18 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I Was 18

1. Read books voraciously, dive into them. We lose ourselves in good books, we find ourselves there too.
2. Don’t be worried of what others think about you. Shoo away the fears and influence of peers. Run your own race.
3. Dare to speak up. It’s either now or never. It’s not how much you speak, but how thoughtful you are.
4. Opt for a career that not only suits you but also satisfies you. Visualize the future you. Set a goal for yourself now, or you shall have to accept whatever comes your way.
5. Sit alone in silence for at least 10 minutes every day. You may be surprised to find what miracles loneliness brings.
6. Start practicing yoga. It will aid to your spiritual, mental and physical well being.
7. Ask the experienced rather than the experts. The latter keep guiding you to nowhere.
8. Do not live to impress others, but for the sake of your own contentment. 
9. Respect everyone, maintain your temper. Use your anger wisely; it can do miracles if guided in the right direction.
10. Be a good listener. Understand people, and learn from each one who comes across. Be a keen observer. Every day comes with myriad experiences.
11. You are born in the age of internet. Use it constructively; it is an ocean of knowledge. "Likes and Comments" will end you up in a shitty gutter.
12. Commit yourself to make mistakes. If you never do it, you'll never be sure how it turns up. Moreover, whatever has to happen will happen regardless. Don't be scared of taking chances.
13. Ask a lot of questions. It doesn't harm anyway. Apart from other obvious reasons, it is a good exercise for your brain!
14. Being innocent is good, but only until they don’t mistake you for a fool. Begin to grow up; everyone else has.
15. Never be upset with what others have and that you don’t. Make peace with what you have been bestowed with. Be patient, plenty of greener pastures await you.
16. First learn what everyone else does, and then learn what no one else knows. There are 2 rules to success- 1) Never reveal to them everything you know. 2) Remember rule #1.
17. The news reader is your friend; rest of the idiot box is your enemy.
18. Accept and embrace change.

And above all, laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change.