What would you do differently?

[Jen12]

If you could go back and do anything differently, knowing what you know now, what would it be? And I know all of us have a laundry list full of these things, right?

Me, I'd not get into credit card trouble in my early twenties that took me almost a decade to crawl out of, and I'd have followed my heart and finished teacher training about ten years ago instead of taking other people's career advice, because now that I have the education done, there are no jobs in the education field!

[Norse]

I would have followed my first love and become a vet instead of going to law school. I also would have been less concerned with being in steady relationships when I was younger and explored more. That said though, every path I have chosen and every turn in life has led me to where I am today, including having the love and companionship of my wonderful DP of 15+ years, and I would not go back and trade my life today for anything.

[indysteel]

I would have moved away from Indiana as soon as possible instead of going to college and law school here and then staying on after gradutation. Now that I'm 15 years out, with an established career, a home and husband with his own professional attachment to Indiana....well, it's just not as easy to leave. Not impossible; just not easy.

Oh, and I wouldn't have become a lawyer.

[Pax]

I would have waited another 30 seconds before going up that ladder.

[redrhodie]

I wouldn't have written everything down in that diary.

[OakLeaf]

I wouldn't have gotten involved with that one guy...

[shootingstar]

Spent more time understanding 1 of my sisters but she did led me to believe that things were fine --at least it appeared to me 80% of the time. But then I have been living in a different province, oblivious to alot of family stuff.

She is no longer alive..she committed suicide. (I mentioned this already months ago.)

I still believe this: your siblings can be your friends..for life.

[malkin]

....Knowing what I know now????

This game isn't worth the candle.

[Owlie]

I probably would not have taken that year off after undergrad. And maybe have dropped the triple major and just done biochemistry and have been done in three years. I also would have tried enjoying college instead of locking myself in my room and studying all day.

[Koronin]

I would have taken the geography class for a grade instead of credit/no credit. I was taking 3 other hard classes that quarter 2 classes in my first major (telecommunications, IE: broadcasting) and 1 in my 2nd major (history). I needed this one as a SS course for the history major. I didn't know it was going to be so frelling easy. I did not study or anything and got an A for that class. Yes it still bugs me to this day.

[ASammy1]

I would have gone away to college and not gone to the commuter school.

[Veronica]

Nothing - everything has led me to this particular place and I'm pretty happy with it.

Veronica

[Trek420]

Me, I'd not get into credit card trouble in my early twenties that took me almost a decade to crawl out of ....

Oh gosh, where do I begin.

First no regrets, I am very happy about who and where I am.

I finally have no credit card debt. I paid off a little over 20k in about a year and a fraction. It was tough, it was hard, I want to thank all the little people who helped and advised including Knott and Suze Orman but it's done and ovah and will never ever happen again.

and I'd have followed my heart ....

When I got into art school the dean counseled me on major. He said there were no jobs in illustration "you might as well major in design because that's where you'll end up anyway." Desktop publishing which was just beginning to take hold as I started to get jobs. The bottom dropped out of the market when so many could pop in a CD and "I are an art director, I know Quark"

If I'd followed my heart and drawn there is no tutorial CD for "hey, I can draw"

I worked my way through art school as a souse chef. It was tough but I loved studying art during the day, painting with food at night. I'd just gotten my first "real job" as an assistant art director (which turned out to be the job and boss from he}}) when A.N asked me to come work for her at an eatery she was opening, Bridges in Danville. If you've seen Mrs Doubtfire that's the place where she performs the Heimlich on the guy. Anyway I turned her down.

Who knows where I'd be cooking now or even teaching as she does.

My biggest regret is never completing my degree .... yet. My sister and I calculated hours spent and effort to my 3rd degree black belt in Aikido and it is like a Phd. But I stopped school just shy of my bachelors. I'm collecting certifications like they're matchbooks and when life calms down will go back to school. I don't care if I'm 70 with a masters, I want one .... or several.

Oh, and past relationships if my ex is reading this brphhhht

But all this got me here and I'm happy.

[badger]

I've seen this thread grow over the past few days, and I have to admit I hadn't participated because I honestly have nothing major that I would have done differently. Yes, I had regrets after my dog died of me having yelled at him when I was so stressed over his elder care, but I still wouldn't have changed in having him.

I could have chosen a different major, but I still don't know what I want to be, so I suspect I would still be just as clueless.

But, tonight I did something really stupid that I do wish I had done differently. I took every care possible to make a zucchini cake with this lovely zucchini my co-worker gave me. The wonderful smells filled my apartment and my mouth was watering. It looked beautiful. I cut into it and put some butter and sank my teeth into it.

It was strangely salty, and I was thinking how strange that oil that I used to coat the pan would be salty. But then every time I chewed it got saltier...I put salt instead of sugar!! I had three little bags of what I thought were bulk-bought sugar, but one of them was salt. Since I only use sea salt from a box it never occurred to me that I would have bought salt in bulk.

I truly wish I had tasted it when I had a fleeting thought that one part of sugar looked finer than the rest. So, my estimate is I had about 1/2 cup of salt in it...

Way to ruin a good zucchini bread

[Bike Chick]

I wish I hadn't been such a doormat with my first husband, I wish I had finished college, I wish I hadn't married my second husband so soon, I wish I had started riding bikes and doing triathlons when I was 20 years younger, I wish, I wish, I wish.........The road I've traveled has been pretty bumpy but it's brought me right where I am today and that's a good place. I'm happy and content and you can't ask for more than that.

There are some days that I wish I had the body I had when I was 23 with the knowledge I have at 53. Boy, would I have some fun!