Bloganuary Day 1: Advice to my teenage self

Okay this posting each day a topic seems like a neat thing even if I’m not on WordPress any longer. So will do it as well. Their Day #1 topic is “What advice would you give to your teenage self.

There are lots of things I’d say to my teenage self. Some of it is the usual refrain of an older mellow person to their hyper-energized overly dramatic teenage version. The advice I’d give to myself would selfishly be about the things that I cringe the most about when I look back on it. Until I got half way through college and I metaphorically got my face cracked a few times I was an arrogant pompous ass. I’m sure I still come across that way to some but I had airs and attitudes which were not only completely out of range for my abilities but completely inappropriate for anyone of any ability. I wish I had embraced the often used expression “The more I know, the more I realize I know nothing.” So sit there and listen more than speak. Don’t try to impress people with your knowledge, just try to be helpful when it is asked or appropriate. Don’t assume that everything is absolute, especially with experiential things that everyone can arrive at differently. Don’t assume you are always right and everyone else is always wrong. You may be wrong. There may be multiple “right” answers. Lostly when you are wrong, own it.

I believe I have traveled a great distance away from that version of myself. I’m not a Bodhisattva that never comes across as arrogant, a jerk, or believes that my version of things is right and others contradicting are wrong. I guess the fact I’m having that introspeciton is a sign that I have moved past that to some extent and continue to work on that to this day.