Days Go By wrote an interesting post yesterday, wondering what would have happened if she had stuck with soccer when she was a pre-teen. Or if she hadn’t given up the flute. I commented that I studied German for eight years in high school and college and now can barely speak or understand it. Why did I let that skill go away?
Then I got to thinking about other regrets. Things I wish I had done differently over the years. Some examples:
- Why didn’t I fully appreciate my years living in the DC area? There was so much to see and do up there, and I did see and do some interesting things, but I spent most of my time hating the traffic and wanting to be back down here in Virginia.
- Several times when I was spineless (yes, ME, spineless) and let someone bulldoze over me.
- Why didn’t I see the writing on the wall when I started gaining weight and deal with it 50 pounds ago?
- Denting the hell out of our new car two years ago.
We’re packing the car to leave shortly, but I’ll be back online tonight. While we’re driving, tell me about something you wish you had done differently or could change.
Last time you’ll hear this from me: Vote, please.
I feel lucky — I don’t have a lot of regrets. I do wish that after I graduated college and had no job, I should have done some traveling.
Thanks, Jen.
I regret not taking out a loan while in college and instead busting my hump to pay for it while enrolled. There was always time later to pay it off.
I regret not going to college after high school. It’s so much harder now. However, that probably would have changed the whole course of my life & maybe I wouldn’t have my daughter or husband.
Voted.
Avoided that haircut in 1991.
Oh man so many regrets here.
I graduated with my AS degree when I was 17 and promptly stopped going to school. i could have had my Master’s by now. So I regret not sticking with that.
I regret letting myself get so far in debt with student loans because it’s a PITA to pay off.
I regret not doing more, seeing more when I was in England. I was dirt poor, but that’s no excuse.
And I regret letting myself get to this state physically – two years ago I had lost 80 lbs, now I’ve gained them all back. Craaaap!
I try not to have too many regrets, after all if you change one thing, you change what happened subsequently.
So while I wish I had worked harder at university reading round the topics instead of just on them, and I wish I hadn’t been such a beeyatch to one boyf and that I had never got involved with another boyf, if I had worked harder I might have gone into a different profession, never met my husband and never had our kids. Never worked for a national paper. Never have had the fun I have had in Guiding. But yeah, also possibly never have got so damn fat.
I regret being bullied by my craptastic first OB into a painful pharmaceuticals & forceps birth. Second time around it was a midwife with a warm shower and a hot cuppa tea. Perfect. So, my biggest regret is not trusting myself enough when I was younger.
I kinda regret not having my children earlier. I didn’t start until I was ready, I mean really READY, but now I have them I wish I knew earlier what I know now and had started a couple of years earlier. I probably would have had a third too . . .
Germany is still there. You can still go—-the words will come back, like riding a bicycle. You’ll be glad you went. I guarantee it! Over here from Jess…
Interesting post! Let’s see, I regret not being more aggressive with my schooling when I was childless. I wish I would’ve just gotten it done and gotten it done faster. However, the way things have played out, I now have the opportunity to pursue my doctorate that I otherwise would not have, so maybe it’s all worked out for the best! I don’t have any other REAL regrets… I sort of feel like all my decisions have led me to be the person I am today, and I am very happy with my life right now.
I regret not doing more travelling while we lived in Maryland. We were just a few hours from NYC and never went. We didn’t even have kids yet! Just little as far as finances go… but we could have found a way!
Ditto for me on the poundage. I regret not backpacking Europe (truly — with a backpack, not the romantic version) with my friend after graduating college. I regret not saving more money when I was in the military (but I did have quite a lot of fun WITH said money).
Not too many regrets that I can think of off the top of my head.
My hair for the entire decade we call the 80′s. Sheesh.