So I said to myself, I said, "Self..."

Check this out: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128194886 This is very interesting.  (I especially appreciate the one who comments about her ass- pictures of me at my summer opera internship at age 20 show a wildly unappreciated body- at least unappreciated by ME.) 

If you eliminate the possibility of do-overs- because at this point, why contemplate that?- is there anything you could say to yourself that you would listen to?  If some lady  more than twice my age had tried to advise me, would I have listened?  (Actually, I did listen very carefully once to my boyfriend's mom, and she was very helpful...)

At 20, I was in a pretty big hurry.  I was surrounded by people who were trying to get my attention for very real reasons, but subconsciously I doubted their motivations.  I can actually think of several people at the moment.  I was on my way to Greece for a semester abroad.  I was maintaining ties with high school friends, while cutting those same ties (Good trick, huh?)

What would YOU say to your 20 year old self?  I can think of a few things.

1. You have nothing to be afraid of.
2. Get over yourself.
3. Why not?
4. Pay attention.

It's going to be ok.  You are going to make mistakes and you are going to have some heartaches.  You'd be better off not being QUITE so melodramatic, but the emotional lows will be balanced by profound joy. 

(ACK!  NO DO-OVERS! I am resisting the impulse to TELL her what to do here, I know very well that she OFTEN wants someone to come down from on high and tell her what will happen if...? what her regrets might be... successes, failures...)