If You Could Turn Back Time, What Would You Do Differently?

[Miss Scarlett]

I know this sounds self-serving but with all the lumps, bumps and bruises I have from living life over the last 50 years I don't think I would change anything. Even the really, really bad stuff because it made me who I am now.

Though I would have bought those shoes...

But seriously if I could go back I would ask that I not go back to high school or junior high. Even with what I know now, once was more than enough.

[Oiler41]

A few things (assuming I knew then what I know now),,

I wouldn't have left my mother, career and home in Mississippi when I did. Huge life-altering mistake on several fronts.

I would have finished my education the first time around instead of waiting until I was 40. I eventually did finish a master's degree but it would have been better had I done it sooner.

I would have asked my mom more questions about so many things. I didn't realize how many questions I had until I couldn't ask them.

I would have purchased flood insurance on my home in Mississippi before hurricane Katrina. 4.5 feet of water; enough said.

I would have spent more time talking with my brother before his passing in 1979. I was only 17 when he committed suicide but I think there were more things I could have learned from him had I known what was to come.

Only a few things. I've learned a great many lessons along the way in this life; some of them are harder to think about than others but overall, I live with few regrets and apply lessons I've learned along the way as I go forward in life. Great topic for a thread!

Glynn

[Scorp]

Hey Folks,

Thanks for sharing your stories. I think you're all pretty special with sharing some intimate stories about yourselves and what you would have done differently and I appreciate that.

Keep your posts coming. I'm enjoying reading them as I'm sure the next person is as well.

Be well.

[chefhmboyrd]

started T at 20
learned to play more instruments
had more sex...... (if that is possible)
scheduled more vacation with my family
drank less
never smoked
worked out more
recorded more songs

that is all for now

[Apocalipstic]

If I turned back time I would have to live the bad parts over, can't do it.

[Fancy]

“Regret for time wasted can become a power for good in the time that remains, if we will only stop the waste and the idle, useless regretting.”
~Arthur Brisbane

I would not turn back time. Everything in the past happened for a purpose, and changing variables would not create the same learning, the same experience, or the same bonds. If there are regrets, they are only in the mind. Mental torture and mental suicide. Instead, I choose to embrace acceptance for the balance and thankful for all experiences however they are perceived by me. I've experienced and continue to experience love, life, and hard lessons, and am grateful for each and every second that I can continue to grow and move forward in this wild chaotic ride of a short life on Earth.

“We do not live an equal life, but one of contrasts and patchwork; now a little joy, then a sorrow, now a sin, then a generous or brave action.”
~Emerson

[Gemme]

If you went back in time, it would be nearly impossible not to change something, whether that was your intent or not. So, for those afraid or leary of reliving some rough times, those times may not happen in that circumstance or they may happen differently. It would be adding chapters to your life that you were previously unaware of.

I think I would like to go back as long as I went back with one single thought seared into my brain: trust my instincts. As long as I had that in my head and remembered it when I needed to, I think I would be a similarly different person. I'd still be the same at my core, but referential experiences would be different.

Then again, I've always been a sucker for those adventure books that you can choose where the story is going to go next and, if you didn't like that, you could just go back to that page and choose another option. I like options. I've felt that, in large quantities of my life, I had none. So getting a redo and possibly having some is quite appealing to me.

[WolfyOne]

Personally I wouldn't turn back time to change a thing
Whatever happened then is my past and many lessons learned
If I was always able to turn back time, I'd never make a mistake
How the heck would I learn anything without mistakes
I have few regrets with many mistakes along the way
Life is one big lesson in learning and I'm still doing it today
I'm thankful for all those people, places and things that have touched me over time

I will however enjoy reading what others would have done if they could go back in time for a redo

[girl_dee]

i don't regret much in my life because had i not experienced things i would have never got the teachings and lessons that got me here today, i learned more about myself in the last 5 years than i have in my whole life..

i've been loved by and loved many wonderful people, who could regret that?, even if one has to leave the situation.

Learning to let go of the hard stuff and hold on to the good stuff is a big part in the process of not beating oneself up over what we could feel was a bad decision.

i've been blessed with beautiful surroundings, from my own backyard in my cypress swing on the slow moving bayou to the eagles, sunset dinners on the shore of a beautiful pond, Cape Cod breezes, motorcycle rides to Ptown, the lake otters, the moon, the sunrises, the huge sky, finding the arrowhead in the sand with my bestie,and treasures when the snow melted.. the kids, the ice cream face babies, fishing on the jetty, my canoe, snow with the pups and training Emma, the woodpeckers, and the Hawks who spoke to me, telling me to keep my eyes open, i spent much of my time being alone with nature and that was sad and wonderful all at the same time. Here i am again blessed with nature and now with the solidity knowing i can call it home and mine. My home, two precious words to me.

so i probably would not much about my life

[SelfMadeMan]

Not put so much faith in online friendships - not to say they're all bad, I have some awesome friends... but I've learned they're easily discarded by some and to them, don't matter as much as friendships you can cultivate in real time.