Loved the article! Glad I got to read it at 16 is it sad that at 16 I have already been stressing about my future and career path for quite a while? I’ve struggled balancing my secret and crazy dream and doing what is expected of me from my parents. I’m a smart kid and come from a middle-class background. My whole family has been a part of sports (including myself) and i dont mind it. my parents expect me to have this great future doing smart people stuff. (that sounds intelligent right? lol) The typical “you need to be a doctor/lawyer” bit. But what i really want is to be part of the film industry. I have virtually no idea about it at all, but it fascinates me more so than anything else i do. The issue, however, is i feel like that would be wasting what my parents have invested in my education already having gone to private schools specifically to one day attain their idea of a “smart job”. I’m even embarrassed to admit to a bunch of strangers online that i’ll never meet that i think i want to act in particular (although the whole industry fascinates me). Ive done a few theater acting things in the past but nothing substantial or very serious and I like film much more. I just feel like theater is so exaggerated. How does one even practice acting? How does one even get better? I’m pretty sure I’m already horrible at it but I really enjoy it. The good thing is that I know im a hard worker and willing to do what it takes. Honestly though, I’d be thrilled just to be an extra or someone’s assitant that runs out and buys donuts and coffee, but i have no idea to get into it at all. Even though I AM young, I feel like there are things i could do to get going on it. I feel like i’ve wasted valuable time. I just dont even know where to begin.

I doubt that anyone is going to read this, but writing it all out like that made me feel much better. Any advice is welcome

Thanks for the article!

Hey Scared,

I think we’re in the same boat. I am 21 with a 2 year degree and I’m working on my bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. I have a very good technical background, and I’ve been thinking about starting up some kind of Internet business. Of course, I have no idea what kind of business to start or where to begin, but maybe you’d be interested in swapping some ideas and maybe making some money in the process. You can email me anytime.

Read this and it really got me thinking…
u see, all my life, i’ve always wanted to get it all right (i still do!) and i guess i pretty much have considering i’m 20 and with a college degree. But, my life is just plain bland! i know i want something more but just don’t know how to get it. i’m tired of the whole comfort zone and lack of adventure… i don’t want to turn 30 and wish i had done better with my 20s. i actually want to look back and laugh at my mistakes
now, the problem is whenever a tiny bit of crazy stuff to do comes knocking (on very rare occasions), the fear creeps in (i start asking every negative ‘what-if’ question in my head), i fold up and every i-want-to-enjoy-my-life thought flies out the window. then i’m back to my freaking boring life!
i wish i had a clue what to do…

[...] 原文：What I’d Tell Myself if I Were 18 Again [...]

Wow! The good news is that you’re still very young and have lots of time to make it up!

Wish I had read this years ago… everything you’ve said to watch out for I’ve been through! I’m now 25 and wish I had taken more time to do the things I wanted to.

I got married at 22, divorced at 24. Borrowed to the hilt and I’m gonna be paying it off until my very late 20′s early 30′s. I’ve got lots of nice things but no money to go out and enjoy myself. I went to University part-time whilst holding down a full time job so while all my friends were out partying and living life I was working and studying. I got the opportunity to go travelling for a year with a friend but decided that my job was more important… hes just got back and had the time of his life.

Bottom line, I’m 25, divorced and single, I’ve never traveled, I’m in debt up to my eyeballs, I have terrible credit, I have nice things that I can’t afford to maintain, my university memories all include working, studying late into the night and sleep deprivation and will always have to live with the fact that I wasted my youth. On the plus side, I have a good job, a solid career and in 5 years I’ll be fairly well off… I’d give it all up to go back to being 21 and free from the pressure of life for one day!

I have to say, i’m 22 and i am terrified of life right now.
I’m still making moves, but my fearless self is nowhere to be found these days. Yes as you said, it felt good to have my degree by age 21.
Most of the milestones i used to mark my success in life have already been accomplished.
It’s good to see that nothing is wrong with me.

Great article! =)

I like what I see in this article of yours, especially of the bit on “Don’t Be in Such a Hurry to Grow Up”

How old are you,btw?

Karese again..LOVED this one! I totally agree with the things you’ve said and I must admit, I am guilty for some of them, like being too serious and thinking about marriage (I know..and I’m only sixteen!) I am so gonna stop thinking about that and your right, I am too young to get serious about someone when I have the rest of my life to get serious about someone. I mean, I do have a boyfriend and I like spending time with him and he’s funny, and every says we’re gonna get married…does that mean we will?

Anyway, I think I’m gonna start following your advice! You write really good articles, by the way! And I do keep a journal..been doing it now for years!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks.. i loved this post.. i am actually turning 22. i do have a job.. m done with college.. but i m kinda bored with 9 -5 routine and dissapointed how work keeps me ocupied and how i dont have freedom….. I am in a “exploring myself” mode now.. and i dont wanna waste my whole life working and paying bills.. i love to travel and experience different things. I am working on it…and your post was inspiring.. i am glad i read this at 21 .. and learnt from your experience..thanks

Man, I should go back and read this article. It’s been about a year and I could use a reminder!

thank you so much for this post. i just turned 20 [i do think that im old now] and every time I feel like I should hurry up and stress about my career and stuff I go back and read this post. serves as a reminder for me.

10 years ago, I was the kid the teacher picked to make sure everyone was working while she went down the hall… I’ve certainly grown… I have no idea how I’d be able to go live in another country though… Its sounds impossible. I have a whopping 23$ to my name…

Another great article Brian. When I was 18 (7 years ago) I had no idea of what I wanted in life and had no direction. The only advice I would need to give myself would be.

You can do or have anything you want. It doesn’t matter how smart, rich, or good looking you are. All you need is a dream and a desire. All the information and opportunities are out there for the taking. Don’t just go with the flow and let life pass you by. If you want something in life the only way you can get it is by taking action.

Cheers, Eddie http://www.bulkdollars.net
A man on a mission towards financial independence.