December Daily: advice to the young Res

princessofgeeks prompts: What you would tell your self of 20 years ago if you had the chance.

(Got behind because yesterday was so busy.)

Wow, this has been really thought-provoking. Twenty years ago, I was 30 years old; I had sort of accidentally moved out of journalism and into technical writing, and my career was feeling a little less weird and ill-fitting than it ever had. We'd just bought our first house, but I was still thinking we were going to get out of Corntown any time. I was four years from having a baby and four years from discovering fandom.

Looking back, I wasn't really as much of a grown-up as I thought I was.

First thing I wish I could tell myself is: Do not take the job working for the Space Alien. She will shred your self-esteem and it will take literally years to get over it.

But in more general terms:

1. Don't be so focused on writing as a career. You do have other skills.

2. Whatever is bothering you about a relationship, it isn't going to change by itself. You're going to have to learn how to talk about things that upset you and how to ask for what you need. Maybe don't wait twenty years to try therapy?

3. Be really careful about the things you decide to do "just for now." You would not believe how fast twenty years go by.