If you could have do-overs...

[JohnMitchell 16]

I would have bought every piece of real estate I've looked at over the last five years here in Washington.

[RastaRicanAir 0]

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I've always thought, "I wouldn't change a thing, because everything I've been through has made me who I am today."

But now I look back and realize, there are some things I would change if I could.

For example, in my early twenties, I went out dancing with my friends nearly every night. I ate out for nearly every meal. My refrigerator usually had very little in it. And though it was only myself, I felt guilty for going out so much and for not cooking more meals at home. Why?!!

I wish I would have just spent less time feeling guilty about stupid things.

Is it just me, 5 beers, and half a bottle of Pinot talking, or do you also see the inherent contradiction here? Doesn't the "everything I've been through" include the "feeling guilty for going out so much?"

Yes, 5 beers and half a bottle of wine. My wonderful wife and 2 glorious babies are elsewhere tonight, so I'm bored. Good thing I went through so much crap in the first past of my life, or I never would have found them.

OrFunV/LocoBoca Rodriguez/Sonic Grieco/Muff Brother #4411
-"and ladies....messin with Robbie is venturing into territory you cant even imagine!-cuz Robbie is

[sartre 0]

Just have another glass of Pinot and go to bed!


I wouldn't change the major ups and downs of my life; they have made me who I am.

But I really don't think useless guilt has served any purpose whatsoever in my life.

But maybe I'll have a few beers and see if I change my mind!

[MF42 0]

While I understand the sentiment that changing any part of your past would change who you are today, can people truly not think of anything they would change for the better?

Mine is obvious: I would do the last skydive over, but this time land correctly and skip that entire broken back adventure. Is it being cynical or shortsighted to think that nothing good came of injuring myself? How did a broken back make me a better person today?

Matt

[JENNR8R 0]

What would you change?

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I've often wondered how my life would be different if I had "told" on my abusers as a child. It could have been even worse than it was. I lived through it.

I probably wouldn't choose a "do-over" for my decisions. I just wish they had regretted their actions, stopped sooner, and attempted to repair the damage that they did to me and others.

What do you call a beautiful, sunny day that comes after two cloudy, rainy
ones? -- Monday.

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[grue 1]

I'd undo my 145 in a 55mph and getting arrested stunt. That's about it.

cavete terrae.

[soberamprat 0]

I would not do a 270 rear riser landing. Last one ended with 2 broken legs

http://www.swoopstudios.com/videos/videos-rex.php

[popsjumper 2]

I'm going with Livendive Dave....too long to list.

We live and learn and, like MF42 and soberamprat, we learn and live.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[skybytch 273]

I'd have taken the laptop with me and put the boxes of framed pictures up on the shelf in the closet instead of leaving them on the floor when Hurricane Jeanne was on her way to visit my house. I also would have asked Mom to make a quilt out of all those skydiving tshirts instead of taking them to Florida when I moved there.

Other than that, I'd change nothing.

[skybytch 273]

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Is it being cynical or shortsighted to think that nothing good came of injuring myself? How did a broken back make me a better person today?

I felt the same way when I was flat on my back before and after having three vertebrae fused five years ago. All I could think about was how much it sucked and how I wished I could go back and change it.

I can't say it made me a better person but it did change me. Since recovering, I've gone on numerous road trips around the US (both solo and with friends), taken huge scary risks (like quitting my good job with nothing lined up to replace it, moving from California to Florida to run a gear store and moving back to California with no job lined up when I got back), and seen and experienced things that I never would have had I stayed where I was. I learned that you can't count on being able to do the things you want to do in the future so you might as well do them now.

Yeah, the whole back surgery thing sucked while it was happening, but looking back now I wouldn't change it.

[sartre 0]

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I learned that you can't count on being able to do the things you want to do in the future so you might as well do them now.

Absolutely. Take nothing for granted. See below for expansion on that thought.

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. Is it being cynical or shortsighted to think that nothing good came of injuring myself? How did a broken back make me a better person today?

Now for me, I have gone through some experiences where my physical ability to do simple things like grip a steering wheel has been lost, and I've been in constant pain. If given the chance, I don't know that I would opt out of that experience. Because it has made me so much better as a therapist and as a person; I understand what it's like to lose independence and how constant pain really screws with your head. I am able to have infinite patience with some really difficult people (patients) as a result.

[Muenkel 0]

I have been in varying degrees of chronic head pain for 3 years now. The biggest thing I learned is that I am a lot stronger than I ever thought. I also learned to have a lot more compassion for others who are suffering in any way. I'd say those are two very good things.

Chris

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Chris

[unfeomateo 1]

I would of had more fun in high school. i have almost no friends left from high school