Ask Lemmy

fuck yeah! i was worried for us, thanks for making the hard choices and sacrifices.

"nice, we're on track"

"Sounds shitty, have you considered suicide?"

Younger me was depressed, pessimistic, arrogant, and very much so an asshole with selective hearing. He would only hear the parts of what's happened that fit what he expects to happen.

And despite quite a few negatives over the last decade or so, I've managed to do pretty well for myself.

He'd probably also tell me to lift with my knees. I had to do some heavy lifting at work yesterday and now my back's sore.

Young me would be proud how much i know about tech and what in capable of. Young me would not understand I'm not and internationally wanted slick underground hacker with a few million dollars stashed away. Young me would see my company and not understand why I am not a millionaire yet, he did not have a concept of things taking time. He would also ask howiI. Haven't kicked the wife out after constant problems with sex for 10 years plus and taken all three kids. "You love her?! You weak piece of shit. The kids need a mother? Yeah maybe, but you haven't gotten any for over a year for the fourth time in a decade dude, you are a looser."

19 year old me would say "lmfao, how are you still alive?"

I'm about to be 46 and finally starting to figure out this "adulting" thing so things are going okay at the moment. My 19 year old self would probably say something like "wow I can't believe you're (I'm) doing good." As long as I don't mention the last 2 decades of fuck ups I think I'd be impressed with myself.

I'll know after 7 years, when I'm 19

Don't bother

"Stable life despite most dreams being crushed? Ok, that doesn't sound bad... Shouldn't have stopped drawing? Wait, you're teaching kids how to draw as a volunteer and liking it?? That was unexpected."

They'd probably be worried that I had gotten sucked into the interminable rat race, and wouldn't believe me when I said I had found a way to be comfortable with it. I used to have panic attacks about the idea of entering the normal workforce and ending up in a job situation like my father did. Love the man, but he prioritized "providing" for the family over being present, and burned himself out doing it. I can see the nuanced differences between that and my situation now, but I never would have back then.

They wouldn't believe that a relatively modest life could cost so damn much of what I take home. I make money that would make my 19yo head spin, and it's still not enough to be as comfortable as I would like.

They'd be furious that I let my strong friendships of the time slip for over a decade.

They'd be worried about my weight and how far my general health has tanked. Walking everywhere and doing manual labor jobs had made it easier than I realized to stay healthy back then.

They'd be confused that I'm a decade into a different romantic relationship. That might cause them to more carefully examine the one they were in at the time. I'm not sure if cutting it early would have been better for me though. I learned and grew by years in the span of a few months when that relationship was dying.

"Bull. Shit."

"You were right and the guidance counselors were wrong."

Take the first management promotion; turn down the rest. It's not worth it.

Dude, you get your weed delivered to your house from a legitimate pharmacy and you can legally smoke it, everything else doesn't matter, Ohh yeah and that dickhead dad of ours gets kicked out, we never see him again and we get to be fucking awesome, oh and finally, you're 2 years away from owning the greatest dog you've ever met who becomes your legitimate best friend, she lives 15 years and they were amazing years with her.

They'd say: "oh shit, give me some of that methylfolate, please."

"Your heart did WHAT??!?!?"

"Huh."

Heh, sounds about right.

I can't believe we pulled it off holy shit we are good.

"What kind of career strategy was 'go with the flow', old man? Oh, but it worked out ok? Good to know."

Hiking is fun, really?

Still loving programming - makes sense.

Still no significant other yet - alright I guess, too bad though.

I can make it on my own?? I can’t believe you have your life so well put together. I like cats better than dogs now?

Working in something vaguely related to what you just started studying and playing games. Just like you do now.

whoa, really?

nice! congrats!

Probably;

• I’m proud. You proved everyone that you were able to do everything, they said you could not (education-wise).
• Don’t be afraid to change jobs, get the one that’s better for your future.

Wait so I still get to do this as a career? And I’m considered an expert in the field?!?

Yea that makes sense about my knees and back hurting.

No video games? You used too be a real nerd, man, now you're just another normie!

I lost my dad (whom I was very close with) at 15, and my mom made my life extremely hard and confusing after that... I think I'd be mostly happy at how seemingly well-adjusted i am.

I'm objectively well-off, but turns out i care far more about non-financial things.

So everything stays the same.

"Still?"