Ask HN: Advice to your younger self

Do not start a company on your own in germany.

I wish I had continued working as a developer outside the tech industry, as I did in the early years of my career. I've learned more while working in the tech industry, but I've also burnt out multiple times and generally been treated much more poorly. I wish I had stuck with those instincts that initially kept me away. I'm much less happy overall, though that likely has as much to do with aging as anything else.

Dear me, 1986: Learn C, it will solve your money problems!

(That's the youngest self I think would have taken any advice.)

I disagree. Jobs want multiple languages nowadays.

Don’t believe your thoughts. The voice in your head sounds like your voice but that doesn’t make it yours.

Trust your inquisitive nature and question things., people and choices, especially if they feel off.

Most people fake it, most of the time.

Remember what your inner compass feels like. Use that feeling.

Remember that you exist.

Anyone who tries to sell you your own divinity is a scammer.

Anyone who tries to define you sees themselves your master.

Anyone who tries to punish or reward you sees themselves your master and wants you to accept that role.

Your parents (and guardians) are often piloted by the blind forces of trauma patterns. What they do at these times is not parenting but seizures of madness, of which you are the audience and often the victim. This is not your fault, not your doing, and is not right. You are good to the core, but happen to be on the receiving end of these seizures.

This is true for every occurrence of unkindness, humiliation, or abusive interaction by a person who has power over you.

Sometimes it’s helpful to see beliefs, stereotypes, even language and habitual ways of thinking as forces that have colonized humanity. There’s space and life beyond these. Follow your curiosity about that dimension. It exists and is vast — infinitely more expansive than the mind’s ability to think.

Humanity/society is multilayered. The shittiest layers get most of the publicity. There are many, many awesome people living in integrity, creating with open hearts and rich imagination. You can be one of them; the easiest way is to join their communities and friendships.

Friendships are sacred, and deserve your utmost integrity, attention and honesty.

You’re good and you are able to recognize the people who have not broken/fallen to the dark side. Trust that.