vainandy said:

Shyra said:

I would have never started smoking...anything!

That's about the dumbest thing that we start and we start it in our teenage years because it's "cool". Oh, the extra money I would have if I didn't smoke but once you're addicted, that's it. Hell, I'm trying to ween myself onto a cheaper brand and am unsuccessful at doing that so I can just imagine if I just totally quit. I'd probably be the next serial killer on the news that went off when somebody pissed me off.

Ace said:

vainandy said:

That's about the dumbest thing that we start and we start it in our teenage years because it's "cool". Oh, the extra money I would have if I didn't smoke but once you're addicted, that's it. Hell, I'm trying to ween myself onto a cheaper brand and am unsuccessful at doing that so I can just imagine if I just totally quit. I'd probably be the next serial killer on the news that went off when somebody pissed me off.

I've seen all the scare ads before. We all have. I've even seen people in person who have a voice box in their throat running around talking like Roger and the Zapp Band. It's not only an addiction, but a strong addiction. It's harder to lick than just seeing a few scare ads.

G3000 said:

Knowing what you know now, If you could go back 5, 10, 15, 20 years, what advice would you give yourself?

My advice to myself would be: (go back 18 years)

1. To stay in school and get my degree. Something no one in my family has ever accomplished. It’s not too late for me and I’m in the process of making that happen, I just wished I had done it sooner.
2. I would have done the complete opposite of what my Father told me to do, something that has really messed me up now. Now that I know he didn’t know what he was doing and how to be a father in the first place.
3. Take more risks in my career and life, and just take more risks period. I’ve always played it safe and that lead to a little success, but if I had taken more leaps….OMG!

I hope someone in thier teens and 20's will look at this thread and get inspired and use this advice.

[Edited 1/22/12 14:46pm]

1. not care what other's think or say about decisions i've made and opinions i've voiced.

2. listened closer to my mom.

3. realize that no one is perfect and always move ahead.

4. smile at the sunset as often as possible.

I'd only do two things :

Make sure I finished college

Encourage my mom to see a doc asap

Everything else - yeah, there's shit I'm not thrilled about but honestly I can deal with the rest.

vainandy said:

Ace said:

I've seen all the scare ads before. We all have. I've even seen people in person who have a voice box in their throat running around talking like Roger and the Zapp Band. It's not only an addiction, but a strong addiction. It's harder to lick than just seeing a few scare ads.

I smoked for almost 25 years and quit about six years ago (after several false starts).

Yes, it's hard as hell. All I can tell you is what I did:

1. Went cold turkey

2. Did it during vacation time, when I could stay inside and avoid temptation

3. Climbed the walls for a few weeks

When my vacation was over, I avoided friends who smoked and places where people were smoking for a few months. CarrieMPLS also quit after being a longtime smoker. Maybe she has some words of wisdom as well?

Not sure how it would have turned out in the end, but here goes:

Gone to private school starting from kindergarten instead of just one year during elementary school, cause I didn't transition too well though it was so interesting looking back.

Gone to an arts school in high school with a good music program

Taken ballet lessons instead of others I was put in that I didn't want and didn't pay off

Wish I had continued piano lessons

That I had saved money in my teen years and learned budgeting so I could have moved out during university and put aside enough for mini trips, including to see MJ when I had a couple of opportunities to go but backed out, if only I knew

That someone put me in counselling after a family tragedy in my teens

That I studied something else in university though what I did was okay, I just feel unhappy like I'm not good at where I'm working

That I didn't try to grow up too fast at one point before something bad happened and led to me isolating myself and only hanging around with safe acting people for so long until I messed up again

And most importantly though I didn't post it at first, more positive reinforcement from a young age cause I was judged way too much, nothing was good enough and I just have no confidence to do anything now and lack self esteem

[Edited 1/24/12 2:59am]

vainandy said:

Shyra said:

I would have never started smoking...anything!

That's about the dumbest thing that we start and we start it in our teenage years because it's "cool". Oh, the extra money I would have if I didn't smoke but once you're addicted, that's it. Hell, I'm trying to ween myself onto a cheaper brand and am unsuccessful at doing that so I can just imagine if I just totally quit. I'd probably be the next serial killer on the news that went off when somebody pissed me off.

I'm telling you, it's harder than a mofo to stop smoking cigarettes. I ain't stopped smoking my weed, and I never will. To me weed is my "evening cocktail." Some folk like a glass of wine or a "drank" when they get home from work in the evening. I don't particularly like alcohol, so I light up a joint or a spliv and tell the world to kiss my ass!

Once, I calculated how much money I spent on cigarettes and weed. If I had every dollar I spent on those two alone, I would be able to retire early! All that money up in smoke...damn shame.