What advice would you give to your teenage self?

My message would be don't get married or have a child so young. Enjoy your job, spread your wings a bit, enjoy meeting more people etc. I've been lucky I married a good man and w've been together 50 years but sometimes wish I hadn't settled down so soon.

I would tell myself to stop feeling afraid, shameful and guilty and that everything would work out in the end.

Don't get pregnant and don't marry because your family think its the thing to do. How times have changed.

I would tell myself to respect my parents more because all their rules were there because they cared about me and not just to stop me having fun. I would also say, it doesn't matter if you don't have a boyfriend for ages and, definitely, marry the man you can't live without rather than the one you can live with!!

Having confidence was my problem. My d and gd were much the same in there teens. I can remember being anxious over lots of things and I think when I look back it was just silly teen things which at the time felt important. Now I wish I had a crystal ball at times, and then again not sure if that’s a good idea really.

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

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 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.

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 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.

Me too Teddy.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

This too will pass.

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.

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

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

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.

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!!

Oopsadaisy12 that is exactly what I thought