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A friend of mine who's in therapy had an interesting session recently, and I'd like to see what you guys would do with it.

Picture your earliest childhood memory. Think of how old you were and the house you lived in at that time. Picture yourself at your current age, going up to the house, finding your childhood self inside alone. What would you tell the young version of yourself?

Never grow up..........................

Be prepared for one heck of a life.

You can be an Olympic Swimmer... just do it..!! Watch out for Older Men..:wah:, When you get that 50 Chevy at 16 don't sell it keep it, it will be worth a ton of money..:driving:

Great replies so far! I'd need quite a bit of time to talk to myself as a kid. The first thing I'd tell myself is this list of names:



"Carl Blanchard

Matt Schlum

Dave Jennings

(slightly changed to protect the stupid)

When you hear any of these names, RUN LIKE HELL!!!!!"

Im Carl arent I ? *dammit* Why do I have to be on the short list ?!!



GREAT QUESTION !



*Thinking*

I would say be kinder to yourself. Dont hurt yourself the way you did. Give yourself a break you were just a kid it wasnt your fault. Forgive sooner, forget faster. Strive to be your highest self and learn to love yourself. You dont always have to take the hard road, dont be so stubborn. I think I would also say, dont be afraid to give yourself to others, let them know who you really are. I would hug me and tell myself that I shine so shine.

I would say don't worry yourself about what "others" think of you, and if you're always having to be a good boy or not, so as to make your parents proud. Don't keep trying to always make your "parents" proud of you by doing only the things "they' want you to do. You should strive to be your best you can, learn to love yourself as you are. Because parents can often exeragerate to others on what they say your accomplishments are, & will be. Then you will find yourself trying to live up to those claimed accomplishments!!! Growing up always trying to please your parents & others is not good for you to become your own person, and limits your own worth & self esteem. Growing up trying to always please others will follow you into adulthood, and will make you constantly anxious!!! So do be yourself, for yourself!!!! :-2

I would say "keep doing what your doing, your doing great!"

I would say to that little girl "I love you, my precious, and I'm always here for you" And then I would sweep her up into my arms and hold her close and dry her tears.

ArnoldLayne wrote: I have posted before that my earliest childhood memory is of a room where I slept as a baby and of a crib. Certainly less than a year old.



I would however like to visit me at school and put myself straight in a few things. My aching joints are testament to a long arduous life in construction, one which I would have liked to avoid. My hands to have held a pen instead of a heavy stone. Not that I'm not proud of my work , just tired. Oh to give myself a clip round the ear


My sentiments exactly Arno., coming from a construction back ground also.

I still to this day tell any youngster who will listen ............

"LOOK at these hands and how rough and abused looking they are. Stay in school, get an education, break the cycle."



As far as approaching my childhood self, ....... I would tell him to keep his PECKR in his pants......... at least until he was 30.. And the only thing you know for sure is who the mother is.

I did that inner child thing with a therapist about 30 years ago and then again 20 years ago. It helped me. When people have such bad emotional pain from their childhood it helps to go and give yourself hugs. 30 years ago I told myself that I was not a liar and Mom would believe me someday. 20 years ago I told myself that it would be ok someday, hang in there.

nvalleyvee wrote: I did that inner child thing with a therapist about 30 years ago and then again 20 years ago. It helped me. When people have such bad emotional pain from their childhood it helps to go and give yourself hugs. 30 years ago I told myself that I was not a liar and Mom would believe me someday. 20 years ago I told myself that it would be ok someday, hang in there.


AIR HUGS!!!!:-4

I actually remember something from 4 months of age. I was placed in one of those papazzon chairs and I actually felt as if I were falling and it scared me. It felt too wide open as I was not being held/cradled. Somehow this incident came up with my mother and I was able to tell her things about the surroundings that I never could have known.....so then she believed me! She remembered the chair! Amazing. Well if I could go visit that little girl that lived there I would tell her she was going to have an amazing life w/ amazing parents....a bit fortunate but not too much to ruin her sense of appreciation. Things will come easy. Life will be good. I would tell her not to get used to it. It is not reality. I would also tell her not to date that stupid boy for 12 years. It was such a waste.

I would say "Listen to mom, stand up for yourself, trust your dad's taste in jewelry and shoes, and when that short little nerdy guy asks you out in high school, turn and run like hell!"

actionfigurestepho wrote: I would say "Listen to mom, stand up for yourself, trust your dad's taste in jewelry and shoes, and when that short little nerdy guy asks you out in high school, turn and run like hell!"
:yh_hugs :yh_rotfl

I don't seem to have any really early memories and there may be loads of reasons for that. My earliest memory is being in an orphanage and my brother telling My prospective adoptive parents that if they wanted him they had to take me as well (he was looking angelic, I was across the playpen rubbing mud in my hair, no change there then).

Advice, that is tricky, I think a lot of times the confidence that my dad instilled in me has helped me. He always stressed that you were as good as the next person and should hold you head up when you walk into any room. It sounds a bit odd and I cannot really explain it very well, but it works. Believe in yourself i suppose is the essence of it

1. What're you doing here alone? Where your mother?!?



2. Can you call your dog off, please? I'm feeling faint from the loss of blood. (his name was Yeller & he was a great watchdog and friend!)



3. Never settle for average, even though everybody will let you. It's really more fun to push yourself to do the best you can rather than just good enough.

Your sophmore year in college is going to be very rough.

Don't turn away from it. Don't run from it. Stand tall and meet it head on.

Your family will back you all the way. That's what they do.