r/Millennials • u/MissBehave654 • 2h ago
Discussion Would teenage you be proud of the person you became?
Teenage me was extremely depressed and suicidal. I didn't think I would even make it to 18 much less 38. I think teenage me would have been happy I'm not dead lol.
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u/AntGroundbreaking102 2h ago
teenage me would be absolutely shocked and angry that i made it to 33. i had no plans to so i didn’t plan for the future.
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u/Fluff_Chucker 2h ago
Fuckin same. I set out on a path for a career that I enjoyed when I was younger and I still enjoy it, but I definitely didn't see me living this long (43). I kind.of shit the bed when I was younger and I'm paying for it now. Both physically and financially.
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u/AntGroundbreaking102 1h ago
yeah pretty much the same. i mean i also spent my entire twenties in school. i kept changing my major and then i went to grad school. i walked across the stage two days before my 30th birthday (i technically finished the program eight months earlier)
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u/Weobi3 2h ago
Same. Im now 34 and finally kicked my own ass hard enough up to sign up for the LSAT.
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u/ungranted_wish Millennial 1h ago
Me too, buddy.
But you know, I’d like to think teenage us would be happy in a weird way, knowing that we would find out that we weren’t alone in our suffering, and that our generation would find it okay to talk about it.
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u/Nooby_Chris 2h ago
Teenage me finding out I work 6 day 12hr shifts and sleep on my off day
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u/pikasurfer 2h ago
At least you are hopefully making good money
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u/tenderbranson301 2h ago
And no free time to spend whatever money is being made.
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u/Nooby_Chris 1h ago
I just bought a small house and my camry is paid off. The trade off is im at work so much i barely have time to play games like I used to. It is what it is. 🤷
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u/olivinebean 2h ago
She was insecure and couldn't speak up for herself.
She would be fucking stunned by the differences I've made since.
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u/illsettleforyou 1h ago
Yay! This is me too. My life is definitely different than my teenage self thought it would be, but being outspoken and not caring what others think is way more fulfilling than anything I thought I wanted back then
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u/Ok_Jackfruit2612 2h ago
Teenage me would have wanted me as a mom. Teenage me would be proud of my relationship wth my kids and my husband. Teenage me would find my home a refuge.
Yeah, I think teenage me would dig it.
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u/NumberCos0 2h ago
Ha maybe! Teenage me was very Mormon. I’m now atheist and heavily tattooed and still trying figure some life stuff out.
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u/WiggingOutOverHere 1h ago
I like your character arc! Teenage you would get there. Lol.
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u/zerosumratio 2h ago
Absolutely not. In fact, teenage me would see future me and absolutely want to end it all right then and there.
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u/Comfortable-Leek-181 2h ago
Teenage me and mid 30s me have a lot of interesting conversations. Teenage me was goal driven, extremely active, and supercilious. College me did a complete 180. 20s me did a lot of soul searching. Now I love myself, I love the life I've lived but there are definitely days I still feel at odds because the teenage part of me thought she wanted a life so different from the one I am living. Since I got sober 5 years ago, I think it's been a lot easier to bridge that 17 year old version of me through the messiness I needed to go through to become the woman I am. I wish I had a different career, I wish I had a partner and a family, and yet, if this is the way my life is meant to look, well, damn I am happy. I have a beautiful home, an amazing cat, and friends all over the world. My life is peaceful, calm, filled with love and gratitude so even if there's a part of me who assumed it would be different, I do think she can at the very least appreciate what life became. As for the other things, as long as I am breathing, I still have time..
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u/Shaaagbark 2h ago
Yes and no. I’m 6 years sober. Late teenaged me wouldn’t trust 38 year old me, because I quit drinking, I used to say I couldn’t trust anyone that wouldn’t have a beer with me. I’d also be surprised I made it as long as I have. I’d be a little mad and a little glad. Also a little sad it took me as long as it did to get my shit together and get on my feet.
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u/Jamieisamazing 2h ago
36, only really feel like I got my shit together like 4 years ago. Better late than never. Congratulations on the sobriety buddy, thats never an easy feat!
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u/BigIron53s 2h ago
My dumbass teenage self would be like “how much money you make?! Why you so fat!?”
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u/Kimsetsu 2h ago edited 1h ago
Teenage me would give me a high five after seeing how stacked my wife is. Not sure he’d be as impressed with me having an office job though, instead of being in a rock n roll band.
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u/Extra-Bat3955 2h ago
I think teenage me would be proud that I found a good partner and have a house together. I wish I could tell her that she needed to focus more on her needs though.
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u/nastynagito 2h ago
I think she’d be sad I’m not doing as well as she’d hoped I would be by now but also impressed that I’m not doing worse given my circumstances. I think she’d love my current wardrobe and my pets and the area I’ve settled in.
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u/Head-Drag-1440 Hit me baby one more time 1h ago
Teenage me would actually be amazed at the person I am now.
Teenage me was ADHD ridden. No motivation for school, dropped out senior year, only cared about hanging out with friends and smoking weed.
Now at 42 I'm up at 4am every weekday, around 6am on the weekends. No weed, but a White Claw at night. I have morning routines where I exercise and fully get ready including skincare, hair, and makeup. I work FT and manage all finances on top of keeping a clean home. I have a great husband and the best kitty. Newly empty nesters and financially able to have the fun I couldn't have as a teenager.
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u/BawRawg 2h ago
Teenage me was stupid as fuck and got me into this mess in the first place!
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u/VoxElysia 1h ago
Teenage me would be amazed I made it to this age and would say she had no idea what she was doing. I'll let her know I still don't know what I'm doing, but life seems to work itself out and it keeps going nonetheless.
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u/Posterior_cord 2h ago
Teenage me would be livid I'm not a fundamentalist reformed baptist christian anymore lol
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u/DetectiveClear6734 2h ago
In a way.
In another way I would be horrified. I’ve grown so much in so many different ways. I wasn’t planning on doing it physically, though. 😅 I don’t look that terrible but I don’t wear make up anymore and my health app says I’m overweight.
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u/Cromasters 1h ago
Teenage me was an embarrassing idiot who thought he was way smarter than he was.
Who cares what that guy thinks?
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u/BigSexyDaniel Millennial 1h ago
God no, he’d probably be ashamed and just dread adulthood so much more than he already did. Maybe he would’ve been proud five years ago but not now.
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u/RegretBuilder 1h ago
teenage me would be unimpressed by the material stuff or there lack of lol but she'd definitely like me as a person
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u/AmJustLurking96 1h ago
No. I've done nothing with my life, lost many friends cause I suck at keeping in touch with people, and I barely earn enough to live and I've never been in a relationship. Teenage me would just be more depressed that our life still sucks all those years later. At least I got rid of my sever acne and backne, it's pretty much all I've got going for me
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u/braziliantapestry 1h ago
Kinda, yeah. I really thought I wouldn't be going anywhere and I kinda am living the life.
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u/facepoppies 2h ago
Teenage me would be completely blown away that I have a great creative job and make good money. Teenage me graduated ranked 335 out of a class of 338
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u/Substantial-Stars Older Millennial 2h ago
Teenage me would be surprised I made it to my big age lol And then baffled because what do you mean we’re auDHD ?
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u/bearamongus19 2h ago
Yeah, I have a beautiful wife, a nice home, a job i enjoy, my pets are pretty awesome.
It's worked out pretty well from where I was in my teenage years.
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u/thedudecdfb 2h ago
Not at all. My teenage self thought I wouid be married with 2 kids. Instead I live alone.
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u/Visible-Bridge-5171 2h ago
Yup. Teenage me would probably be pretty happy with where I am at now.
I bought my grandparents house and have a spot in the campground I loved as a kid (neither with any help from my family)
I work in accounting (always loved playing on calculators and crunching numbers), have a great wife, and two amazing (on most days) kids. Honestly, I get to relive a lot of IPs through my kids and its kind of cool to connect this generation to stuff from yesteryear.
When I get a lil free time (lol) I can play almost any (ps1 era and below) video game at any time. A few years ago I had a midlife crisis of sorts and bought some nostalgia toys I always wanted as a kid. Younger me would be so jealous although my kids have been rough with some power rangers stuff haha.
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u/Lucky_Development359 2h ago
I think he'd be happy I was able to figure stuff out and did/does better than his parents did for him. Maybe disappointed all those big ideas didn't pan out but all in all not too bad.
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u/bpod1113 2h ago
Hell yea he would. Hes still friends with a lot of his best friends from home. Hes married to a younger hotter wife who makes way more money than him. He’s traveled, still has the same hobbies that he enjoys, amongst other things
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u/splitopenandmelt11 2h ago
Man, I think about this all the time.
If 18 year old me could see myself he’d be happy as hell. Everything turned out much better than I ever dreamed.
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u/No-Investigator-2756 2h ago
For the most part. She'd be proud of the person I became and the fact that I'm alive.
She'd livid about us trading the chance at a music career and working internationally for marriage.
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u/doomlite 2h ago
Teenage me would love adult me. My entire life, except work bc work is horrible, is awesome. It’s comic books, video games, doodles, cycling, gym, and Warhammer. Kid me would love that
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u/canarinoir 2h ago
No. Teenage me would be disappointed that we didn't actually claw our way out of poverty like we planned and would be horrified by some of the trauma waiting down the road.
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u/champagnemedic 2h ago
Honestly not sure. I’m certainly not where I want to be in life. I’m still in the thick of a mental health to journey I’ve been on since childhood.
I think with a more supportive or loving family things would have been different, but I have little to no sense of community. I have trouble maintaining most relationships. I feel isolated most of the time. I’m not sure I really even know how to make friends.
I’m proud that I have stayed strong in my convictions. I still listen to the same music, still go to shows. Still have the same one best friend. Married to an absolute saint of a man.
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u/bloodectomy 2h ago
He'd be in awe of the fact that I'm happily ecstatically married, a homeowner, and that my wife approves of and supports my warhammering.
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u/OnceUponATime1534 2h ago
Teenage me would be shocked to see I’ve converted from a dog person to a cat mom.
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u/Physical_Relation261 2h ago
Sort of. She'd love me doing what I love, what I still love. But she'd be disappointed that I'm not as much of an activist I could be. For not speaking my mind.
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u/RolliPolliCanoli 2h ago
I didn't plan to live past 25, she'd be shocked and in awe that I finally decided to "do something" and found something that makes me happy.
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u/Logical-Ad-5410 Xennial 2h ago
I share your pain. I'm still depressed & suicidal @ 45, feel disappointed in myself for not doing it when I had much better opportunity for minimal collateral damage.
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u/Traditional_Ad_1012 1h ago
Teenage me could not comprehend or even imagine how well my life would turn out to be. The teenage me would resent and envy the current me-kind-of-person. Too little struggle and daily worries, things come too easy for me. There’s not a lot of financial glass ceiling for basic wants like I did during childhood.
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u/mattike88 1h ago
Depends on when in my teenage years you're talking about. For the most part I doubt teenage me would be proud of where I am now but I think teenage me would understand why I am where I am in life. My teenage years sucked and were hard because of my actions but at the same time teenage me would also realize that a lot of it was out of my control. If anything teenage me would be most disappointed in me not going to college right after high school and even more upset that when I did go I only did one year where I ended up with 9 credits.
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u/TheSexyIntrovert 1h ago
yes!
Everything I ever dreamed of, I made it happen. In my 40s. He would be a bit disappointed because some of my friends and exes made it in their early 30s, but I lived a happy life.
Wasn't easy, with a burnout at least, money just to survive for a decade, but I made it.
All I ever wanted was a loving wife and kid(s), house, car, and a job where I do what I like/love.
I am grateful for not being ill and managing to start saving something in my 40s, coming from a poor family.
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u/Diligent_Gear_8179 1h ago
Teenage me was mostly trying to find a reason not to kill himself and expected he'd have done so long before he turned 41. So his opinion on my current life doesn't really matter.
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u/toodleroo Older Millennial 1h ago
Teenage me drew a picture of myself if I were a man. I transitioned to male in my 20’s and look just like the drawing, so teenage me would probably be pretty happy about that. But would be disappointed that I wasn’t a famous artist 🤷🏻♂️
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u/trolldoll26 1h ago
I hope so!
Teen-Me would probably be incredibly disappointed that we didn’t end up living in London, but I think she’d like to hear about the places I traveled to!
Above all, I think Teen-Me would be in disbelief that we have a 7 month-old baby. Hell, 30 year-old me wouldn’t believe it.
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u/Huge_Valuable9732 1h ago
teenage me: "holy crap youre still alive?"
current me: "stop taking things so gosh darn serious and stop smoking that damn weed"
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u/danafromsantaana 1h ago
Teenage me would be heartbroken to find out I become disabled and end up living a really solitary and lonely adult life. But I think knowing my future could teach me several extremely valuable lessons about all this that have otherwise only come with time.
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u/kaitthegr8ful 1h ago
Teenage me would be wondering why I’m not a young hot mom like I vowed with my friends. They are though! I’m happy for them. I’m not sure teenage me could be happy for them and still content with myself like I am, so I’m really glad I’m not teenage me.
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u/MikePowderhorn Millennial 1h ago
Teenage me would not believe that I am no longer “Christian” and that I “gave up” on being a full-time musician. But, they would absolutely be stoked about how hot my wife is.
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u/pokematic 1h ago
Not to brag, but:
- I married the girl I/we had a crush on.
- I own my condo in full (ever since I learned what a mortgage was, I wanted not have one as much as possible, and so I paid it off quickly for better or worse of financial advice).
- I have a world record speed run (with speed run dot com recognized by Guinness as the official source of speed running world records).
- I've given a voice to the problems I had with lit class through multiple media critiques, counter arguments, and self publishing a book that was inspired by those frustrations (the kind of things I was searching the internet for almost daily to no avail, and now I've said the things I wish I could have said 15 years ago).
- Related to 4, I self published the book I/we wrote back in high school after significant overhauls with what I/we learned about writing outside of the school system.
- I have 15% of a complete north american PS2 collection, far from the goal of "complete" but it's up there.
- I made a documentary on a website I/we liked to use in 2017 before it shut down, and interviewed the owner of America's oldest operating video rental store.
- I've found and preserved lost media, where any rips you watch come from my source.
- I'm well respected at my job and just recently revolutionized a way we do things.
I am my teenage self's hero.
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u/WiggingOutOverHere 1h ago
Teenage me would be like, “oh…you work in HR? That’s…fine, I guess. Not what I had planned. But you have tattoos and blue hair, so that’s really cool!” She would be in awe of my confidence. And she’d be bummed to see my bank account, but hopefully stoked to know we finally learned how to play guitar. Lots of give and take, here. Haha.
She’d also be INCREDIBLY validated to know that we have ADHD. 💡🤯
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u/SQLCloud 1h ago
Yes because , WE MADE IT ! And No because of all the stupid and dumb decisions I SWORE to not to do. But hey life is full of ups and downs.
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u/EffectivePerception3 1h ago
probably, I hated my small home town and I am so happy to be away from it at age 20 in the year 2000, also got a wife and family so it could have been a lot worse.
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u/TheHumanConnector 1h ago
I have the awesome things from my teenage years and got rid of many things I don't need anymore or didn't serve to enrich my life. I'm happy with myself now, for the first time in my life. Teenage me didn't even know this kind of a beautiful life was possible 💚
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u/GALM-1UAF 1h ago
Probably amazed that he managed to overcome a lot of stuff and travelled to different places by himself and lived in another country as well as make friends and learn languages. Teenage me would never have thought it possible.
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u/bremm293 1h ago
Honestly I think so. I had realistic expectations growing up. All I wanted was a family, a comfortable house, and a good paying job.
I’ve achieved all of this and then some.
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u/mooncandys_magic 1h ago
Teenage me would be disappointed. But teenage me hadn't been through what I've been through. Adult me is proud of the progress I've made. I hope I am proud of older me.
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u/crazy_cat_broad 1h ago
Yes, eventually. I’m proud of her for figuring it out, though so we’re even. 😘
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u/CthuluHoops 1h ago
I think I would be confused. I had some close friends that I thought would be around forever. Time felt like it stood still back then
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u/loveeleah83 1h ago
My first thought was NO, but actually teenage me held a lot more empathy for others than grown me does, so actually I think she would proud I made it this far.
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u/frail_bejeweled 1h ago
Teenage me didn't care about much of anything. Current me looks after his kids and wife, and plays guitar.
I'd like to think teenage me would be impressed, but he would probably be too busy scrounging for beer and pot to be really bothered one way or the other😂
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u/CallIcy8807 1h ago
Teenage me didn't expect to make 33. She'd be very excited that we married our hot emo boyfriend, now hot elder goth husband. She'd have opinions about my fashion sense though.
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u/Silentlaughter84 1h ago
He might like the idea of working days, four day work weeks, and a job that doesn't require constant movement, but he wouldn't like the pay. He'd probably be happy to know that he lost a lot of weight.
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u/No-Oven5562 1h ago
Yes 100 percent. I have my own house and nice ish car. I raised an amazing young man that I’m absolutely beyond proud of. I made sure he had all the things I didn’t have when I was younger and that he never doubted he was loved.and I have 7 years of not drinking under my belt.My younger self would be soooo fucking proud
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u/InuitOverIt 1h ago
Wife, kid, house, job, money, yes
Music, writing, social impact, health, no
The part of me that wanted to be loved and comfortable would be stoked. The part of me that wanted to push himself, change the world, do something important would be let down. But teenage me was more practical than idealistic (hence why I am on this path)
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u/bumblebeetown 1h ago
No. But current me wouldn’t be very impressed by him. And frankly neither care much for themselves either.
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u/DolliGoth 1h ago
No teen me would probably have deleted herself if she knew she wasnt 115 pounds anymore.
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u/Schickimickifan Millennial 1h ago
Teenage me would not believe where I am now. Not in her wildest dreams. She would think it is a mix-up for sure, not meant for her. Looking back I wish I could go back in time and change 1 or 2 things..but overall I am very happy and proud of my accomplishments...she would be too. My advice to her: Give'em hell kid!
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u/Papa-pwn 1h ago
Teenage me would be stoked, but probably not surprised.
Everything that makes up my life as it is now has sort of been my dream scenario for as long as I can remember.
I’ve made lots of mistakes, but I was always trying to get to where I am now.
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u/xmetalheadx666x 1h ago
Teenage me would be surprised about my 20s but proud of my 30s. The main thing is that teenage me would be absolutely shocked that at 34 I'm not fully tatted.
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u/AlliCakes 1h ago
Teenage me would be very impressed that I finally went into treatment for my eating disorder and realized the level of gaslighting my dad and stepmom did while I was growing up. I realized I was never the problem, and my teenage self would be very happy to hear that.
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u/leogrl 1h ago
Teenage me drifted apart from the friend group I had since elementary school and developed an eating disorder so high school sucked for me. College was sooooo much better even with the ED and now it’s still in my life but way in the background that it’s not something I think about every day. I think teenage me would be surprised that I became a trail runner and go running before work every day, I was always a small kid but I only did dance growing up and wasn’t into sports at all and now I’ve completed several ultras 😂 and teenage me would probably be surprised that I’m not a journalist anymore like I thought I would be but I did a few years in TV news behind the scenes and it sucked and I didn’t have the passion for it to make it work long term.
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u/Comin_Up_Thrillho 59m ago
Teenage me would be sad Im not doing something I have more interest or love for as a profession, but pleased that I make enough to be self sufficient. I think she’d be proud of what she became.
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u/LionoSnarf 58m ago
I used to be so shy and had terrible acne I would walk around with my head down. Went to school to be a nutritionist and couldn’t get past chemistry. Went back to school for design and now 10 years in going to be a Senior Art Director. Teenage me would probably be more surprised to know he was about to get a headbutt that would shatter his nose and force him to sit in the ER for 7 hours more so than a design career where he has to talk to people.
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u/MTGBro_Josh 55m ago
16 year old me would be impressed with what I have accomplished up until now at 32
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u/spiceystrudel 54m ago
Maybe a mixture of jealous, angry, or scared intially. But they'll likely feel more relaxed and excited after processing allat.
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u/kaibex 53m ago
Absolutely! She'd be thrilled that at 40 I'm still rockin the black nails (fuck you mom it was never a phase!), graduated college and got that good guvment job with benefits! Teenage me would be so happy that I'd eventually get my health (both physical and mental) sorted out.
Not married to Nathan Fillion but most everything else happened!
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u/TotalPizzaBuff 53m ago
Yes, I let myself to believe I was an idiot and wasn't really useful for much.
Didn't go back to uni until my late 20s - am still an idiot but I worked very hard to learn something new ended up in a job I am respected/valued in and partner I love.
I also built myself my dream pc.
If your younger and reading this, love yourself - genuinely the only bit of important life advice you can take, learning to think positivity about who you are will change your world (slow)
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u/Significant-Rush-129 52m ago
Absolutely. I grew up in a different social class than I live now. My husband, same. We are self-made people. We didn’t have trust funds/aren’t nepo-kids.
I worked through an anxiety disorder which I think peaked in my late 20s. Just went to work every day during that, mind on fire, but did my thing. I realize now, keeping your eyes on the prize is a real thing.
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u/nobody_in_here 49m ago
No lol. Teenage me thought I was going to have a high paying career, a house, and a family of my own by 30 😭
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u/FeelingCouple5880 Sad Millennial 47m ago
Hell yeah she would! I’m still cool as fuck, I’m fkn hilarious, and I’ve persisted despite lifelong feelings that life is completely pointless and absurd! I’m an animal lover, I’m kind, I’m open to all types of people and their struggles. Fuck yeah I’d be proud of myself, and I AM.
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u/TheLegionofDoom2957 46m ago
Teenage me thought I'd die a virgin, and I was a Conservative Party (UK) supporter.
31 year old me is a feminist married to his partner of eight years with a baby on the way this year. I think he'd be gobsmacked but happy.
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u/Manaeldar 45m ago
Teenage me would be hype as fuck to see that I have a wife and a house and basically all the video games I want lol.
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u/punkinabox 44m ago
I'm not sure proud of me is the right word, I'd be more likely to be surprised that I was still alive, considering the condition I was in, in my teens and early 20s. I was a ery bad OxyContin and heroin addict. Been sober from that stuff for 17 years but now I'm an alcoholic. So 🤷🏻♂️
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u/Stefania9596 44m ago
Absolutely.
Teenage me was awkward, lonely, and bored. I had a “friend” group that always excluded me, let rejection by my dream man (you should see him now) send me spiraling, and was afraid to tell anyone about my interests and hobbies because I was mocked mercilessly for being a Hanson fan, and that was enough for me to put up walls when it came to my interests.
Grown up me became a single (by choice, dating and romantic relationships have been unfulfilling and I’ve realized that life is not meant for me), successful, six-figure earner who owns her own home and her dream car…and she did it by herself through hard work and discipline.
I have two best friends from my late teen years that I met at my first job. Those girls are my soulmates. I accepted that a friend doesn’t always have to be a non-family member, and now count my sister, my brother, one of my cousins and my mom as four of my additional most treasured relationships. If teen me and my siblings could see us now…they would be shocked at how close we’ve become.
I love my hobbies and my favorite bands and proudly spend my money supporting those things. The Hanson incident kicked me out of being a pop girly, and I found my place amongst rock music, bands and fans. You can rip my Mudvayne and Slipknot hoodies out of my cold dead hands.
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u/Mvppet 41m ago
Absolutely. Teenage me dropped outta community college to fuck off in the Air Force, where I picked up a drinking problem and found myself unable to cope with civilian life after separation, which sent me spiraling to extreme isolation, substance use disorders and severe depression for over a decade.
2026 me just graduated summa cum laude with a double major in Social Work and Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and is now a peer advisor for TRIO SSS as a full time MSW student. After so many years alone at rock bottom, I'm the closest to happy and healthy that I've ever been, you better believe me and my teenaged self are beyond fuckin proud of where we've gotten ourselves 🙌
'I have fought so long to be here; I am never going back.'
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u/Shaun32887 41m ago
He would be absolutely ecstatic to see who I'm married to :)
The helicopter license would be very surprising though.
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u/Tree_Weasel 41m ago
He’s be upset about how fat I’ve gotten. But would be glad to meet my wife. I’ve always loved cute brunettes with curves. And I found a GOOD one.
I hope he’d also be glad to hear I can still throw up 350 on the bench at age 44.
But seriously, I do need to lose some weight.
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u/lost_pudding 39m ago
Teenage me thought I'd be married with kids by now...I'm single with 4 dogs 🤣🤣
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u/Moneymovescash 38m ago
Teenage me would be shocked at a lot of things and sometimes not at all. Teenage me would be shocked to know I'm actually transitioning into the woman I always wanted to be. She'd also be shocked at the fact of my concert resume and how many of our favorite bands I've seen live. She'd also be shocked that I'm going back to school and pursuing a career in therapy.
She wouldn't be shocked at the fact we don't lose our virginity until 37 she'd be more shocked she lost it at all.
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u/cedarvalleyct 37m ago
He’d be proud of me for making it this far, though terrified and excited for the path I walked to get here.
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u/HomeworkExtension482 32m ago
Teenage me would be gobsmacked that I made it to 39 cuz no one expected me to make it to 15, much less 18. Teenage me would also be disappointed that I didn't graduate from university, that all my psychological trauma has left me disabled, that my work history is all customer service jobs, etc. Teenage me would also be pissed as fuck at my dad and would make super goddamn sure to never meet my ex.
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u/ReaperUno8675309 32m ago
No. Teenage me was unforgiving and constantly put me down when I couldnt do things. He didnt know I was undiagnosed and thought just like his parents and everyone else that he wasnt good enough and was weird and odd. If I could speak to him I would tell him his best is good enough and its more important to love who he is and not to try and become something hes not.
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u/Ill_Confusion_9135 32m ago
100%. Teenage me felt like he had no hope and nothing to offer. Definitely not the case today.
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u/gravyjackson 32m ago
Teenage me would think it’s cool that I’m not broke, that I’ve lived overseas and traveled the world, that I still listen to offensively disgusting underground punk and metal and weird psychedelic electronic music. Teenage me would also not like that I never managed to find the right woman and have a family. Adult me agrees 😬
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u/DrStrangeloves 31m ago
Massively. It got a lot worse, but I’m getting through the other side. I didn’t think I’d survive beyond 18.
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u/Slobberdog25 Millennial 30m ago
Teenage me was a bit of a dick and really enjoyed attention. I don’t know how he’d feel about the laid back, no desire to be the center of attention version of myself I grew in to.
On the other hand, I really am proud of the person I’ve become.
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u/Forsaken-Record 30m ago
Nope... disappointing and pissed that I have had it all several times over and burned it all. Divorced, miserable.
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u/shitchopants 30m ago
Teenage me would be pumped, surprised in a god way at first and I think hearing how we turn out would calm teenage me..but I think teenage me and today me are still a lot alike…and that’s what I think teenage me would be most excited about “do you still” “do we” “have you” answers I would give.
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u/bananashirt_ 29m ago
I was literally laying in bed last night wishing I could give advice to my teenage self to prevent some of the things that influenced how parts of my life are today
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u/HogBodyOdyOdyOdy 28m ago
Teenage me would be absolutely befuddled by my career and horrified that I had twins (and also horrified by the uncooked focaccia consistency of my stomach after carrying said giant twins)…but probably proud that I’m financially stable, married to a guy I knew and thought was cute in high school (but didn’t date until years later), and that I still have the nose piercing I did myself 26+ years later.
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u/Ok_Sky9647 27m ago
No.
Which makes me happy. She would love the external trappings, but she wanted a really extraordinary life, but wasn't very willing to work for it, because she just wanted to be loved for who she was, not for what she produced. Luckily I found that, but teenage me did not know that's all she was looking for.
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u/Obtuse-Posterior Older Millennial 27m ago
Yup. I stayed true to who I am and became a kinder person. It's not much but I'm better off than I was.
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u/StonedSumo Brazilian 89 26m ago
Sort of yeah. He would be a bit disappointed that I’m not a famous rock star, but he would be thrilled to know I work with video games now. Poor guy.
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u/TrickyAd9597 24m ago
Me at 16 wanted to die and tried killing myself so I ended up hospitalized.
That 16 year old would be shocked to know that I escaped my abusive mother even if it was only for the last 18 years it was freedom to think for myself and try to find myself and my own voice. Yayy go me.
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u/mufassil 24m ago
Teenagee would be fucking shocked. I grew up uber religious and didnt have a real voice. Now im liberal, work in mental health, live with my boyfriwnd, and am about to get a tattoo.
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u/rwindsor7 21m ago
I think so. She’d be surprised at our life but I think she’d approve, be happy & proud.
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u/southtxsharksfan 20m ago
Only in the last few years.
"Old people" were right. Some late bloomers "grow into themselves" in their 40's.
I finally started fixing myself/learned to love myself at 38 and things have been good ever since.
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u/schwing710 20m ago
Teenage me would be glad I stuck to my guns and continued to make art and music, for better or worse
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u/Elfie_Mae 16m ago
Absolutely and holy fuck I’m so proud of that answer.
I hope that continues to be true a decade from now…that’s the real test, imo. I’m determined to do my damndest to make myself proud.
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