Things you wish you knew when you were young?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello everyone,

This sounds like an interesting thread. I will start. I wish I had more faith in myself and in my ability to be successful on my own. How about you?

Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.

If I could go back and give my 17 year old self all the knowledge and memories I have at 50, I would have had an entirely different life. And avoided a lot of heartache.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The power of compound interest, and that I should start thinking about my retirement even at age 20.

Me too. I bet a lot of people wish this one.

I also wouldn't have married my ex. Except then I wouldn't have my son or my absolutely delightful 2-year-old granddaughter. How do you work that one out???

Oh yeah! I wouldn't have loaned a "friend" $42K. Guess how much I was paid back! :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

-Saying "no" isn't mean, sometimes it's self preservation

-God does listen, He just doesn't always answer the way I want!

-I can't change other people, just myself

-Doritos and M & M's are not considered "dinner"!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That graduating from nursing school at 20 means nothing when you're 35. I should have continued my education right after that.

Save more $$. Travel is great but so is a home you own outright.

Lose weight while your metabolism is high.

Everyone is wrong about you except God.

I wish I had worn more high heels (can't explain that one)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That my mom really does love me. I thought she had it out for me as a teen.

That the people I called friends were really not my friends. If they talk about you, lie to you, tease you and put you down, they are not your friends.

I should have associated myself with people like me who had goals and ambitions.

I should have participated in more youth activities, sports, organizations, etc.

I wish I had WAY better self esteem.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, office.

I would have gone to nursing school sooner.

I would have asked more questions and not let people make me feel stupid for doing so.

I would say date a few less idiots before meeting my wonderful husband, but those experiences make me what I am today and make me truly appreciate what I have.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mostly geri :).

Ooooo, I have more! Trust your gut instinct, alcohol and tattoo guns shouldn't mix, don't eat American food from a Chinese restaurant, sometimes the reason people try to make you feel bad isn't because you're crap, but because they're jealous and insecure. Never loan out money you actually expect to get back. True friends will help you move and take care of you when you're sick.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
...that having a ******-off attitude, even if you have a really really really good reason to be ****** off, just makes people think you are a mean, negative, angry person.

...that the passion and love that exists in life is embedded in living and experiencing it -- the people, family, animals, nature. You don't have to go on a worldwide adventure to find what is worth living for.

...PR is everything. Present yourself the way you want to be seen and keep an eye out for haters. Stay away from them.

Beautiful...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wish I would of known that I wouldn't always be "skinny" and would of started to exercise and eat better in my teens not at 50.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I wish I had known that I had ADHD when I was younger. Of course, I had many symptoms in childhood, but I wouldn't have spent so much time believing I was some sort of messed up soul who was smart but just couldn't get my act together. I think I would have achieved more in a professional life by the age of 31, but undiagnosed ADHD and most of college did not mix for me. Incidentally, nursing school worked out just fine for me because of the inherent structure of the program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

1) Time waits for no one. I could never quite get back to school. Those two to four years seemed so impossible and far away. I always blew it off, believing I had plenty of time to do it later. But time and again, the years came and went, without that degree. Thank God I am finally doing something about it.

2) Have confidence in your abilities and believe in yourself. I had a great interest in writing as a teen, and wanted to be some type of Journalist. But I chose to believe Ms. "L" in high school, for she had to have known what she was talking about. After all, she was a teacher.

I only needed one more recommendation, and I had no doubt she would give it to me. But I will never forget her words: "I'm not going to sign this, because I really don't think you have what it takes to make it on the yearbook staff. Why don't you try my Mass Media class in your senior year?"

And so I did, making straight A's, just as I did in her 10th grade English class, and her 11th grade Creative Writing class. Years later, I finally got on the ball. I've had two pieces published. And I plan on pursuing writing, once I'm finished with my BSN. It has always been my first interest. And I wish I didn't take her words to heart, all those years ago.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

I am NOT stupid and CAN do anything I put my mind to!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment