Can a first time hitchhiker get some advice?

I just wanted to say that I've been thinking about hitchhiking for a while and I'm fully committed to this. I'm ready to drop out of society, there's nothing here to hold me back anyways. I dated a girl one time who hitchhiked and we started out but ended up having a falling out and going separate ways. I'm in the state of Georgia at the moment, but I enjoyed living in Colorado for the short time that I did and would really like to go back and visit every state in The West specifically Washington State and California. I want to be free. I plan on heading out by this weekend. I was wondering if I could get some advice or wisdom since I'm really just starting out?