I would like to thank everyone who took the time to post in this thread. So much thoughtfulness, self truth and insight.
I suspect we all made the best choices we could each step of the way. And, perhaps, made different choices later when we had different life experiences. It's what life is....a cycle of learning, choosing, growing, learning, choosing, growing.
I know for me, the choices I have made in my 20's and 30's would not be suitable to the person I am now. But, sometimes if we look at the past, we understand the present and can better plan for the future.