bjarvis | Messages to Myself, Age 17

A number of folks have been mulling over messages they wish they could relay to their former selves when they were 17 years of age.

Personally, I'd like to start a little earlier than that: I wish I could send messages to myself ages 5-8 or so: when I was 17, I was already mostly assembled and, looking back, the decisions I made then were mostly damn good ones. Guiding myself in my early elementary school years would have saved me a great deal of early pain and made my teen years even better.

The message I really want to send back in time would be winning lottery numbers and choice stock picks, but given the limitations,

Learn humility now. In 1984 in a village in northern Ontario, you're a big fish in a very small pond. You're about to move to an ocean in which you will be a mere minnow. You'll grow into your own in time but until then beware of cross-currents.
Be a little more gentle with your family. Yeah, they're sometimes a pain but remember (1) above.
Spend more time with your grandparents immediately. They won't be around forever.
Your second car would be a Ford Escort. It's a piece of crap: run away. Consider sneaking back to the dealership at 2 AM to lob a Molotov cocktail at it to spare anyone else the pain of that lemon.
Don't bother with German in university: you won't enjoy it. Instead, take Latin and possibly Spanish. You'll be much happier.
Don't bother attending the University of Waterloo: it's a fine institution but not what you want. Consider alternatives, including other provinces.
Contrary to what you were taught in your childhood, it's OK to sing. Your voice isn't perfect but it's good enough and just needs exercise.
Consider team and group activities sooner. Being a loner is fine but you'll learn more about the world much faster by interacting with others. Square dancing is a good place to start.
Success is 40% detail management, 40% schedule management, 10% luck and 10% padding for the unknown. Preparation matters.
Make backups of your files more regularly.
Spend some time mulling the difference between 'want' and 'need'. You're already tight-fisted with money but the analysis is a good exercise.
Trust your ability to improvise.
You will fall in and out of love repeatedly and you will have your heart broken more times than you can count. While there is pain, it is temporary. You will discover you are vastly more resilient than you realize.
Not being an expert in absolutely everything is not a moral failing. Be willing to seek advice. See (1) above.
You're actually a decent writer. Indulge yourself more often.
Consider meditation, tai chi and karate, among others. They probably won't stick but you'll be better for the experience.
One of the joys of being an adult is being able to indulge in unlimited quantities of chocolate. If life ever seems not worth the time or bother, hold on to that. Chocolate will always love you.