What would you say to your younger self?

Stay on at school, then take every opportunity for education and obtaining decent qualifications.
For you - 21 is too early to get married.
Work harder.
You are a perfectly normal sized girl. Not everyone can be Twiggy.
Keep asking your various bosses why you are not getting the same pay for doing the same job as the men.

I would say " stop crunching gobstoppers and chewing blackjack sweets. Look after your teeth "!
The maybe decades later I would have nice strong teeth instead of cracks around all the fillings .

“Don’t do it”, again and again and again.

Jaffacake - I would say
“ Be true to your teeth and they will never be false to you”.

Dont be afraid to say No.

Dont marry young go out and enjoy life. Never let a man tie you down make sure you are financially independent so you can walk away if it doesn't work out. Be yourself and you will be happy

Don't marry the first guy that asks because you're afraid of being left on the shelf.

When I read your comments I can remember my Mum saying exactly the same to me! Did I listen- no! In the end I'm quite happy with the way things turned out, although maybe I would tell myself to value my parents and their advice more.

I would tell me to stay at school and take my A levels.
Work harder to stay in the police force.
Don't reveal too much about yourself to your bosses.
Watch the alcohol intake .
Keep an eye on your weight - find healthier ways of dealing with stress than food, alcohol, etc, etc.

Follow your dreams, know your own mind and don’t be put off doing things because your overbearing mother didn’t think it would be a good idea. I missed out on so much because of her.

I’d say keep trying. Learn from your mistakes but don’t let them hang over you in the future.

Stop picking your nose.

Try listening to your mother's advice sometimes, or at least consider it. Look after you joints and your teeth.

Sorry, your joints.

Remember that other people's opinion of you is none of your business. Too much time spent trying to please those who, ultimately, were never going to be pleased , therefore time wasted.

Work hard at the sciences, concentrate on virology and specialise in vaccines, your day will come in 2020.

I would just say be true to yourself and if people don't like you for being yourself , you don't need them in your life .

Don’t let your childhood hold you back. Don’t believe them when they imply you have nothing going for you. You are nice looking and very bright. Leave home early but not by marrying too young. But overall you will do well in life.

I would tell myself to get an education and qualifications for a job I would find challenging and love doing.
As it was, from the age of 18 I lived off-grid for 4 /5 years with seasonal jobs as in orange and grapefruit picking on an Israeli Kibbutz then France for Grape picking and Campsite work back to Cumbria for Lambing and Dry Stone Walling.
Loved every minute of it but when it came to married life settling down and paying for a mortgage, car and holidays it was done with drab, dull and uninspiring but relatively "safe" jobs.

Don't get married at 20 year old.
Don't listen to people who tell you you can't.
Do go to university.
Do travel as much as you can.
Infact, don't get married at all.

Stand up to bullies

LauraNorderwhat good advice that would have been. We could have been very useful now if we had told ourselves that.

Thank you for your wise words BusterTank. At age 8 I was too concerned with being able to get enough to eat and hoping that the School Clinic wouldn't shave my head again because of constant head lice. No yearning for a pony in my neck of the woods!

I would say be a little braver. Obedience to what my Mother deemed right, restricted me in doing what I wanted. I also saw several people disappear from my life as I was unable to tell them how I felt about them.

Certainly postpone getting married till at least 25! It was almost a fashion trend in the 1960’s to get engaged and married at 19, 20, 21. Live a life, explore the world and learn from your experiences. Wish I had!