Smile like you mean it

Things I wish my younger self had known:

Learn to live your life alone. Be happy. Make friends. Forget the social mores and quotas--dare to embarass yourself. Don't sell yourself short for anyone. Listen to advice/cliches/old quotes--they were spoken and repeated through the ages for a reason. Try to leave the house looking decent as often as you can, if not to make yourself better, than at least because you never know who you'll run into ("there are no ugly women, just lazy ones").

If its at all possible, keep in touch with old friends and old flames--the relationships you once forged with them have made you who you are today. Try not to make the same mistake twice--and if you do make sure it was worth it. Smile in pictures. Keep a journal. Sleep less often, and live a little more. Realize that you can never be truly happy with anyone, until you are happy with yourself.

Your job comes second, your life comes first, "No one on their deathbed ever said, 'I wish I had spent more time at work'."