Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

What have you done in your life, when you were younger - or even now, that you felt was a great decision? Were you ever at a place where you could go either one way or another and were so happy you did one over the other?

Name some of the "gut feelings" you had that you are so glad you listened to? So you don't have to be here, right now, saying "I wish I would have done..." but rather - you did it!

I'm deep tonight

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

To go back to school for my Masters in Education instead of look for another job in NYC in Public Relations after I was fired

1. It was the best career move
2. I just missed being in the city on 9/11..I don't think I would have ever been able to handle that and I don;t think I could have gotten over it!

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

- Never did drugs
- Went back to school to do what I really wanted to do

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

Just a few

Saved my virginity for someone who cared

Took a chance on DH (who later was the deserving recipient of above mentioned virginity )

Stuck with breastfeeding even when it was hard. I am so glad I made it work. So glad that we are still BF'ing at 16 months.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

Left my Ex-Husband before things got really ugly.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

Moving to San Diego was the best decision DH and I ever made, for many reasons!

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

Message edited 6/25/2008 6:47:55 PM.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

For me - taking a chance by listening to my heart and getting engaged rather young b/c I knew it was the right person. Going back to school and taking a chance w/ a personal situation involving some family members that was the best decision I ever made.

I also never did drugs - looking back on it, it wasn't easy - being young w/ the pressures and all but I'm glad I stayed strong. It shows character, I think.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

Safe your money and spend it wisely.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

quitting one job withuut another when I thought they were going downhill.

Message edited 6/25/2008 7:24:30 PM.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

I got pregnant when I was 19.. my best friend (at the time, not anymore) and her mother basically told me not to keep the baby.. (By this I meen have an abortion..not adoption..I would like to add that this girl was adopted )

Obviously.. I did what I thought was right and I knew in my heart I could handle.. and I couldn't be happier with the outcome..

My DS reminds me every day how lucky I truly am and I have an amazing husband too

It hasn't always been easy.. but I'm loving the way things have turned out

My mom recently told me that she was worried for me at first but now she thinks this was the best thing that could have happened to me.. and between myself and my older sisters (who don't have kids) I was actually the most prepared.. that made me

Message edited 6/25/2008 7:50:42 PM.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

To move to Maryland, to move to Key West.....I never realized what this did for me until years later

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

go to school and do something that you want to do, I went back to school which I am glad I did, But had done that sooner life would be a lot easier today.

Get your butt to the gym everyday, I would have less health problems today

Message edited 6/25/2008 8:27:44 PM.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

Changing my concentration from Secondary Ed to Elementary Ed, and quitting my retail job to be a Gymboree teacher.

Message edited 12/7/2009 10:41:22 AM.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

I thought nothing would ever stop me from wanting a career in musical theater...that was my LIFE. But I met DH...and the traveling and long gigs and the uncertainty of where it was going started to weigh on me. Suddenly I thought of my future- would I want my kids to have a mom that has to leave for months at a time?

It was a scary time in my life...but I soul searched and made a decision to leave a career that was all about me...to a career that I could be happy in and STILL be creative and musical, while staying at home and having a stable future. My family was nervous about it, my friends were nervous about it, DH was nervous about it- they knew how big my former career was to me. They didn't want me to have any regrets.

Well, I decided to go back to school to get a masters in music education. BEST thing I ever did. I am fulfilled in ways that my former occupation couldn't even come close to doing. And I get to have a family the way I want to have a family! I'm glad I made the switch when I did...I always wondered what would happen if I really went for the performing career and then was backed into a corner, having to find a more stable career. So it worked out!

Sorry for the long winded-ness - this was just a huge thing to me!

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

Never started smoking

Rekindled a friendship with a person whom I lost touch with for over 10 years... I grew up with her and my other best friend, and now the 3 of us are reunited again! I love those girls like sisters!

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

When I was 6, my parents divorced. I lived with my Mom for a while and my Dad had visitations. Well, my Mom was going down a bad path. She didn't care for my sister and I. Her boyfriend who beat her was # 1 to her. I couldn't listen to her get beat anymore so I decided to move in with my Dad. Two weeks later my Dad was able to get my sister, 3 years old at the time. He won custody, my Mom got pregnant and later followed the guy down to Florida. He's now in jail. My mother remarried but that guy's in jail too. My brother is a 13 year old wannabe thug and on probation because they can't put him in jail. Their lives are in shambles. I thank god everyday my Dad raised my sister and I. I can't imagine what my life would be like if my mother had us.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

I didn't listen to my guidence counseler when he told me I wasn't smart enought to be a Speech Pathologist. I went for it and I am quite good at it!!
(Patting myself on the back)

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

I'm so glad I dropped out of graduate school. If I didn't, I never would have become a teacher, I'd be some snobby musicologist somewhere writing stupid articles that no one could care less about.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

Becoming a teacher. Getting both my masters degrees when I did. Completing my master + 60 for a pay raise.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

Studying for the summer in Rome. I learned that I could never move away from my family and that I could never be away from DH (BF at the time). I had a great time with great experiences but I also cried every single night.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

I would tell myself not to care what others thought. I lived my teenage years caring SO much what others thought...and now that I look back I get so mad at myself. I should have been living for myself and not for others.

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

MY BIGGEST DECISION was having Kryssy.

Without her I may have never had children. I may have been young(18 going on 19) but NEVER in a MILLION YEARS would i have changed my mind.

at the age of 22 I had to have a hysterectomy.

My gut told me I would be just fine and yes the road was hard and still can be at times but in the end I AM VERY HAPPY I WENT WITH NY GUT!

Re: Spinoff to "what would you tell your younger self?"

Went back to school

decided to get divorce and follow my heart.