I used to feel like I accomplished a lot but ever since since I chose to work for a large corporate business, I haven’t accomplished a damn thing.
Not sure if I’m proud of this or not, but I have boffed a genuine porn star, someone whose name aficionados would recognize.
On second thought, I am definitely not proud given the circumstances (which most decidedly did not involve rape or coercion). But it is an accomplishment.
Actually, for the first time in a very long time, I find myself hoping I’ll last longer.
I have definitely had a good run. “Every man dies but not every man lives” may be corny but dang it, even though the life I’ve built isn’t most people’s idea of a good life, it’s mine. I’ve co-parented two brothers, managed to change my mother’s mind in some important ways (she’s now pro-SSM, she doesn’t take her children for granted any more) and reached peace about the relationship with my Dad. I was lucky to be born in one of the most artistically-diverse countries in the world and to have parents who took us all over it for vacation; I’ve been to many different countries, usually for work so I’ve gotten to see parts the tourists do not. The list of publications I got from my four years in research is tiny, but it includes an article most people in my field would give an arm for, simply because of the journal it’s in.
But now I have a 7yo nephew who is in many ways more akin to me than to either one of his parents, and I really, really, really hope I’ll be around for his teenage years and when it’s time for him to choose what to study/apprentice for. His parents are already planning what will he study - and let me tell you, they’re plans which fit this kid about as much as a career as an underwear model would have fit Santa Claus.
I changed a lightbulb the other day.
Damn, I wish I could do that.
The moments that stand out the most to me are the moments where I had to take big risks and put everything on the line.
In brief:
Flute/trombone duet in 8th grade Solo & Ensemble - pretty risky move and I was the trombone player. We got a II (the equivalent of a B.) I don’t know why this is standing out to me right now because I haven’t thought about it in a long time.
Legally emancipated at 17, graduated Salutatorian anyway. Did all kinds of overachieving in high school despite the fact that it was the worst year of my life. I got into the University of Michigan; this was my childhood dream.
Did some things that terrified me: fell in love, volunteered in Mexico, kept a job that scared me, finally decided on a career path, applied to graduate school and graduated with a Master’s from Penn.
My single greatest accomplishment is that I have maintained empathy and compassion for all living beings even though I have been through some very ugly things. I see a lot of people who use their suffering as an excuse to be jaded or apathetic, but I didn’t do that. I’m not saying I’m light and rainbows all the time, but I work really hard at it, it matters to me and that is the best thing about my life.
Let us know how many people you need to help.
Then we can tell you your profession, as well.
I survived a horrible childhood and miserable adolescence where I thought about suicide on a daily basis to become a functional, mature adult.
Yeah me!
I got a PhD, I’m happily married, and I have a beautiful daughter. Those were the big ones for me.
Helped a crashed balloon crew, who later took us all out for balloon rides.
Kept my humanity through law school.
Passed the bar on my first try.
Put some very bad people in jail. If life were a cowboy movie, I’d be wearing the white hat.
Argued a case in front of the Supreme Court of Texas, and won, saving the State about $30 million a year.
Loved, and buried, a dog.
Gave my wife a whole lot of shots. Eighty-four, to be precise.
Found out my wife was pregnant the same day the last piece of adoption paperwork came in.
Slept for nights in a chair with my stuffy-nosed baby girl on my chest.
Traveled to China to pick up my baby daughter (pending).
I taught for 10 years…not a long run, but I believe I saved a life. Maybe two.
For a while I was a fairly well-known local poet, and did a lot of readings and had some stuff published. (For what that’s worth, heh. But actually my town has a pretty big poetry scene.)
Bought a house on my own 2 years and 1 week after my post-divorce bankruptcy cleared.
Raised two adults and am in the process of raising two more, mostly on my own. So far, they’re all good, self-supporting people, with a little artsy flair and great senses of humor to boot.
Gave up, twice, well-paying jobs to focus on my family. I may not have a lot of income, but my kids seem to feel okay about that.
Planted a nice little square foot garden. That doesn’t sound huge, but I planned and plotted for YEARS before I managed to actually do it…again, on my own little piece of the world.
Hmm. Haven’t done anything earth-shattering, but I’m satisfied that I’ve done what I was meant to, for the most part. 
You asked.
I have been happily married for 49 years (as of yesterday). I have three wonderful kids all employed in extremely responsible positions, all married (one for more than 20 years) with no divorces. I have six grandchildren one just accepted to Brandeis (also yesterday) and all quite wonderful.
I have 100 publications, about 90 of which are original mathematics research and three are books. As I look back on my 76 years on this clod of dirt, I feel very content.
Overcame a brain injury that for most of my life I didn’t know I had. That probably didn’t make much sense so neither will this. I’ll never be content because I know I’ll probably never regain everything that I lost. But I quite literally will die trying.
I once tried to change a lightbulb.
I killed a seagull with a kayak paddle.