Tell HN: I'm 18 years old today

your accomplishments matter

you won’t be forgotten

you’re brilliant

get a job that enjoy doing and not because it pays enough

with the last one i agree though

fixing health is significantly harder than not

setup an emergency fund, just in case

take care of teeth, avoid sugar

don’t start with alcohol, nicotine or other drugs

I know some people that don't like cocaine, it makes them feel jittery and uncomfortable at best. Some people take a hit of coke and it takes over their whole night and that's all they want to do for the rest of the night. I was never impressed.

Nictoine, arguably one of the most addictive substances ever, has always been one of my least favorite substances (to the point of being substantially less preferable than abstaining) despite constant exposure to it in my 20's from my friends. I never liked the feelings I got from it. Too much makes me sick and even a little gives me a headache.

I think that individual variation in brain chemistry and receptor density / locations, etc matters a LOT in that category. The trouble is... you just don't know what your chemistry is and what your brain is gonna like.

* You'd be surprised just how easily, quickly, and reliably those "fun" social drinkers turn into well-functioning alcoholics at best. Watch the booze. Don't get a DUI, and don't get into the car of a someone who's been drinking.

* Exercise/Train consistently, don't underestimate breadth in your training. (Strength, Endurance, Stamina, Explosive Strength, flexibility) are your main categories. The big thing is to do it CONSISTENTLY.

* Eat well. Ditch sugars/soda/cheap easy carbs, etc. Build a habit of well-balanced nutrition. Don't ever rely on will-power. It's way easier to eat healthy if that's all the food you buy to stock your fridge and pantry at home

* Do your best to live on somewhere between 15-50% of your income. Invest the rest in an S&P 500 index.

* Get laid as often as you can.

* Don't ditch a good relationship for the above

* Don't stay in a bad relationship for the above

* At the end of the day, you are what you repeatedly do. Where you'll be in 10 years depends a ridiculous amount on what decisions you're going to make in the next 15 minutes.

* On that note, who you are to others is usually based on what you do, not who you think you are.

* There's a LOT of efficiency to be gained by finding someone who's good at a thing you want to be good at and asking/paying them to train you to do it.

* Over the next decade, you're frequently going to find yourself in situations where there's some cognitive dissonance in what you're doing, saying, who you're hanging out with, etc. Learn to notice that little nagging voice, and then reflect on what's causing that friction in yourself. That's you figuring out who you actually are.

* On that note of reducing those frictions: Live your life so that you never feel you need to lie to anyone about anything you do openly or privately.

Trust but verify.