topic Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"? in Among Friends

What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

ECBG — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:25:01 GMT

IF you care to share. No judgements. Few people walk without some regret of some kind. Are we the same or different?

I should have made different choices to education and travel when I was young.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

blackhole99 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:32:34 GMT

When I think of it, the only thing I would have changed is the circumstances I was born into. Of course, that is something one has no control over.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

MarieIG — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:35:59 GMT

I would have considered being a teacher.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

StylishLady — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:40:23 GMT

As my life has played out, I see no reason why I would change anything.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

JYWilliams — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:45:25 GMT

I regret never having children. Then I ended up with female problems later in life and had to have a hysterectomy.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

libbyannE — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 01:15:57 GMT

It’s a great question. One wants to look back, take stock, and learn from experience, yes. But I can’t say that I have any regrets, because everything has gotten me to this point. Change one thing, and who knows what else might be different now?

It isn’t a regret, but If I could go back to another time, I would visit my 15-year-old self to tell her it would all be OK. I was in an emotional freefall from my parents’ difficult separation and divorce, and although I didn’t show It to the outside world, I was desperately scared and distraught. It took decades and a lot of tears and talking to get the tangle of emotions sorted out. A distinct part of me was stuck back there at age 15. I almost felt that I was that 15-year-old’s big sister, and, bit by bit, I needed to help her work it out and be heard. Little by little, I became whole again.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

QVCkitty1 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:50:34 GMT

I really have no regrets, it’s not that I never made mistakes, I made plenty of them. However, I did what I did each time for a reason that made sense then. I might have taken the easy way or the road less traveled, whatever it was it made my life what it is today and I can’t regret that.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

Sweetbay magnolia — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:51:21 GMT

I think I might have chosen a different career path. Or maybe it's more like, I would have been more deliberate in my pursuit of livelihood. I've had a great time and use the fruits of my experience with joy, daily, but some of the intellectual desires have gone unfulfilled.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

ItsME — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:56:55 GMT

I would definitely have chosen a different career.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

Mombo1 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 01:02:28 GMT

@ECBG wrote:
IF you care to share. No judgements. Few people walk without some regret of some kind. Are we the same or different?

I should have made different choices to education and travel when I was young.

Not too many regrets for me. Circumstances seem to affect most people. The only thing I wish I had the opportunity to do was continue on with my education after college. I acquired a degree in commercial art and wanted to continue on by attending a design school in New York. But with two other siblings in college at the same time, that wasn’t a possibility. I needed to get a job and an income...It all worked out and I enjoyed that first career for 13 years.....Later went into education for career number two..23 years....I enjoyed that as well. But to this day, I still think about the “what if”....

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

OKPrincess — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 01:22:00 GMT

I would have finished college. After all, the oil companies I worked for reimbursed all tuition.

When my dad had his massive stroke, I stopped going to night school in order to spend time at hospital and rehab before and after work.

I however managed to have a rewarding career in oil and gas for 30 years and retired at 62.

I’m a very blessed woman.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

roeroe1005 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 01:24:05 GMT

Couple of things:

I would have loved to gone away to college. My father was very strict and would not let me go. I should have handled it differently.

I should have had the experience of working in NYC when I was younger. I don't regret the Fortune 50 company that I spent 30 years at - starting as a junior secretary and working my way to a legal executive assistant. But, it would have been fun to work in the city for a while when I was in my 20s.

I should have saved more money.

And, lastly, I should have never had a relationship with Alex in my 30's. Ugh, I didn't even like him.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

ECBG — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 01:27:30 GMT

@libbyannE Oh boy! We surely have walked the same paths yet we survived and I saved many 15-18 year olds. There are threads from that time that I never would believe effect my life now.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

dulwich — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 01:44:13 GMT

I would not have gone straight to London School of Economics - I did graduate as economist - but gone straight into Nursing School which I loved and only found later in life but I did enjoy both professions but nursing I loved best.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

1Snickers — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 01:47:50 GMT

I wish I had studied harder in school. I did well but dances , boys and enjoying life seemed as important!

I regret that I didn’t give an ex boyfriend another chance.

I shouldn’t have put up with my husband’s controlling behavior.

I should have researched more before making financial decisions. (Now I’m the opposite and am too careful)!

I wonder how different my life would be now.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

CAcableGirl2 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 01:56:10 GMT

Just a few for me:

1. I would have started saving for retirement in my 20's. I blew a lot of money on stupid material things in my 20's and 30's.

2. I would have chosen a different career path. I still love my job, and the benefits are fine, but I would have gone into the law enforcement or medical profession and been retired with a nice pension by now.

3. I would have kept up with high school friends over the years.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

simplyfriends — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 01:59:18 GMT

I should have stayed by my mothers side in the hospital instead of going back to the hotel. I wasn’t there when she needed me and I think about it and regret that decision every day.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

ECBG — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 02:13:17 GMT

@simplyfriends wrote:
I should have stayed by my mothers side in the hospital instead of going back to the hotel. I wasn’t there when she needed me and I think about it and regret that decision every day.

@simplyfriends You didn't share your age when that happened but zI can understand a young person so scared that they chose the path most comfortable. It's a normal reaction.

Hopefully. she was ok.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

Sooner — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 02:18:19 GMT

I guess we are different. I don't regret. I don't long for what was or wasn't, I might as well try to change the path of the sun.

I count blessings and try to get through every day as best as I can for that day. It takes all I have some days to do that.

Re: What Is Your "I Should Have" or "If I Had Done Differently"?

Mz iMac — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 02:46:53 GMT

@ECBG