I think that my first piece of advice to my teenage self would be to live in the moment and not always reach for a far-off future, to not be in such a hurry to get there that I don’t appreciate the moment.
I would advise myself to take the typing class, to do my homework, to ask for help instead of just waiting for school to be over with, like something that is happening to me and is to be endured instead of trying to improve.
I would advise myself to change my attitude earlier, that other people don’t owe me anything and that I should look for ways that I can offer instead of silently expecting others to share what they have with me.
I would advise myself to get a small job, even bagging groceries, that way I would have more pride in myself. I was like a freaking ameba. I should have recognised that I was, and still am to a good degree, lazy about doing things I wasn’t interested in. I could have developed stronger friendships, had more drive to use the time I had to really do something.
I would advise myself to work with my teachers, to reach out and ask questions, even if they seem stupid. I would strive to be more curious about their experience and what they could pass on to me.
All or any of these things would have made my life easier at this age. My life would have likely been very different, I would have made other choices or at least not have drifted into things, I would have had direction, a compass, instead of being like a rudderless motorboat, going in circles.
I might have done something with my life.
30 Years in Italy 