雖然歷史不能假設(shè)，但是我們卻不免經(jīng)?；叵耄俏夷芑氐?8歲，我會(huì)如何如何，今天，不妨和滬江小編一起來看看本文的作者，一個(gè)過著幸福的三十歲生活的人，如果能回到18歲，會(huì)對(duì)自己說些什么吧。
I like to joke that I am who I am today because I did everything wrong in my 20's. I've always been fearless, and it often got me in trouble. I wasn't afraid to start a business, borrow a bunch of money, or quit a well-paying job to travel the world.
我常開玩笑說，我之所以是現(xiàn)在的我，完全是因?yàn)槲叶畮讱q時(shí)把一切事情都做錯(cuò)了。那個(gè)時(shí)候，我什么都不怕，所以經(jīng)常惹麻煩。我不怕為了創(chuàng)業(yè)而借一屁股的債，又或者是辭去高薪的工作只是為了周游世界。
At the same time, the fact that I took chances (and often failed) gave me the wisdom that I have today. Lessons learned through failure tend to be much more meaningful than lessons learned otherwise.
也正因?yàn)槟菚r(shí)候的我抓住了很多機(jī)會(huì)（雖然經(jīng)常以失敗告終），才讓今天的我學(xué)到了許多智慧。相較之下，從失敗中吸取的教訓(xùn)比從其他地方學(xué)到的東西更加深刻。
Now that I'm in my 30's, life is pretty good. While I haven't learned it all, I feel my head is screwed on straight enough that life is much less stressful. I've come into my own and built the foundation for a secure and prosperous future.
現(xiàn)在，我過著幸福的三十歲生活。盡管我還沒有掌握到生活的全部，但是我覺得已經(jīng)足夠讓自己的生活不太有壓力。我有著自己的生活方式，并且給未來打下了安全、繁榮的基礎(chǔ)。
Even though things are going well, I often imagine what it would be like to go back into the past and teach myself what I know now. I know enough to be certain that I lost most of my twenties to a struggle with debt and poor decisions. If I had done things differently, maybe I could have been where I am now at age 22.
盡管一切都在順利的進(jìn)行，我還是經(jīng)常想象，如果我回到過去并且把我現(xiàn)在學(xué)到的東西教給那個(gè)時(shí)候的我，事情會(huì)變成什么樣子。我非常清楚，二十幾歲的我大部分時(shí)間都在和債務(wù)以及自己的糟糕決定糾纏。如果我能用另外一種方式去做事，也許在我22歲的時(shí)候就能有今天的成就。
Could you imagine? Self employed and almost financially independent at age 22? No… not almost. My expenses were much less back then… I would have been financially free!
你能夠想象在22歲的時(shí)候就自己當(dāng)老板并且財(cái)政獨(dú)立么？不，不可想象啊。我那時(shí)的花費(fèi)非常的低，說不定那時(shí)我就可以財(cái)政自由了！
I know, it doesn't do any good to ask what if. If I had known it all at age 22, I probably would have been a little cocky. Doing things the hard way seasoned my character. I like who I am and I wouldn't change a thing.
我也知道說“如果……”是沒有什么意義的。如果我在22歲的時(shí)候就能知道這些了，我可能會(huì)變得有些驕傲自大。困難讓我成長。我喜歡現(xiàn)在的我，我不打算去改變什么。
But what if…
但是如果……
What I'd Tell Myself at 18
如果我回到18歲我會(huì)告訴我自己什么呢？
Sometimes I imagine that I'm in a fishing boat, thousands of miles away from the life I know, slowly drifting across a lake. As I recline at an uncomfortable angle created by the wood bench and aluminum hull, I glance over at the 18 year-old version of myself and upload my wisdom to him.
有時(shí)候我會(huì)想象我在一艘漁船上，離真實(shí)的生活千里之遙，慢慢的在湖中漂蕩。我不太舒服的躺在木凳上，瞥一眼18歲的自己，然后把自己現(xiàn)在的智慧傳給他.
Here's what I say:
我會(huì)告訴他：
Don't be so Serious
不要太認(rèn)真
Relax… You've got your whole life ahead of you. I know it can seem like the most important thing in the world is fighting the good fight, but don't let your life pass you by in the process. There'll be plenty of time for starting businesses, writing books, creating art, and solving the world's problems in your head.
放松點(diǎn)……人生還長著呢。我也知道，似乎世界上最最要緊的事情就是打一個(gè)漂亮仗，但是請(qǐng)不要與你的生活擦肩而過。對(duì)于你而言，還有大把的時(shí)間去創(chuàng)業(yè)、寫書、創(chuàng)作，去解決那些你考慮的世界問題。
It's impressive that you do those things at such a young age, but life is really about experiences. Above all, it's about sharing experiences with other people. Sometimes when you're all wrapped up in your own head, doing the things that you are determined to do, you miss a chance to connect with other people.
能夠在年輕的時(shí)候就作出那些成就的確讓人印象深刻，可生活的真諦在于經(jīng)歷。最首要的，就是和他人分享那些經(jīng)歷。有時(shí)候，當(dāng)你自己規(guī)劃好一切，作那些你決心要做的事情，卻錯(cuò)失了和他人交流的機(jī)會(huì)。
So take it easy. Have some fun. Do something crazy. Let loose. Call up some friends and share some great moments together.
所以，要放松點(diǎn)。去享受樂趣，去作一些瘋狂的事情，不要把自己繃得太緊。和朋友們一起分享一些美好時(shí)光。
Don't Be in Such a Hurry to Grow Up
不要急著長大
A funny thing happens as you age: The older you get, the less of a hurry you're in. You'd think it would be the other way around: the less time you have, the more of a hurry you're in; but it's actually quite the opposite.
你那個(gè)年齡是很奇妙的：你年歲越大，你越少著急。但你也許卻有另外一種思路：你有的時(shí)間越少，你越著急。可是事實(shí)其實(shí)是完全相反的。
At 18, it seems like you have to rush everything before you get too old. You think you have to graduate college, get a good job, and get married before you turn 22, because (for some reason) you think 22 is old.
18歲的時(shí)候，看上去你必須要在自己變得太老之前急沖沖的做完一些事情。你認(rèn)為自己必須要從大學(xué)畢業(yè)，找個(gè)好工作然后在22歲之前結(jié)婚，因?yàn)椋ú恢朗裁丛颍┠阏J(rèn)為22歲已經(jīng)老了。
Don't take being young for granted! Being a kid without responsibility is a thing of beauty. I know you don't appreciate it now, but you will when you're my age.
不要把年輕看的那么理所當(dāng)然！做一個(gè)不需要負(fù)太多責(zé)任的小孩是一件很美妙的事情。也許現(xiàn)在的你不太贊同，可當(dāng)你到了我這個(gè)年紀(jì)的時(shí)候就會(huì)明白了。
22 is just getting started! In fact, life gets more enjoyable as you age. As you learn more about yourself and the world, it gets easier to enjoy what the world has to offer.
22歲只是生命的開始。事實(shí)上，生活隨著時(shí)間的流逝變得更有趣。當(dāng)你對(duì)自己和世界了解的越多，就更容易去享受世界所提供的東西。
Your 20's are the perfect time to explore the world and experience new things. If you grow up before you turn 22, you'll have missed a perfect opportunity. Experiences at 18 are just not the same as when you're 25.
二十幾歲是探索世界、體驗(yàn)新東西的最佳時(shí)段。如果你在22歲之前就長大了，你會(huì)失去這個(gè)最佳機(jī)會(huì)。18歲的感受絕對(duì)不會(huì)和25歲的感受一樣。
Travel, art, culture, sport, and adventure take on a whole new meaning when you have had some experience to build on. As you add layer upon layer, each experience is more rich than the last.
當(dāng)你有所積累之后，旅行、藝術(shù)、文化、運(yùn)動(dòng)和冒險(xiǎn)都會(huì)有一種不同的新面貌。你一層層的疊加起來，每種經(jīng)驗(yàn)都會(huì)比上一次來的更加豐富。
Choose Experience over Material Possessions
比物質(zhì)享受更重要的是經(jīng)驗(yàn)
If you're ever faced with the choice of upgrading your lifestyle (an apartment by yourself, a new car, new clothes, etc.) or working less so you can experience more; chose the latter.
如果你面臨這樣的選擇：改善你的生活（自己的公寓、一部新車、一套新衣服等等），或者是減少工作時(shí)間去經(jīng)歷更多的事情。那么我建議你選擇后者。
When I was your age, I thought I needed to have nice stuff so girls would like me. I ended up working so hard to pay for the stuff that I didn't have time to meet girls.
當(dāng)我在你那個(gè)年齡的時(shí)候，我曾認(rèn)為只有擁有許多物質(zhì)才能讓女孩子喜歡我。于是我努力的為擁有物質(zhì)去工作，結(jié)果卻是因?yàn)槲姨Χ鴽]有了時(shí)間去結(jié)識(shí)女孩子。
Working hard is for grown-ups. Be a kid for as long as you can, even if it means living with a roommate in a crappy apartment and riding your bike around town.
埋頭工作是成年人的事情。盡可能延長和享受你的青春吧，即使這意味著你要和室友共享一個(gè)公寓，并且在鎮(zhèn)上騎著自行車亂逛。
Besides, girls aren't going to like you for awhile anyway. What they really want is a man with a little confidence and life experience under his belt. Working too hard will just delay that process.
另外，女孩子們?cè)谀菚r(shí)候總歸不會(huì)喜歡你的。她們真正想要的是一個(gè)有自信、有生活經(jīng)驗(yàn)的男人。而埋頭工作只會(huì)推遲這一天的來臨。
Be Confident
要自信
Oh yeah, you might as well get a head start on your confidence. Believe in yourself no matter what. Don't let self-doubt ruin your chance to meet a new girl or to try something new.
是的，你要建立自信。不管是什么一定要相信自己。不要讓自我懷疑毀了你去結(jié)識(shí)女孩子或者嘗試新東西的機(jī)會(huì)。
I know I just said that girls aren't going to like you anyway, but that's not entirely true. While you are accumulating the wisdom that comes with life experiences, your best shot is to project confidence.
我知道我剛剛說了女孩子們不會(huì)喜歡你的，但是也不盡然。當(dāng)你從生活經(jīng)驗(yàn)中積累了智慧之后，你的殺手锏就是展現(xiàn)你的自信。
Always act like you know what you're doing, even if you don't. The biggest turn-off for a girl is self-doubt. If she still doesn't like you, take it with grace and move on quickly.
一定要表現(xiàn)的知道自己在干什么，就算你其實(shí)不知道。對(duì)女孩子而言，最掃興的就是自我懷疑。如果她仍然不喜歡你的話，要從容的接受現(xiàn)實(shí)然后向下一個(gè)目標(biāo)出發(fā)。
Don't start doubting yourself if you get turned down. You're going to get turned down A LOT before you finally get the girl.
不要在被拒絕的時(shí)候開始懷疑自己。追求成功之前你總是會(huì)遭遇無數(shù)次的拒絕的。
Don't Get Attached
不要被束縛
When you finally do get a girlfriend, take it easy. Along the same line as not trying to grow up too quickly, don't fall into the trap of thinking that this is the best girl you'll ever get. The second biggest turnoff for a girl is an 18 year old guy who's already thinking about marriage.
當(dāng)你有了女朋友，不要太緊張。和不要急著長大的道理一樣，不要過早的認(rèn)定這就是你一生的最愛。對(duì)女孩子而言，第二掃興的事情就是一個(gè)18歲卻已經(jīng)考慮結(jié)婚的人。
Relax a little and enjoy the moment. Besides, you're going to have several girlfriends before you find “the one.” How are you going to be able to know what you want if you don't have anything to compare it to?
輕松的享受當(dāng)下。另外，在找到真命天女之前你可能會(huì)有好幾個(gè)女朋友。如果沒有可以比較的參照物，你如何得知你究竟想要什么呢？
As you get older, you'll naturally become more attractive to women. I had no idea this was true when I was your age. I thought that I was as attractive as I'd ever be. Not true.
當(dāng)你日漸長大，你會(huì)很自然的對(duì)女性越來越有吸引力。我在你那個(gè)年齡的時(shí)候完全不知道這事情。我認(rèn)為那個(gè)時(shí)候的我是最有吸引力的。這是不對(duì)的。
It gets easier, I promise.
我保證，這會(huì)隨著時(shí)間而變得越來越容易。
Don't Get a Credit Card
不要申請(qǐng)信用卡
If I didn't get a credit card when I was your age, I would have saved myself 10 years of financial struggle.
假如在我年輕時(shí)沒有申請(qǐng)信用卡的話，我能夠減少10年的財(cái)政困難。
I know it seems like you have to be a grown up and have nice things, but you've got to think long-term. If you can just have the patience to hold off a few years on the nice stuff, you'll be able to afford more of it than you can imagine.
我知道你感覺作為一個(gè)成人應(yīng)該物質(zhì)生活豐富，但是你要從長遠(yuǎn)來看這件事情。如果你能夠有耐心為更優(yōu)渥的物質(zhì)生活多等幾年，你會(huì)詫異的發(fā)現(xiàn)你能夠過上更好的生活。
Buying something today on credit because you can't wait will impact your financial situation for years to come.
如果只是因?yàn)槟愕炔患傲司退⑿庞每ㄙ徫锏脑?，這將會(huì)對(duì)你接下來許多年的財(cái)政狀況產(chǎn)生影響。
Simply have the mind to save up for what you want to buy. If you buy with cash, you'll always own what you have, and be free to do what you want.
只需要為你想買的東西存錢。如果用現(xiàn)金付賬的話，你會(huì)一直擁有你擁有的，并且能夠自由的去做你想做的。
When people build up debt and monthly payments, they become slaves to their job. They have to work to pay for all the junk that they put on their credit cards.
當(dāng)人們有了債務(wù)開始分期付款的時(shí)候，他們就成為了工作的奴隸。他們不得不為那些用信用卡刷出來的垃圾而工作。
Put Money Away Every Month
每月定期儲(chǔ)蓄
Take this advice and you'll never regret it. Open a savings account and set up an automatic withdrawal from your checking account each month. Don't touch the money, NO MATTER WHAT!
你接受這個(gè)建議就絕對(duì)不會(huì)后悔的。給自己開一個(gè)零存整取賬戶，然后每個(gè)月存入一定的數(shù)額。不論發(fā)生什么事情，都不要去碰這一筆錢。
Even if you can only afford $10 a month, you must stick to this plan because it's your ticket to freedom. In five or ten years (whenever you decide to grow up), you'll use this money to invest in something that makes passive income, like real estate.
就算每個(gè)月只能存入10美元，你也一定要堅(jiān)持，因?yàn)檫@是自由的門票錢。五年或者十年內(nèi)（當(dāng)你決定成人的時(shí)候），你能用這筆錢去投資一些能帶來收入的東西，比如房地產(chǎn)。
Travel and Learn a Language
旅行，并且學(xué)習(xí)一門外語
Don't just take language classes and backpack around Europe at a furious pace; immerse yourself in a culture. Pick a place and stay there for several months.
不要只是參加語言學(xué)習(xí)班，并且背包游玩歐洲各地。你應(yīng)該使自己沉浸在一種文化里。選擇一個(gè)地方，并在那里呆上幾個(gè)月。
The best time to do this is the year after you graduate from college. You'll be old enough to appreciate the experience, but young enough that you won't have any responsibility.
這件事最好在你剛剛畢業(yè)那一年的時(shí)候做。那個(gè)時(shí)候的你成熟的足以體驗(yàn)，又年輕的沒有任何責(zé)任要去負(fù)擔(dān)。
If you took my advice about taking your time to grow up, you won't yet be attached to a mortgage payment, a job, or a girl. Move all your stuff into a corner of your parent's basement and live abroad.
如果你接受了我的建議打算慢慢長大，你就不應(yīng)該被按揭付款、工作或者一個(gè)女孩所牽絆。把你所有的東西打包放在父母家的地下室里，然后去國外生活吧。
It's actually a lot more affordable that you might think, especially if you don't have any expenses at home. Get a job in your chosen country if you need to.
其實(shí)這個(gè)比你想像的更容易實(shí)現(xiàn)，尤其是你在國內(nèi)還沒有什么花費(fèi)的情況下。如果需要的話，還可以在你選擇的國家找一份工作。
Don't allow yourself to hang out with other English-speaking people. That's too easy. Force yourself to learn the language. It will be frustrating at first, but the life-long benefit will be greater than you can imagine.
不要總是和說你母語的人呆在一起，那太沒有挑戰(zhàn)性了。強(qiáng)迫自己去學(xué)習(xí)當(dāng)?shù)氐恼Z言，也許一開始會(huì)很痛苦，但是它會(huì)帶來終身享用的好處。
Keep a Journal
寫日記
Get a Moleskine Notebook and carry it in your back pocket wherever you go. Don't be a perfectionist with it, just jot whatever comes to your mind in it.
買個(gè)日記本，無論去哪里都帶上它。不需要文辭華麗，只要記下你心中的點(diǎn)點(diǎn)滴滴。
Having a journal will help to solidify your thoughts. The act of writing helps to close the circle of ideas from your head to your hand and back to your head.
寫日記可以讓你理清思路。寫作這一過程能夠讓想法從腦袋里的碎片變成文字上的完整，然后再度回到你的思考里面去。
Plus, you'll have a record of your thoughts for generations to come.
另外，時(shí)間的流逝中，你還能讓自己的想法留下印記。
Get to Know People
與人交際
As you travel and try new things, make it a point to meet people. As I said before, the most valuable things in life are shared experiences with other people.
在旅途中、在新的嘗試中，一定要記得與不同的人的交往。正如我前面所提到的，生命中最有價(jià)值的就是與他人分享經(jīng)歷。
There is so much you can learn from people. Open your mind and take in different perspectives. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand why they think the way they do.
你可以從別人那里學(xué)到許多的東西。要寬容的去接受各種角度的看法。設(shè)身處地的去理解別人的苦衷和做法。
Your success in life will depend on your network of people. It's impossible to achieve success in a vacuum. You never know what opportunities will present themselves when you meet new people.
你的成功會(huì)取決于你的交際網(wǎng)絡(luò)。在真空中的人是無法成功的。你永遠(yuǎn)無法預(yù)測(cè)當(dāng)你認(rèn)識(shí)新的朋友的時(shí)候會(huì)出現(xiàn)什么樣的機(jī)會(huì)。
There's No Rush to Have it All Figured Out
不要急著給自己的人生定義
When I was your age, I felt pressure to have my life's purpose figured out. I think a lot of young people think there's something wrong with them if they haven't “found themselves” by age 22.
我在你那個(gè)年齡的時(shí)候，我總是有一種要把人生全部規(guī)劃好的壓力。我想許多年輕人也都如此，如果他們沒有在22歲之前“找到人生的架構(gòu)”的話會(huì)覺得不正常。
Most people don't figure things out until much later in life (if at all). That's what your twenties are for: exploring different paths, making mistakes, falling on your face, and building your character.
大多數(shù)的人都是很多年之后才真正找到了人生的方向。而你的二十幾歲應(yīng)該去探索不同的路、犯錯(cuò)誤、丟臉以及塑造自己的個(gè)性。
Take your time figuring it all out. You don't want to rush such a grand decision as your life's purpose.
慢慢的來規(guī)劃自己的人生吧。這樣的人生大事，你可不能急匆匆的下決定啊。
Savor the Moment
咀嚼時(shí)光
Experience the textures, sights, sounds, and feelings of each moment. Time moves faster than you think. Your youth is special and you'll want to remember it for the rest of your life.
去體驗(yàn)觸覺、視覺、聽覺,去感受每一刻。時(shí)間消逝的速度超乎你的想像。每一個(gè)青春都是特別的，而你會(huì)希望它值得在余生中被銘記。
Start Businesses Without Borrowing Money
創(chuàng)業(yè) 但不要借債
When you decide to start a business, don't go into debt over it. Most businesses fail, and it's better to be left with nothing than to not have anything and still owe someone else money.
當(dāng)你決定創(chuàng)業(yè)的時(shí)候，不要借貸。大多數(shù)創(chuàng)業(yè)會(huì)失敗，這時(shí)，一無所有總比什么都沒有還一屁股債有利吧。
Pick a business that doesn't cost much to start and grow slowly, reinvesting your earnings.
選擇一個(gè)入門成本不太大的事業(yè)來做，并且一步一步成長，把收益再度投資。
Choose a business that's as passive as possible. Bulk vending is a good one to start with while you're young.
選擇的業(yè)務(wù)越穩(wěn)定越好。在你年輕的時(shí)候，散裝銷售會(huì)是一個(gè)好的開始。
Stay away from services. I made the mistake when I was your age of starting a T-shirt design service. The problem with services is that you have to re-create your work if you want to get paid again. Find something that pays you over and over for work done once.
不要涉入服務(wù)行業(yè)。當(dāng)我年輕的時(shí)候，我做了個(gè)錯(cuò)誤的決定——提供T恤設(shè)計(jì)的服務(wù)。服務(wù)行業(yè)的問題在于如果你想再次獲利就必須再度勞動(dòng)。去找一些做一次工作卻能不斷收錢的事情吧。
Pick Something and Stick With It
選擇并堅(jiān)持一件事情
Once you've had your fun traveling the world and being young, find a line of work that you are passionate about. Don't worry about the money, that will come with time. As long as you are out of debt and putting money into savings each month, you're going to be just fine.
當(dāng)你周游列國之后，趁年輕你應(yīng)該選擇一份你對(duì)它很有熱情的工作。不要為錢財(cái)擔(dān)憂，時(shí)間到了面包總是會(huì)有的。只要你沒有債務(wù)而且定期儲(chǔ)蓄的話，你就不會(huì)有問題的。
Don't get into the habit of changing your mind all the time. Each time you change course, you lose all your start-up energy. Learn how exponential growth can affect your level of success in your chosen field.
不要養(yǎng)成經(jīng)常改變主意的習(xí)慣。每一次你改變方向，那些前期工作都白費(fèi)了。要知道，不懈的努力和持續(xù)的發(fā)展可以在你選擇的領(lǐng)域里影響你成功的程度。
If you are passionate about what you do, and stick with it, you can't help but be successful.
如果你熱衷你所作的事情并且能夠持之以恒，那么你一定能夠成功。
Back to Reality…
回到現(xiàn)實(shí)……
It's fun to think about what might have been, but in reality, we can't change the past. Ten years from now, I'll have a whole new list of things I wish I knew in my 30's. I would do well to take my own advice, and enjoy each moment.
想像“如果”是個(gè)很有趣的事情，但事實(shí)上，誰都不能改變歷史。十年后，我會(huì)有一個(gè)新的單子，寫滿那些“我三十歲時(shí)應(yīng)該知道的事情”。我會(huì)認(rèn)真的作每一個(gè)決定，享受每一分鐘。
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