Youth wasted on the young?

[noobish hat]

I often hear about youth being wasted on the young, but outside of teenagers who never leave their bedrooms, I'm not sure what it means. I assume there is more to it than that. At 25, I'd like to think that I can still be considered young. Do any of the older members here have any advice they wish they'd been given at a younger age? Anything you'd encourage us to do while we still have working knees etc?

[SexyWayne]

Stay away from women, just keep w*nking

[jdanddiet]

how does winking help with anything?

[crusto]

I often hear about youth being wasted on the young, but outside of teenagers who never leave their bedrooms, I'm not sure what it means. I assume there is more to it than that. At 25, I'd like to think that I can still be considered young. Do any of the older members here have any advice they wish they'd been given at a younger age? Anything you'd encourage us to do while we still have working knees etc?

I'm 35 now and fitness is one thing I wish I did more of, especially now that I have numerous damaged discs in my back. I went to the gym loads up until I was 21 and was fit as a fiddle, but stopped going once I got serious with my girlfriend (now wife). Whilst I have always been naturally fit and active I wish I had kept up the extra work to keep my back strong. I suppose I wasnt to know that I had a weak back though, but still, it it may have prevented all the trouble I get now. So if you have a physical job, dont take it for granted if you find it easy, I did and now im jobless as a result. I have had to throw away a 15 year career.

If you do have a job in the 'trades' I would consider retraining tbh. You do start to feel it a bit once you are in to your thirties, its a mugs game if you ask me. I wanted to become a train driver but its nearly impossible to get into, and I havent got the time to try with the constant pressure of the mortage etc etc. Im currently thinking about training to be a financial advisor.

Also, I dont know if you have kids or not yet. But if you havent, make sure you get all the fun things you want to do etc out of your system before you do. Your whole life changes (for the better of course) when the nippers arrive. You wont have time for 'fun' anymore

[Rinoa]

I'm 26 now and feel like I've wasted a lot of the last 6 years on being too responsible (well, most of the time at least...). I'm sure it's something I'll be grateful for in later life, but all I seem to want to do these days is make up for it and be 19 again.

[Megamixer]

If you do have a job in the 'trades' I would consider retraining tbh. You do start to feel it a bit once you are in to your thirties, its a mugs game if you ask me.

I'm 21 and work in a warehouse. Having received my fair share of strained arms/shoulders/wrists/back etc. and constantly lifting big weights such as beer barrels, wooden pallets etc. it does make me think about training for something else to get out of it before it's too late. The thing is though, I never wanted to go into manual work but now I've had a few years of constantly being on my feet and being free to move about, I'm not sure if I'd cope with sitting at a desk all day.

[crusto]

If you do have a job in the 'trades' I would consider retraining tbh. You do start to feel it a bit once you are in to your thirties, its a mugs game if you ask me.

I'm 21 and work in a warehouse. Having received my fair share of strained arms/shoulders/wrists/back etc. and constantly lifting big weights such as beer barrels, wooden pallets etc. it does make me think about training for something else to get out of it before it's too late. The thing is though, I never wanted to go into manual work but now I've had a few years of constantly being on my feet and being free to move about, I'm not sure if I'd cope with sitting at a desk all day.

I was talking to an old friend the other week who happens to have done both. He said that he needs to stay physical as the office enviroment can drive him mad. He copes by going to the gym after work to get it out of his system. But theres no way now that he would go back to the trades. I suppose the fact that hes loaded to has something to do with that though

I started out working at a carpet warehouse, I then had a stint tarmacing in Germany, then I became a wood machinist, went back to the carpets for a bit, did a bit of window fitting, fitted roller shutters and retractable security grilles, loads of other odds and sods and eventually became an air conditioning engineer. All I have to show for all that is a bad back. Not worth all the graft if you ask me.

[greenberet79]

I wish I would have tried harder at school - going to school in Liverpool in the 80s/90s there was pressure to be a scally (not doing work, not learning, being cool etc) - but if I would have put more effort in then I could have been anything now - a doctor, dentist, basically anything that pays more than PR!

I also shouldn't have given up the violin when I was 10!

But saying that, you shouldn't have any regrets (unless you've done something REALLY stupid). I've travelled the world, done all sorts of things my parents never had the opporunity to do, so can't complain. Too much

But yes - it's a cliche, but it's true - youth is wasted on the young.

[psj3809]

I dont think you should have regrets or you'll seriously depress yourself. My one regret was i should have bought a flat when i was 20 years old (when they were about 45k!) and would have made a killing now but oh well.

I dont regret partying/socialising tons in my 20's, got it out of my system, happily settled down now. I wouldnt want to have been a career bloke in my 20's, seen a few like that, yeah they have a bigger house than me, bigger car (and boy dont they like to go on about it !) but dont seem to have much of a life, can tell as theyre always going on about their bigger car or bigger house !

But you shouldnt regret anything. I also find it incredible looking back at moments which changed my life, eg when my mum and dad moved when i was about 2, if his friend didnt say 'try this town....' and said another one then i obviously wouldnt have known my best mate of 30 years etc.

His ex girlfriend went to Sheffield uni and her best friend there later became my wife. So if my mate had a different girlfriend or she went to a different uni then things would be totally different.

[Dave300]

I'm 35 and my advice is - enjoy your youth because it's something you'll always savour for the rest of your life. And, if some old bu**er comes along and tells you how things were in his day and how different things were - he is RIGHT!

[Antiriad2097]

By 25 I was hooking up with Mrs Ant v2.0, so I can't say I wasted my youth.

I had a high old time through my teens and twenties, most of it I enjoyed, some of it I don't remember, but its got me where I am now. Not terribly well off, a bit of debt, a small mortgage but reasonably happy by and large.

I only have one regret, why I passed her up on the opportunity I have no idea, some misguided sense of loyalty to a workmate I think.

Youth shouldn't be wasted knocking your pan in at work, or doing homework until you're a mannie. Get out, drink beer, meet women, do all the things you probably shouldn't because you won't get the chance later.

[The Hardest of All Freds]

Up to 16 - Learn guitar and study hard at school
16 - 24 - Join a band. Drink lots and shag lots.
24 -26 Get a great job and find a permanent bird.
After that, do the marry/kids thing

[sscott]

At 38 I've at least learnt not to give advice to the young, same way I didn't listen to anything my 'elders' said. OK, one thing, give yourself choices/options, try not to get stuck in a job you don't like and be brave.

[Negative Creep]

I miss my primary school days. No worries about money, career, women and so on - all I cared about was whether to play Street Fighter 2 or Super Mario Kart

[koopa42]

all I cared about was whether to play Street Fighter 2 or Super Mario Kart

[/quote]

I LOL'd SFII of course