What Would You Have Done Differently?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

What would youn change in your past if you could. I think I should have gotten more education,maybe different career,married eariler,maybe hugged my dad the last time I seen him, stayed closer to my family. Hug your kids, they need it more than you do, and don't forget your better half.

-- Tom (Calfarm@msn.com), November 05, 2000

Answers

Response to Misc

Changes in my past? Absolutly none! Those events, the good, bad and non-noteworthy, all combine to make of me what I am today. Rather than wish I could change the past, I prefer to plan and anticipate the future. Memories are important, but dreams refresh you and keep you going. Realized dreams make you stronger. Instead of dwellig on my past, I try to learn from it. The past is an education.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), November 06, 2000.

Response to Misc

This one is easy...we would have bought land our first year married and sacrified all before we had children to build on that land before we accumulated bills, responsibilities etc. We could have worked minimally to get by, and spent all of our efforts making a life on our land. Now it is a little more complicated than that!!!

We married young though (which I'm super glad for) and were just happy to be on our own. So, now with 2 kids - 8 years later we do regret the wasted time - spinning our wheels in the city. We could have had it all done and paid off by now.

But, we are still young, madly in love with the best boys in the world and totally equally yoked in our goals - so IT WILL HAPPEN. We are just building patience now.

Andrea

-- Andrea Smith (a-smith@mindspring.com), November 06, 2000.


Response to Misc

Tom,I guess I shouldn't change anything as they say you learn from your mistakes. If that's true I should be the smartest guy in the world!!! Notice I said "should be". John

-- John in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), November 06, 2000.

Response to Misc

Would have bought more land. They ain't makin' anymore.

-- Sandy (smd2@netzero.net), November 06, 2000.

Response to Misc

I have earned everyone of my grey hairs -----wish somethings wouldn't have been so hard --wish I had learned some lessons the first time-- so I didn't have to go through them the 2nd or 3rd time or more times- -before I caught on!!!! I guess, we all have things we think we would have done different--but they were all learning lessons to get us to where we are & where we are going!!! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), November 06, 2000.


Response to Misc

That's easy; I wouldn't have married my first husband! It was an arranged marriage, I didn't love him, just wanted to escape from a lecherous step father. Ended up with a mentally ill husband who also turned out to have a history of child molestation, and two wonderful children, who have a chance of inheriting their father's mental illness. Nope, wouldn't do it again. There are other ways to learn things besides putting yourself in evil situations!

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), November 06, 2000.

Response to Misc

I agree w/ Sonda, wish some of the lessons were quicker but can't change it.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), November 06, 2000.

Response to Misc

Not raised kids.Even tho I was better than alot,I still felt totally lost and a fish out of water on parenting.I did so many other tough things,but that threw me for a loop.I guess bc you feel there is so much at stake and you only get one chance at it.I took it way too seriiously,I think. I would have rather left being a parent to those who somehow seem to pull it off well.When it's said it's the toughest job you'll ever do, I have to concur heartily with that.These kids they don't come with an instruction manual!

Other than that,I'd concur with jay in that all you did is who you are.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 06, 2000.


Response to Misc

I would have convinced my mother to go for a checkup and complete physical when my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. My aunt recovered. My mother died nine days ago.

-- Tracy (trimmer@westzone.com), November 06, 2000.

Response to Misc

Tracy , I'm sorry to hear of your Mothers passing .But you cannot make anyone do anything they do not want to .My Mother in law recently passed away from liver and colon cancer .She had the simple stool test sitting on the counter and never did it .She new the risks .It was your Mothers decission on how to go about her health care .Take comfort in the time you shared together .You cannot change the past only the future .Be good to yourself and your family ,make sure you get your checkups .

-- Patty (fodfarms@slic.com), November 06, 2000.


Response to Misc

I would buy a house all ready built with a barn and fences on FLAT land. I wish we hadn't built and gotten chemical poisoning. I realize I would have to fix things on a bought house but it wouldn't have been as much as we had to do with this one. (crooked contractor) Every time I turn around, I'm putting up fences, putting on additions, moving dirt or rock. All up hill. Been at it for 6 years now and feel like I'll be doing it for at least 6 more. Granted, everything I do looks great when it's done, but it's too much sometimes.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), November 06, 2000.

Response to Misc

There are many things in my past that I would change if I could roll back time. Probably to say it best though, I can simply say that I wish I would have lived up to my potential. That should leave you wondering. lol. It saddens me too, that none of my classmates lived up to their potential either.

I really try to encourage the youth of our country, after all, we will be at their mercy in a number of years. I encourage you too as well.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), November 07, 2000.


Response to Misc

Very interesting post... Rebekah, you and I have some things in common. Knowing that I probably wouldn't have my kids now is the only thing that prevents me from wishing I could change the past. I still say I was not meant to be a mother of 4, but God gave them to me, willing or no, and I do love them dearly. The only things I really wish I could do differently:

1)Discover Countryside around age 16 or younger. It is what showed me the direction I was meant to travel. 2)Not marry to escape family problems...What's that saying about out of the skillet and into the fire...? 3)Buy my own land and learn to homestead. 4)Only then look for love and have my babies

But we can't go back and now I am trying to make the best with what we have. Don't look back, keep dreaming, and always have hope...

-- Melody in AL (NamedLynn@aol.com), November 12, 2000.


Response to Misc

I am a firm believer in "everything happens for a reason". Oh sure, there are things I wish I hadn't done, but that all is in the past. Don't worry too much about tomorrow, next week, or next year - they are all in the future. The present is what you should be concerned about. Remember to tell your family and friends that you love them. Don't go be bed mad at someone. Hug your family everyday. Life is too short. If you don't do it today, you might not be around to do it tomorrow. But always remember that everything happens for a reason, even if we don't understand it!

-- Michael W. Smith (kirklbb@penn.com), November 12, 2000.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ