If you could go back in time - what would you tell your 17 year old self?

Ok! There you are with your cap and gown on..... You are nervous because you are about to cross the stage in 45 minutes! You are about to graduate high school. You are 17 and ready to conquer the world. You have no idea what tomorrow really holds for you but today you are just happy to have made it this far. This really is the first day of the rest of your life. BUT WAIT!!!! Who is the commencement speaker? You seem to recognize the person taking the podium. It's you current day! It's you in your 30's, 40's, or even 50's. However old you are today, it’s you! You have a special message for your 17 year old self.


Have you ever said, "If I knew then, what I know now!" I think we all have said it. Well, if you had the opportunity to give your 17 year old self some advice, what would you tell yourself? Would you change anything? Would you keep it the same?

I remember when I was 17 and graduated high school. It was June 4, 1994. It's funny because the very same day I graduated high school was the same day OJ was chased on the highway with the white bronco! But that was a proud day for me and my family. I didn't know what the future held for me but I knew I was going to college. If I could have a one-on-one with myself I would tell her (Lady B) so much! The number one thing I would tell her was to start following your dream today! Don't wait on this great cloud from the sky to come down and appear....make your own dream reality. I would tell her please don't settle in love. If you really love someone and you know he's the one, make it work. I would tell her make GREAT choices everyday because they affect your tomorrow. I would tell her to start saving TODAY and by the time you are in your 30's you will have a great savings! I would tell her parenthood is hard but rewarding and make sure you are emotionally, mentally, and financially ready! I would tell her to pray more and give God more time. I would tell her to move to either LA, New York, or back to Chicago after graduation. I would have to tell her not to change her major from communications to marketing. I would have told her to start a business in her 20's, and be a giver.

There is so much more I want to tell this 17 year old young lady, I am just choosing not to go that deep right now. I actually don't have too many regrets but I did have a few forks in the road that would have changed my life depending on what I chose. I would never know the results of my life if I would have taken the other options. I do wonder sometimes though.

What about you? What would you tell your 17 year old self?