- I would not have suffered from schizophrenia and poor social skills
- I would have arranged for proper acne treatment
- I would have made a more aggressive effort to go to college just after high school, and maybe would have a better life by now
I played a little what-if game not long ago and the result, had one little thing gone the way I wanted it to at the time, wound up with my parents divorced, me in a small town, and marriage to a much nicer woman than my first wife – who would have divorced me anyway.
Be careful what you wish for.
I was not one of the "in"crowd in high school. #1 speaks to that.
(1) When I saw an “in” crowd girl ranting at another girl(even more out than I was) and accusing her of stealing her comb in gym class, I would have spoken up, instead of being a coward and staying mum.
(2) When I found the stray kitten that was sick(dying) instead of taking it to the animal shelter to die I should have taken it to the vet and seen it put to sleep more quickly and painlessly. But again I was a coward and didn’t want to see it die.
(3)When my ex, before the divorce was final, asked me on the phone if I thought there was any chance of a reunion, I wish I had not said "Mpppllllt!!! There was no chance of a reunion, he had said some really awful things, but it takes two to make a breakup, and we had had good times. He didn’t deserve my putdown.
There’s a lot of things been done to me that I wish could change, but on those I had no ability to stop them. The three above I could have changed myself but didn’t.
Sarah, when I read your numbers 1, 2 and 4, I thought, “what the hell? I don’t remember posting those things about myself! Wait a minute…that’s someone else posting my regrets!” 
Oh well, I’ve thought some others:
I would have gone to my state university for less than 1/4 the cost of attending a small, homogeneous, private liberal arts college. I’m convinced that my education would have been no less demanding, considerably cheaper, and would have left me better prepared for life (read: work) afterwards.
I would never have left that fake “I love you, from Robbie” note in Rae Anne’s desk in the 6th grade.
I would have taken Muffin (kitty) to the vet sooner than I did.
Three things to change…good question.
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I never would have started smoking if I had any idea the bitch it would become.
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I would have slept with Kathy when I had the chance.
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I would have learned to play an instrument.
I can think of a couple more, but these are the things that come to me right away.
Count me among the folk that have no regrets.
I’ve done things that range from frivolous to just plain stupid. Some have been accidental, some have been deliberate. The results range from a simple slap in the forehead and a “Why did I do that! D’OH!” to far more serious consequences.
I cannot bring myself to regret them, though. I just can’t. Some of the things I’ve done, while they may have been stupid, were either a) one hell of a lot of fun, b) a valuable learning experience, or c) both. There’s even a few things that even now, if I were given the opportunity, I would do again in a heartbeat.
Everything I’ve done has affected me, and made me the person I am right now. All of the people I’ve encountered have left their fingerprints on my heart, mind, and soul. I treasure them, even the bad ones.
I’m finally at a point in my life where I like myself, and it’s because of the mistakes I’ve made (hell, the mistakes I continue to make). I am still learning, changing, and growing, and it’s one hell of a lot of fun.
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Would not have gone to the bar on June 10, 1995. The night a friend of mine and I were crossing the street and she was hit and killed by a guy drag racing. (PTSD and depression are no fun, whatsoever)
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Would not have lost my virginity to the guy I did and would have broken up with him long before he raped me.
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Would have left the army after two years instead of trying to stick it out for four.
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Would have gotten my best friend out of the house where her mom and stepdad were beating on her and her stepdad was messing with her. I also would’ve gotten her the help she needed so she wasn’t as screwed up now.
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Would’ve joined modeling earlier, was too old to really make a go of it by the time I did.
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Would’ve made an honest try at acting as a career, before giving it up.
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Would have protected my oldest sister from the asshole that raped her.
I just gotta add one more.
I wish I had told Ma’sy (my grandmother) how much she meant to me and how much I loved her before she died.
Count me in as one who considers the Woulda/shoulda moments in life as little learning lessons.
After reading everyone’s deep personal regrets, mine is awfully shallow:
- I wish when we were building our house that I had put my foot down a little harder ( like on said husband’s head) and stuck to my guns about getting wood floors. $7,000 then ( before kids and misc debt) was easier to pay off then ($35-45 bucks extra on the mortgage) than the $2300 we need now to put in the cheaper stuff that we can afford.
OTOH, we can play connect the dots with the splotches on our living room carpet courtesy of me, hubby, the dog and various barfing and bowel movements debacles and the recent Toddler and a sippy cup-filled-with-red-kool-aid-that-the lid-wasn’t- on- tight- enough- Episode.
2) I wish after the stock market crash in 86 I had listened to my best friends father in law, who was a stock broker, and had invested in stocks then. Then Regret #1 would not be here.
(minor hijack)
Oh Shirley, do I ever know how you feel!
I had hardwood floors in the house I just moved from. I’ve got carpet now. I actually do prefer the carpet, but boy, does it ever need a shampoo, and even that might not work. I bought this house just a few months ago from my uncle. I remember when he put this carpet in. Lovely off-white, it was, for quite a long time. Then my uncle and his wife had triplets. The triplets are two now, prime mess making age. Then I move in here with my three-year-old and my just-learning-to-crawl baby. My carpet is covered with spots left by the triplets, plus several new ones. My uncle apologized for the state of the carpet, but I just said “hey, no problem. My kids will just see finding a clean spot to destroy as a challenge.”
(end minor hijack)
As of 45 seconds ago, this had never even entered my mind as something anyone would consider. Now I’ve got a visual that won’t go away.
My regrets:
Anyone who’s read my pit could understand why I’d choose to have never met my ex. But I have a son of that and I can’t very well go wishing him out of existance, even in pretend.
So here they are. Only three. I’ve got at least a dozen doozies.
First and foremost.
#1 I would have never cheated on my (current) wife. She’s the greatest ever and didn’t deserve that betrayal.
#2 I would have listened to my mom more often.
#3 I wouldn’t have left home at such a young age. (15) There are better ways to prove your independence.