What advice would you give to your teenage self?

I would tell myself to stop being so frightened of everything.
Having said that I probably did that over and over. It was only by doing and facing things head on that I learned to have some confidence in myself. I think that really came when I had children and that protective mother bear feeling took hold. What I thought was shyness was probably lack of confidence and insecurity.

None at all, I would have taken no notice of it.

I might have got a lot wrong which in theory could have been done better, but even if I could, I wouldn't want to change anything that happened before my grandchildren were born. In that alternative universe they might not exist, which would be dreadful.

Oh MOnica! Same here, I would have just thought, oh no, here’s somebody else telling me what to do....I had enough people doing that as it was.

Oopsadaisy12 that is exactly what I thought

I would tell myself to work harder at school and get a place at uni, have a career instead of just a job, don't get married too young and most of all buy a property!!

I think we have to imagine that our teenage selves were aware it was the older version giving them advice.

I would tell me that actually I am pretty, so to be more choosy about boyfriends!
Also not to think it is my job to make sure that everybody in my family is happy.
Also not to be so nervous about exams.

Work harder at school, get better exam results, and whatever you do don't get married too young.

I agree with you Varian, and I think things happen for a reason.

I still can’t take my own advice, I was selected for Jury Service (again) but due to illness I had to defer it until this May, I’m stressing about it already.

This too will pass.

I'd tell myself to train for a proper career. I learned to type and spent my life working for other people. I would have liked to be a teacher or nurse but thought my shyness would let me down. My daughter in law is a teacher. She is shy but has the training to overcome it.

I would say, stand up for yourself and that it is ok to change direction even if you have spent a lot of time and effort on something and everyone is trying to persuade you to stick with it. Giving up is not necessarily failing.

Whatever you do, learn from it.

I wouldn't change a thing, no matter how difficult things were as a teenager, as I couldn't imagine life without my daughter or grandchildren. Everything happens for a reason, and it's important to learn from experiences.

Same as wotnot - don't be so frightened of everything. Unfortunately I still am.

Not to be so concerned about my mother's opinion on everything and to find a way of earning my own money so I didn't need to depend on her help and feel obliged to listen to her.

I would have told myself to stop concentrating on boys and take my education far more seriously!

Appreciate how beautiful you are and what lovely skin you have (even if you aren't/don't) rather than stressing over perceived imperfections. It's only as you get older that you appreciate your younger self

Me too Teddy.

I don't think I'd change anything. My mantra is 'any experience - good or bad - is never wasted' and I've found this true throughout my life.

A friend of mine wrote a song along these lines. My favourite bit was advising his younger self to invest in bottled water!

But on a serious note, I would tell myself to exercise and watch my figure. Pointless as it is, my main bugbear is my post-menopoausal chubbiness. I was never thin enough for a bikini, but even that was better than the sack of potatoes I am now.

I would tell myself that becoming pregnant at nineteen is not a good idea - it took me many years to sort myself out and get my life back on track.

Well, Jacky here's another sack of potatoes here! I'd tell my younger self not to worry so much as most things work out in the end, whether you worry or not.
You're not as ugly as you think you are.
Don't say silly things just because you think it makes you sound clever - no, it doesn't. Just be yourself.
Try to be kind.
Never be afraid to admit that you don't know about a certain thing and to ask advice.
Listen to that warning inner voice.

I would advise that aerobic exercise, even if you hate it, is worth it! (I was overweight until my 20s)