ADVERTISEMENT

It would probably be fair enough to assume that every single one of us sometimes dreams about traveling a few years (or a few decades) back in time. Some of us would like to go back and change a few things here and there, some would like to experience the best moments of their lives once again, and some, well, some people would simply love to go back to when life felt easier. The list goes on and on. Though despite the reasons behind it, the idea of time travel and being able to change your past itself is an interesting and tempting concept. But here's a thing—what if you could go back in time and meet a younger version of yourself? What would you like to do then?

Let's take a moment to explore this kind of scenario. Recently, Twitter user A_l_a_n__G shared a post asking others what are the 3 words they would tell their 18-year-old self through time travel.

Without further ado, Bored Panda invites you to look through some of the best responses.

You May Also Like:

Many of the most popular responses included people advising their younger selves to buy Amazon, Apple, or Microsoft stocks. "I wanted to buy $4000 of Amazon stock very early on. Husband said I was nuts and badgered me, so I didn't. Instead, we put it with the money we had saved for the down payment on a bigger house. Still kicking myself. I knew I was smarter than him," someone commented. "Imagine your future self says 'invest in Apple.' But you don’t know that is. So you pour money into orchards and become the biggest apple (small “a”) magnate in the world," another user added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Also, apparently, many people would advise themselves to marry or not to marry a certain person. For instance, one user shared that their 3 words would be "marry that girl." Someone commented on this tweet by saying this: "Can you find her? Is she legally available? At 77, my uncle found his high school sweetheart on FB. Both sides had spouses dead over 5 years. They are having the BEST time! SO happy! Live 1000 miles apart, so airplane and visit. Look her up!!!"

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

One user shared that they'd rather say nothing and give their younger self a hug instead. "I’d give her a big hug because she wasn’t getting many at home and she’d been through a lot of crap in those short 18 years," the user wrote. "Never too late to be kind to yourself. I hope there are many warm, safe hugs in your life now," another user replied.

#12

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

annestevens75 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Eepe
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good advice. I thought putting others first... being taken advantage of... one day someone would do the same for me. Obviously I’m no where near perfect and made plenty of mistakes... but it turns out i should have lived my life the way i wanted to and not let ANYONE get in my way, because no one else gives a s**t. There’s a lot more to unpack on that general statement... but she’s right about ‘like yourself first’ in soo many ways.

View more commentsArrow down menu

The original post by A_l_a_n__G has since gone viral and it currently has over 20k likes, almost 18k quote tweets, and over 2.5k retweets. What would your response be after hearing this question? Let us know down in the comments!

ADVERTISEMENT
#16

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

janoldenburg Report

Add photo comments
POST
Lara Löwenherz
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would say the same thing. And if 4 words were allowed i would ad a"now"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

MarilynTatman Report

Add photo comments
POST
Karynne Williams
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know I could have used this advice in my 20's. I know it now, 30 years later.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#22

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

WardQNormal Report

Add photo comments
POST
Night Owl
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Panic never helps anything or anybody (except sometimes in serious life and death situations, like the instinct to run out of a burning building)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

MeHitchc0ck Report

#25

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

hacks4pancakes Report

Add photo comments
POST
Blarrg
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember chatting with my brother who was into tech. He was saying that Apple stock was very, very cheap. He said they were about to introduce a new product that would store and play digital music. The iPod. He said if it took off, which it might, it would go big. If it failed, it would probably be the end of Apple. He said if I had a grand to invest, it would be a good gamble. Neither of us had a grand we thought we could risk at the time...

View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

Sarah_Yael_Gold Report

Add photo comments
POST
ArhomR
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“Thou shalt not covid thy neighbour’s life. Wear a mask.”

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#31

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

ellymelly Report

Add photo comments
POST
Awkward Manatee
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sorry but this is my favorite. Because of course, if someone had just told 18 year old Alexandra not to eat bats, this whole covid thing never would have happened. You shouldn't eat bats Alexandra. Bats: Besties not Breakfast.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

ALT_uscis Report

Add photo comments
POST
Noble
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you have something in mind do it. You never know without trying.

#33

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

KassandraKitson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Blarrg
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why the hate? (Well into the negatives at the time I'm writing this.) Maybe this is what she did, and looking back it was the best part of her life. Or maybe she didn't and has lived with regret. Either way, why do so many downvote anything different from the way they think?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

ninatypewriter Report

Add photo comments
POST
Steve Barnett
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even though he wasn't a nice person in real life (he beat up women, his own admission), he didn't deserve to be murdered.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

TiffanyElora Report

Add photo comments
POST
Night Owl
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the system in most countries is intentionally created like that - much easier to get married than to get divorced

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#38

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

homemadeguitars Report

Add photo comments
POST
#39

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

TRantosaurus Report

Add photo comments
POST
Blarrg
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never vote straight party, and especially do not suggest a lifetime of straight party. If you convince yourself that either party is all good or all bad, one has all the answers and the other is just stupid, you are part of what's wrong in the world.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

99freemind Report

Add photo comments
POST
Khadeja
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why the downvotes? Maybe she just regrets not having as many children as she does now.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#46

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

BestDamnOLine Report

Add photo comments
POST
#47

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

XRP_OWL Report

Add photo comments
POST
#49

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

JoelKatz Report

Add photo comments
POST
#50

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

edujdw Report

Add photo comments
POST
#53

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

GrrrGraphics Report

Add photo comments
POST
shyanna banana
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yep thats me and my dad right now i gave you up vote i mean ammo is pretty good thing to have laying around but not around kids and not to kill people

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#54

Time Travel-18-Year-Old-Self-3-Words

superbucks2050 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Blarrg
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never vote straight party, and especially do not suggest a lifetime of straight party. If you convince yourself that either party is all good or all bad, one has all the answers and the other is just stupid, you are part of what's wrong in the world.

View more commentsArrow down menu