Looking back, what would you change?

[Kuya John]

Looking back what would you change if you could?

We talk about love or relationships, likes and dislikes, but if you could change one thing in your past, what would that be.

How often do you think about how things may have turned out if I had done this or that.

We can say we have no regrets, but is there still a nagging memory of something or someone that did change your whole direction?

Edited March 18, 2016 by Kuya John

[Gratefuled]

30 minutes ago, Kuya John said:

Looking back what would you change if you could?

We talk about love or relationships, likes and dislikes, but if you could change one thing in your past, what would that be.

How often do you think about how things may have turned out if I had done this or that.

We can say we have no regrets, but is there still a nagging memory of something or someone that did change your whole direction?

Just one thing?  I would if I could change a lot of things. I probably should have kept my first house and just rented it out. It was (is) in a nice location and the area has a lot of new businesses. The street now is a boulevard. The new owners have really fixed it up nice. I was young and just married and needed a larger home. That was my reason for selling it. Oh WELL 

[chris49]

15 hours ago, Gratefuled said:

Just one thing?  I would if I could change a lot of things. I probably should have kept my first house and just rented it out. It was (is) in a nice location and the area has a lot of new businesses. The street now is a boulevard. The new owners have really fixed it up nice. I was young and just married and needed a larger home. That was my reason for selling it. Oh WELL 

A lot of things when I was younger, but then I would not be where I am today.

Financial decisions. My first house was a townhouse in the Washington D.C. area, on a fixed rate VA mortgage. I was younger then and didn't see the long term implications. But we are probably looking at a $500, 000 USD difference over 40 years.

Professionally. I might have worked 2 more years and retained my nursing license, and all my credentials. The way things turned out, it might have been handy...I was in admin, moonlighting in the ER.....the nurses in ER were making what I was getting, with overtime and differentials. It was a good earner at the time...but, I went to the PI instead.

This and that, but mostly about money. When I had more money I did more....travel mostly. But money never increased my happiness.

So I have to say no regrets. But I might have done things differently.

[Dave Hounddriver]

2 hours ago, Kuya John said:

We talk about love or relationships, likes and dislikes, but if you could change one thing in your past, what would that be.

I'd change one thing or 4 things, depending how you look at it:

First:  I would never have moved in with my second wife if I knew then what I knew now.

Second:  If I made the mistake of moving in with her then I would never have got back together with her after our 6 month long break-up, early in the relationship.

Third:  If I had still made the mistake of getting back together with her I would surely not marry her this time.

Forth:  Assuming I had made those first 3 mistakes:  When I was walking out the door, 2 years before the final separation, I would have kept walking and not let her emotional plea sway me into staying.

[Ynot]

Yeah I must admit I have thought about what if I had done this or done that, I would be financially better off, but as Chris says, if you did change the things you did in the past perhaps you would not be where you are today, and I must admit Evelyn my gf is the best thing that has happened to me.  I wish I had met her earlier, but I am now happier emotionally albeit not as financial had I done things differently in the past :)

[Nephi]

I'm thankful for having an ex-wife that I could not stay married to in the States that caused me to find my Filipina wife of 13 years.

My only regret is that it could not have all happened sooner so that I could have found my wonderful wife here in the islands a lot sooner.

[DGTXPAT]

Life is full of decisions and there is no perfect score when all is said and done. For me, I cant say I regret too many things financial since there are many things to be learned from losses and choices  that didnt seem the best. I have often found inspiration and motivation thru failures and without making mistakes I am unsure where I would be today. 

  I of course regret having to get divorced because I never married any of the three wives with that intention. I love all my kids and I am active in their lives so it is great that I was able to be their dad even if I dont see them daily. 

So in summary...I have more regrets before the age of 21 than I have had since then. Schooling,career path choices etc etc. I also think I may have been a better brother a better son a better friend and so on and so forth...but life is a learning experience.

[chris49]

The heartstrings do have long strands and a woman can conciously or subconciously use that to her advantage.

I bestowed a lot to Wife No.2 and 3. And those two abused the privilege the most. Wife No.2 was nagging me for a bit of hefty gold jewellry, in fact being Sri Lankan gold was important. In today's money she probably had $30, 000 US in jewellry....as was not uncommon in the Middle East.

All stolen in one raid several years later.

[mogo51]

2 hours ago, Kuya John said:

Looking back what would you change if you could?

We talk about love or relationships, likes and dislikes, but if you could change one thing in your past, what would that be.

How often do you think about how things may have turned out if I had done this or that.

We can say we have no regrets, but is there still a nagging memory of something or someone that did change your whole direction?

For me that opens a very big can of worms.  I have made so many mistakes in my life, I doubt I know where I would I start.  

The first mistake was to get married at 21 and realising I really did not want to be married after a short time.

Then foolishy 4 years later listeing to people who did not know what they were talking about and having a child when the marriage was virt8ally finished.  

After divorce, spent next 15 years regrettng my stupidity, I was a lousy parent and have never really been able to handle the parent thing.  I should have stayed childless and single.

Two more marriages, both failed, the latest just 6 years ago in the twilight of my working years.  A strugle from then on.

The highlight when 5 years ago I bonded with my SO and it has been the happiest of my life. there have been other instances that I have regretted but they are very personal and will stay that way. I hope to be around for a few more years to spend with my SO but there are no guarantees in life, that I do know for sure.

[Jack Peterson]

 Changed my Phone number! That Worked & the bank account of Course.