Lucy Flowers [Manchester, UK]

Age 32 advice to my 22 year old self

When your line manager takes you to one side and says, "You need to be patient, you need to work hard": Realise, it's all a trick and where you're working isn't a meritocracy.

Age 23 advice to my 14 year old self

Forget about your pessimistic "friends", their lives end up going nowhere. Pursue your musical career like you've always wanted to.

Age 31 advice to my 12 (and up) year old self

Don't think you're too old to start a new hobby or start a band. It's not about if you can catch up to those who started earlier, it's about having fun with it.

Cathie Blackwell [England, UK]

Age 50 advice to my 17 year old self

Don’t marry the first man who falls in love with you. You are beautiful, intelligent and sexy. Marry someone who you can talk to and makes you laugh. It really is ok to sleep with someone and not marry them and it’s the only way to find out if you enjoy sex together.

Hani A. [USA]

Age 16 advice to my 10 year old self

No matter how stupid and pointless the homework may be, get in the habit of doing it; Otherwise you’ll end up too late trying to get perfect scores on your math and chemistry finals.

M. Malisa [Serbia]



Age 18 advice for my 17 year old self

On Monday, don't go on the band practice. Your father is going to die that day, and although you can't help him, don't let him die alone.

Laurie Chamberlain [USA]



Age 60 advice to my 19 year old self

Don't think you need to have children to be happy. Granted, by the time you raise them, you will be far wiser than your friends who do not have children. But you will have had a hundred times the heartaches, too. Believe me, the wisdom isn't worth the pain.

Age 39 advice to my 7 year old self

People hurt you because they're bad, not because you are. The worse they are, the worse they will hurt you. What happened isn't your fault.

Age 39 advice to my 22 year old self

You might lose everything you think is dear to you, but it's not until all of that is gone that you will find what you should truly cherish.