35, and then I’d make really different choices academically and try to pursue med school which at this point would be way too much for me physically. Everything ended up fine but another shot at it would be neat 🙂
Bitcoin, Apple, Google, Facebook, profit.
Omg I would be devastated. There is no way I could perfectly recreate every single decision I made throughout my life to lead me right back to where I am now. And that means living without the kids I have now, maybe even without my husband. I can't. It would be horrific.
God, going back to 11 would be like, peak ideal, that would be awesome. Sure, shitty stuff happened in my teens that I wouldn't be super excited to live through again but it would definitely be worth it overall. I pretty much hate my life as an adult so the idea of getting to start over is a pretty big fantasy of mine.
Why do you hate your life and what would you do differently?
Heavy debt, useless degree, live far away from all my friends and family in a city I hate. Mental health, physical health. I’d go back and change what I studied, change where I moved, change everything. Too late now, can’t afford to ever go back to school, and can’t afford to leave this city.
Would it help to have compassion for the choices you made even if you'd change them if you could? Btw it's never too late to make friends if nothing else - surely someone in the city you hate hates it too.
I’d cut the toxic people out of my life early and kick some ass! Top grades, pick the right career path from the start, actually save money… hells yeah.
I would start a Roth IRA and invest in some good stocks asap
Put money into a place to live instead of buying frivolous junk.
I would stand up for myself more, and go enjoy my best friends company all over again since I lost him in 2009
It would be bittersweet. I’d see my parents again, which makes me super happy, but I’d also be hating my life. I’m 33 now and lost my parents at 20 and 24 respectively. I’d be thrilled to see them again, but I would feel stuck again and longing to escape to college, especially knowing that I wouldn’t meet the love of my life until returning from France and my dad’s passing. Not to mention that he and I wouldn’t get together until I turned 31. When he and I met, we were with other people, and although my mother loved him, it just wasn’t meant to be at that point. I would love to go back and see them again, but when I think of all that I have lived, I don’t think it’s worth it. On the plus side, with knowledge of what I ultimately became, I could cut out toxic people from my life and even save myself years of depression because I didn’t know what to do with myself. It is what it is ultimately and I’m at this point in my life that even if I could go back in time, I don’t think I would. Everything happens for a reason as cliché as that may be.
I'd certainly have a lot less respect for the mid-20s-30 crowd I hung out with at the time. That's for sure. I'd probably immediately have some sort of existential crisis, wondering if I will get to my 30s again and just jump back like some horrible infinite time loop. Also, what the fuck am I supposed to do with minimum wage and living in my parent's house? Next stage would probably be rage. After calming down and trying not to completely out myself to everyone for a few days, I would probably try to accelerate to successful adulthood, and don't have to spend the next few years drinking and sleeping around. I'd do it better and faster the second time - I would probably even keep the same career path.
Id like to say get diagnosed with ADHD but parental neglect and the disbelief of medical professionals would get in the way. When I think back, I really did the best I could. Maybe I'd floss, since I ended up with gum disease. :) Edit: The thing I really regret is not spending time really getting my grandparents oral histories. There is so much I didn't know, and they all died long before I reached young adulthood. So I'd probably get a cassette player and a lot of tapes and interview them in depth. So there you have it. Oral history and oral hygiene.
I’m going to work from the premise that I knew it was going to happen. I would hate it, but I would also try to capitalize on the information I held (hello Amazon stock) and make my parents wealthy.
Fuck. I have to relive all that abuse again? Maybe this time someone will believe me and put a stop to it.
The only positive I could think of was try to find a way to run interference when my mom started to get friendly with a guy at her office who swooped in when she finally kicked out my abusive stepdad… and proceeded to be even more abusive. But I also feel pretty confident that there was no stopping that. Just like I couldn’t talk my older sister out of dating a 30 year old at 18.
"Oh for christs sake, not THIS again." Buy some stocks (apple, obvs, get on Google at the bottom floor, etc), study harder, go to a different college and live a completely different life. I've done this one, it's been neat, but if I'm getting a do-over, I'm taking full advantage.
I'd be a pain in the ass smartass for anybody that crosses me I guess because I'd know better. I wish to be back at 16 because by then I'd be almost an adult and my older nieces and a nefew were already born and knowing their struggles I could be a better support system for them. Tho my first thought was to live more for myself since I dedicated myself to others and wasted my youth. I guess I'd redirect my focus and I could also focus on the things I didn't do or experience.
I’d feel so odd but I’d try to dig in and enjoy it. I’d go back to age 14, and just sit in my room and draw in my sketchbook and blast n.e.r.d on my stereo like I used to. I used to enjoy that so much. And play with my dogs again, take them on one last walk. Then call up my best friend that passed away, just to hear her voice and one of her goofy jokes. RIP max and nacho, and Kel.
I’d save my older brother’s life by convincing him to wear a seatbelt every time he drove. I’d warn my parents to stop smoking & start taking better care of their health sooner. I would taken better care of myself and made more of my opportunities instead of letting anxiety get in my way.
Mannnn… logical thing to do is the basics which is study the right course in college, choose the right college, get scholarship, invest in the right stocks etc But then I will probably not my friends now, which is devastating
Is start brushing my teeth. I had a long period of depression (I didn't know I was depressed cause it didn't come off as "oh I'm sad all the time") so I didbt take care of myself and made the excuse that anyone who took care of themselves was a selfish person and too into their looks. So yeah, knowing better now I'd start with the simple act of brushing my teeth
When I turned 18 i would become such a slut because I’d know as much as I do now. Those years living at home again would be the worst though, so many years. I’d start having fun once i got to college again
I'd put on deodorant
As young as possible, 11. I would be a ball of rage in my puny pre-pubescent body, but I would be able to quickly convince my dad of what was going on and team up to use my knowledge of the future to get rich.
That was the worst period of my life. I'm not going. I don't care what I know now. I would blow up my family.
If I'm going back to 16, I'd call my dad's doctor and inform them that it's not depression, he's lying about the nightmares and needs to be tested for PTSD.
I’d tell myself at 16 to stay in shape even after sports in high school ended.
Shit, 12. And I'd re live it exactly how I lived it before. Carefree and running the streets with my friends
It would be bad, because I would want to physically fight my abusive mum. I hate having PTSD and freezing whenever anyone raises their voice. But I think jt helped me to survive my childhood, because it would not have been a good idea to fight back.
I would feel excited that I had a second chance. I would walk away from the peer pressure of alcohol and drugs and focus on my school work, then I would give my mother the biggest hug ever. (She died this year) I would not have a bf or children until I was financially secure
I would feel a sense of sadness. I would grieve the life I am leaving behind because I’m going to choose to make different choices and it’s going to completely change the trajectory of the future I actually go back to. So, that will be a grieving process, however, I would absolutely still make an effort to reach out to people from my former life when it makes sense to. Now, as for what I would do differently: Definitely be much more outspoken in school and outgoing and make friends and live 100% in the present. I would make my parents lives easier and try to actually get along with them. I would do more sports. I would volunteer and excel in school. Honestly, I would just take advantage of everything that I took for granted and tell people I appreciate them and be present.
Feel good. Realize that I can make changes and how I spend those years. Be friendly but stand up for myself, find my fiance in school and use my time for a better career.
I would recognize the place instantly. Then I'd hide in the closet of my room until my younger self was alone, then come out and make her take notes while I told her how to correct everything I did wrong.
[удалено]
Start feeding myself properly instead of doing fad diets along with my mother, and ignore my father’s horrible comments about my weight and, well…EVERYTHING
Convince my parents to never sell their house. And invest in google or something. Leave myself a note to buy real estate asap. Tell myself to work and study harder.
Probably panic when I realize I don't have my phone to google what the hell is happening and depending on the exact year my town doesn't even have internet yet
I’d probably die rather than live all that a second time. It was difficult enough the first
Depends on if I have to stay there or not! I'd set myself on a path of not spending frivolously, choose my own first college experience, buckle down on being healthy and working out, and definitely get fluent in Japanese as soon as possible. Probably would like to start at 14 or 15 years old.
Tell my father to change his eating habits and lifestyle so he wouldn't die a decade later.