20 Things I Wish I Knew Age 20

I take a look into the past and think about things I wish I could tell myself (without creating a time paradox)

Catch 'em all:

Editing by Kris Edrosa (finishing touches by Phil!)

[HeisenbergFam]

"dont trust people who tell you other peoples secrets" is one of the greatest advices of all time

[damseydiou]

"don't take criticism from someone you wouldn't take advice from" would be the best lesson i've been told

[creativethingsbyavani]

Phil is such a great storyteller. He is very unappreciated in that perspective

[spencer]

as someone who is about to turn 18.. hearing abt virginity not being a big deal is weirdly comforting (especially coming from an actual adult)

[cheerlollypop]

it’s amazing (pun intended) that you’ve been doing this amazingphil thing for this long and we’re still learning new phil lore all the time

[lucadev]

I felt the "speak to older relatives" note. One of my biggest regrets is not coming out as my true self to my grandfather before he passed. I managed to do so with my grandmother before she passed and she accepted me. It's one of my most cherished memories.

[ohbilleh]

I love your frequent penchant for looking back, but a fun companion to this would be something like '40 things I want to do before I'm 40' - even if some of them are unrealistic or silly!

[MirianRodrigues]

The best advice: Don't compare the pace of your life with other people your age. It's totally normal to not have your own place, and be single and childless in your 20s, don't freak out lol.

[LeahReyna]

just turned 20, needed this right now

[justyourlocalrat_]

to my highschool self: it's okay to admit that you're lonely. it's okay to choose that loneliness over friends or partners that don't treat you well. you are allowed to do things alone, even if people judge you for that. your value is not defined by how many or what people like you

[RBee]

To my younger self: Don't be friends with bad people even if the alternative is being alone for a while. They weren't your friends, don’t give them your time, loyalty or love. You deserve better and you will meet the right people one day ❤

[bts_trash]

As someone who is about to turn 21 and has no clue what they're doing, you've always been my greatest inspiration Phillip ❤ thank you for the advice on the 20s and for helping form me as a child

[spaceacekaitlin]

“Stop being a yes person”.
I turn 26 in three weeks and I’m still working on this. As a people pleasure, saying “No” is very difficult and I celebrate every time I say it.

[monsong]

thank you for this, you and dan got me through some of the toughest times of my life when i was 13/14, and even though i’m not a consistent viewer anymore, it’s nice to know you’re still here for me now that i’m 20<3

[chloepatrick]

‘value friendships’ i lost all my friends cause i had to leave school due to illness but i found the most amazing internet friends because of you and dan i’m so much happier now than i was at school

[caya]

thank you phil for letting us learn from your past mistakes

[zara.]

i’m 22 so i’m sure there’s a lot more to learn but i wish i could tell my younger self to stand up for themself more. i didn’t have to always do what the other person wanted and i should’ve expressed my feelings more. i also think i have the opposite experience where i should’ve let go of friendships instead of desperately holding on and putting in all the effort for nothing.

[aval]

I'm 23 now, I wish I could tell my 13 year old self that there is no "right" or "wrong" way to gender. Wearing makeup doesn't make you a girl, what you wear doesn't make you a girl, it's how you feel on the inside, and you're not a lesser individual because you think you're performing your gender incorrectly. Life is so much more fun when you just decide to be yourself regardless of all that!

[meowth]

As a person who is 20 and kind of lost sometimes, this was strangely comforting. I guess I would tell my younger self that it's okay to cut people out of your life if they aren't good for you.

[lissaslunacy]

I 100% agree with the getting to know your grandparents as humans and not just the people that send you $5 on your birthday. Unfortunately I figured that out too late. I know virtually nothing about their younger years. I did talk to my grandpa when he was in hospice and asked how he and my grandma got together and oh my gosh I'm so glad I know their story! By that time all my other grandparents had passed away. My mom has also passed so now when I see my dad I basically interview him lol it's amazing the stuff you find out and it helps to understand some of their choices that otherwise I wouldn't.