Ask HN: In hindsight, what advice would you give to your younger self?

GPT3: If I could go back and give my younger self some advice, I would tell them to not be afraid to take risks. I would also tell them to not take things for granted and to appreciate the little things in life. Lastly, I would tell them to never give up on their dreams and to always stay positive.

Go to college. No, really, do it.

Don't stick your dick in crazy. Don't cheat and don't lie. Don't stay in relationships with manipulative people (whether sexual or not).

Buy those bitcoins.

When your daughter's behavior abruptly changes, ask "why" instead of "how do we deal with it".

You're a jerk. It's not OK. Learn to be better with people, and less ego-driven and self-centered.

Give yourself more to the kids, and don't try as much to protect your own mental space.

No, that guy you're trying to help can't stay overnight at the house.

Don't do business with family. "got it writing" doesn't help if you're not willing to sue your dying father.

Buy/save scrap metal the market fluctuates a lot. (aluminum cans and copper Study more math. You will like it more later on. Bitcoins early.

Dont listen to other peoples advice, it is ridden with jealousy and ego

I'd tell my younger self nothing. In fact, I'd stay completely out of my younger self's way and never meet.

Meeting my wife was so dependent on luck that any change, anywhere would make it not happen.

The ones you love are more important than anything else. Adjust your priorities and behavior accordingly.

Eventually, high school sports won’t mean a thing.

buy & mine as much bitcoin as possible in 2010-2012, but that seems too obvious

High School:Ask that girl out. Even if she said no, it would have been fine. Get a better hair cut. Spend more time with Dad.

Adult: Travel more before you get into a committed relationship (and eventually marry and have kids). The money will be fine. Be much kinder to your wife. She puts a lot of weight in it.

Go vegan asap. Stay on the tech route (programming/Linux). Just read a few graduate level Econ books. Don’t move away.

Fuck everything. Not kidding. It is ridiculous how picky we are as young people.

Obviously use some discretion as to not destroy your life or others.

You're the average of your friends. If you want to stay ambitious and principal then it helps to have friends that are of the same mindset.

In relation to that same advice, make your environment as positive as you can as you're also a byproduct of it. The school you go to, the things you watch, the books you read, the friends you make, the family you have, the job you take, the colleagues you connect with, the city you live in, the conferences you attend, etc will have an effect on the person you become.

Don't listen to other people and second guess yourself.

Enjoy the prime rib and fast cars while they are still available.

Your thoughts aren't == to you. Your mind is literally a monkey facepalming onto a keyboard 24/7, telling you to worry about the most random trivial things. Don't think too much, you are slowly killing yourself by overthinking.

Stay on the moral high ground. Once you get into the moral low ground, it's very difficult to get out.

Forgive faster. Be kind. Don't speak or write hurtful words. Trust people, but don't confuse trust for hope or laziness.

Do the work first and the money will come. It's not the other way around; income is a recognition of the work. Even your first salary is a reflection on grades/college/interview results. When freelancing, it's a reflection of how convincing the proposal is.

Life is a marathon not a sprint. Make a plan for weeks or even years. And stick to the plan.

Failure is sometimes the best outcome. Not because everything burns but because you can learn from mistakes. The sooner and harder you fail, the better.

Most people will follow anyone who shows confidence.