Read, read, read … then read some more. Don’t just read entertainment and easy fiction. Read history books and works by famous writers. Look up a list of top 100 books that are highly recommended and read them. Read about famous people, famous places, famous battles, famous periods and moments in history.
Read so that you’ll have a better understanding of why we live in the world we live in.
If you don’t figure out for yourself what this world is and why it is the way it is … someone else will do it for you … and that someone else will not have your best interests in mind.
Having a broad knowledge of many things also protects you because it will allow you to speak for yourself with confidence. You may not get everything right, no one ever fully does but at least you’ll be able to speak for yourself. You’ll also more easily be capable of seeing bullshit in the world and form your own opinions. Just remember to be kind, to learn empathy and understanding … if the ideas or writers or personalities you follow teach you anger, fear and hate, then you are definitely headed into a dark place.
I read on my own more often now but I just wish I had done more so when I was younger.
… and like others have said, take care of your teeth, eat less sugar, the better your habits the more likely you’ll stick to those habits for life.