What's the biggest mistake you ever made? Do you think you can correct it? If so, will you try?

[BlueIris]

Well, Loungers?

[Droopy]

1. Drug abuse when I was young

And I have corrected that mistake. Unfortunately, I went through some hard times and legal trouble before I wised up.

[BlueIris]

2. Good for you. (Drugs are bad.) nt

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. Moving here for a job that eventually damned near killed me

and from which, for my efforts, I was fired.



I shall soon correct it by moving the fuck OUT of this dogforsaken hellhole and getting another job at another newspaper — one that isn't committing journalistic suicide.

[BlueIris]

4. Ouch. Dude. That is insane.

Good for you for moving on. Carpe diem.

[ogneopasno]

11. They exist?

[tigereye]

32. cool for you on the journalism angle - here's hoping you find the right place

many of us out here still value good journalism and integrity.

[W_HAMILTON]

5. Not going off to college straight out of high school...

I'm still in my 20's, but won't finish college till I turn 30.

I see some of the things my other high school classmates have accomplished, and feel like a loser. Everyone had such high hopes for me, and I screwed them up.

I'm trying to "correct" it all by going back to school and really dedicating myself to it, but I can never regain all those years of my life that I feel like I lost. And I'm still struggling with the fact that, even when I do graduate, it will most likely be from a school I'm not really proud of, so that will continue to haunt me later on in my career.

A lot of people like to say they don't regret things because it made them the person they are today, yadda yadda. But I don't believe in that. I'm not too proud to say I regret the choices I made, and I would do anything to go back to high school and do things all over again.

[BlueIris]

6. Older students accomplish more in the long term, though.

From what I've seen.

[W_HAMILTON]

7. In college, or in life?

Hah.

Yes, it does seem like older students are usually more focused, since they're going to college to further their careers rather than simply to have a good time.

But I don't think that would have been a problem with me, even when I was younger.

[W_HAMILTON]

8. And why didn't you answer your own question?

:)

[skooooo]

23. Depends on the person..

..some people are ready for college at 18, others aren't. I'm glad I went right out of high school.

[peruban]

35. Lost time can never be made up.

I went to college right after high school and studied full time for about seven years without completing a specific major - I have associates in mathematics, physics, and chemistry but have never been able to progress past the third year classes of each. Now I've been out of classes for about 6 years and have forgotten much of what I studied so hard to learn. I think sometimes that Thomas Wolfe was right, you just can't go home again.

[Lost-in-FL]

58. A friend of mine just finished Law school and is now studying for the board

She is 57. It is never too late if you are doing what you love.

[KansDem]

80. "I see some of the things my other high school classmates have accomplished, and feel like a loser"

KYRRRRIST, does this sound familiar!!!

Of the friends I had in high school:

one is a doctor in a hospital emergency room,
one is a college administrator at a community college,
one is a lawyer with a law firm,
one is a CPA with his own business,
one is an structural engineer with her own business,

Me? I'm embarrassed to say what I do for a living! So don't ask!!!

[NewJeffCT]

9. Getting married the first time

solved it by getting divorced, but I'll never have that year to 18 months back... the time prior to getting married was fine at least.

[Arugula Latte]

50. But compare that to people who feel that way about marriages that last 30, 40 or more years.

[NewJeffCT]

56. that's true

but, it's still not something I can correct until they invent the time machine.

[elleng]

10. Getting married the second time!

.

[WinkyDink]

12. Totally wrong career (teacher).

[W_HAMILTON]

53. Are you still a teacher?

What age were you when you found out you really disliked your job?

[Lost-in-FL]

59. Me too. (not a teacher)

Now I am back in school and I am almost 40.

[RetroLounge]

13. Letting her go...

and no, years too late to correct it.

RL

[Iggo]

24. Yep.

+1

:hug:

[JTG of the PRB]

14. Thinking it was a GOOD idea to get an apartment with my younger sister.

I had been under the impression that she had matured and grown up and would be able to have a civil relationship with me. Boy howdy, was I wrong.

Five more months of this hell I have to endure. Then I can finally get my own place and all but completely cut her out of my life. x(

[skygazer]

15. Getting involved with Husband #2

Total rebound, huge mistake, 8 years of hell.

But I can't see it as a total loss or even regret it because I got my wonderful son out of the deal.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

16. Moving back to WV...........

Don't get me wrong, I desperately love my home state, but I was making more progress in my life when I was living away. I have a lot of baggage around here.

[Inchworm]

17. I know exactly what you mean!

:hug:

[CrownPrinceBandar]

18. Thanks...........

I've been trying to screw up the courage to move away again, but relocating at 41, by myself, is a daunting prospect.:hug: backatya!

[Inchworm]

19. The similarities are astounding

I'm 40 :D

:P

[Ikonoklast]

20. So many mistakes makes it hard to choose just one.

Too late to correct some, that ship has long sailed.

My biggest mistake was thinking that hard work and dedication to a job actually meant something, and a loyal employee would be valued.

I see that now as absolute stupidity.

I am loyal now only to my skills and the highest bidder for them, for the term specified by contract.

I have taught my children to never trust an employer, no matter how well they treat you. They will throw you under a bus the first chance they get, if they can make a dime in doing it.

[Droopy]

22. That is especially true in trucking

At my employer, us drivers keep getting told to do more work without getting extra pay. They are getting away with it because you can't find a good local job around here right now to save your life. So, like it or here's a McDonalds application.

[Ikonoklast]

25. Droopy, I am on a letter-writing campaign now.

It is about time that drivers were included under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and are no longer 'exempt'.

It amazes most people when I tell them how much time we actually give our employers for free, and it is entirely legal for them to force you to accept it. Millions of free hours donated to the company without compensation every year.

One of the reasons I could never go being a company driver again.

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/flsa/screen75.asp

This list is shameful.

[W_HAMILTON]

37. Well, that's one thing I've learned in the years I spent NOT going to college...

I am a very loyal person, which is pretty stupid in the business world. I have stayed at lesser-paying jobs just because I didn't want to disappoint my employer by leaving and job-hopping. I'm at a job now that I don't especially like (hell, even quit once, but they called and asked me to come back), but I still stay there.

I think part of it is due to me being a very "status quo" type of person. Kinda like, the devil you know is better than the devil you don't, or whatever that saying is.

Whenever I get my degree and move on, I definitely will not have the same sort of stupid loyalty that I had when I was younger, because really, it rarely pays off in today's world.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

21. Not finishing college

eom

[fizzgig]

26. probably not going away for college

and nope, can't do anything about that now

[Lucian]

27. Dropping out of college three years ago.

But I am correcting it by going back in the Fall of 2009. :)

[W_HAMILTON]

38. Good for you!

It seems like a lot of our regrets stem from college.

How old are you now? When do you expect to graduate?

I don't know if I feel "happy" or "bad" (poor choice of words, but I'm not sure what other words I want to use) about the fact that, even from many people with college degrees, they also seem to have their fair share of hard times. It's like, well, even though I feel like a loser because I didn't get the degree that many of my schoolmates earned years ago, you can bet some of them feel like losers as well, for whatever reason. I guess it's petty to think that way, to feel "better" that other people may be suffering just like you! :(

[Lucian]

41. Right now...

I'm 26. I'll be 28 before I get my degree. I should have waited until now to go to college instead of when I was 18. I'm more mature now than I was and my interests have changed drastically since then.

[W_HAMILTON]

51. I'm not much older than you.

I'll be 30 when I finish my degree. And I'll be damned if I didn't try to cram all my courses in as tightly as possible so that I could graduate when I was 29, just for the psychological effect of graduating "in my 20's." But one of the courses I need to graduate isn't offered until the Spring semester, which means I'll have just turned 30 when I graduate. Ugh.

So, you actually are happy you waited to finish college? You don't have any feelings of regret about getting a late start, or anything like that? I'd like to hear about how you think about those things; maybe I can change the way I think so I don't have so much regret about my past.

I wish I could look at the positives, but I still really regret taking so long to go back (and finish) college. I feel like a loser, seeing a lot of my friends already graduate from GRADUATE school, and have high-profile jobs in big cities. I was supposed to be like them, but I had too many issues that held me back (money, then apathy, then anxiety).

[Lucian]

61. Oh I regret waiting so long to finish...

but at the same time I don't because I finally know what I want in life. I just wish I had the drive and motivation to finish when I was younger. At times though, I do feel like a loser because I'm working at a retail store and I have friends who are in grad school, getting their PhD's now. I also have a few friends who have high profile jobs and working all over the world, and here I am, in retail. That will change eventually. I just have to keep repeating that to myself. Things will be getting better, for the both of us. :)

[LiberalEsto]

28. Not accepting a full scholarship to Northeastern U.

For some dumb reason I got worried about Northeastern's trimester system and was afraid I'd never see my friends from back home in NJ. I chose to go to Rutgers University's new Livingston College instead, putting financial strain on my family. In retrospect I think I would have gotten more traditional education, finished in 4 years, and had a more solid start to my career. My high school friends and I drifted apart anyway.

It's too late to correct that now, since it happened 40 years ago.

[femmocrat]

29. Wasting so much time on reckless behavior as a teenager and young adult.

No, there is no way to go back. At least it hasn't come back to haunt me with my two kids.

[Wapsie B]

30. Well, there are some of us out here who wished we did have a little

reckless behavior in our youth. Ideally there'd be some happy medium, doing the sex, drugs, rock 'n roll thing up to a point and then saying that's enough, now it's time to move on. And live to tell about it.

[W_HAMILTON]

52. Yeah, really.

One thing I've learned, is that it seems almost no matter what we have regrets over, or what we wish we would have done, you'll always find someone in the opposite position who has the same sort of regrets over what they did. Does that make sense?

IE, the other person regretted some of her "reckless" behavior as a young person. I'm kinda like what you said: I WISH I had been more reckless as a youth!

I was a little angel, and, boy, do I regret it now! :evilgrin:

Another example is what I mentioned about college; my biggest regret is that I didn't go to college straight out of high school, and instead waited almost 10 years to really commit myself to finishing my degree. At the same time, I've read from a lot of people on here that did do the "typical" college thing, and are still unhappy with their current situation, unhappy with the debt they built up, etc.

So, I guess that's "reassuring." Whatever you wished you had done, someone else did, and wished they hadn't. I guess we're just all fickle :)

[Wapsie B]

63. That's a very good point.

Wishing you had done things differently seems to be a natural part of living at times; at least for some of us anyway. But there's still an opportunity to have some of that care free fun when older. Then too there is an advantage of not having taken every drug under the sun or slept with everyone we met back in the day. Having good health now might just put one in a better position to cut loose just a bit now when the opportunity presents itself.

[Orrex]

31. Making my first million $ before the age of 21

Now I'm positively rolling in cash, and I have trouble relating to the plebes.


Oops! See? There I go again, being exclusionary. I should have said "I have trouble relating to you plebes."



Oh, the hardship of early wealth.

[tigereye]

33. being pregnant and changing to a really hard admin. job at the same time

:yoiks:

It was a terrible idea. But, it led me to independent work, which has been very good.

[peruban]

34. I lost control recently at a family member's house overseas.

I'm an alcoholic and I thought I had my issues under control but found that went I went and visited my deceased father's family overseas that I couldn't control myself when presented with an open liquor bar. My aunt, her husband, and grandmother whom I was staying with had a liquor bar and I would go down in the middle of the night and down a quarter to half a bottle of vodka or whiskey a night along with some valium and diphenhydramine to try to get to sleep. I just lost control and wasn't able to stop my drinking until I had downed a few bottles there and ones that I had bought while I was there. I couldn't stay the whole visit and was sent home early since I was going to ruin their christmas and instead of showing them a success story of their only emigrated family member I simply amplified for them his faults and why he left. I don't blame my father for passing on his negative tendencies but I do blame myself for not heeding his advice on avoiding them.

I just wish I could have enjoyed this christmas without the feeling of guilt and shame I get from my chronic issues and the embarrassment I caused myself while visiting my aunt, uncles, and cousins.

[Nikia]

36. Letting a friend give pot to my husband and I

My husband became addicted and ended up getting arrested. It caused problems in our marriage and in his employment among other things. The only good thing about him being arrested is that he quit. He still isn't employed but we now have a newborn and him being a stay at home dad seems to be best at this point.

[grannylib]

39. First husband. Divorce was final one year, one month, and one day

after our wedding.
Disaster.
I chose MUCH better the second time around! We'll celebrate 24 years in May :-)

[BlueIris]

40. Kick. (Oh, and my biggest is still having gotten involved with my abusive ex; psychopath). nt

[GOPisEvil]

42. Going $30k in debt by the time I was 30.

I ended up having to go bankrupt, but I rebounded. I'm doing a lot better now. :)

[harmonicon]

43. mistake?

I don't know.... I don't think I have regrets, but I've done some shitty things that I feel bad about. I don't think that's the same thing though.

[Franzia]

44. Running away (from family problems) and shacking up with a 'looser' when I was 21.

Changed my life forever. Can't be corrected.

I learned many interesting things and had quite a few adventures, but I sometimes play the 'what if' game.

Oh, well.

[shanti]

45. getting married at age 18

absolutely the biggest mistake of my life. i'm long divorced, but still paying for it and expect to until the day i die.

[BlueCollar]

46. Not re-enlisting in the Navy

As I look back on it I think the most productive and enjoyable time in my life was the period in which I served in the U.S.Navy.

If I had done so, and made a career out of it I would have had the opportunity to learn and travel more.

I can't correct that, too old now.

[BlueCollar]

47. Not re-enlisting in the Navy

As I look back on it I think the most productive and enjoyable time in my life was the period in which I served in the U.S.Navy.

If I had done so, and made a career out of it I would have had the opportunity to learn and travel more.

I can't correct that, too old now.

[BlueIris]

48. Kick.

[PfcHammer]

49. Getting that potato stuck up in my bottom

and no repeating. Serio.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4454594#4456336

[Skittles]

54. breaking up with the love of my life 30 years ago

I will see him Jan 24, first time since 1978

[Dangerously Amused]

72. Cool. You WILL let us know how it goes, right?

Does he know you can still kick his ass?

[Skittles]

82. LOL

it will be strange, for sure - he's an airline pilot now who will be in town for flight simulation stuff - I broke up with him back then when he went to F-14 training - young and stupid - when he called me in Oct I recognized his voice, remembered his birthday, birthplace, middle name - and I still have his letters

[KansDem]

81. This is painful...

I met a girl when I was in junior high. We embarked on a friendship that lasted six years. I called her just about every day. Then I moved away and we lost contact. Last year, after 35 years, I made contact with her and we've been emailing each other off and on all this year.

I wish I had remained in contact with her during those years. Just a card or letter now and then, or a phone call on her birthday. She was very important to me then and I really cherished her friendship.

Best wishes with your rendezvous! :hi:

[Skittles]

83. thanks

I try not to dwell on what could have been and concentrate on stuff that could be :hi:

[Deep13]

55. a legal education

Although if I had not come to Ohio to get one, I would not have met Sweetie. So that made it worth it. But, otherwise, year, I should have become an electrician.

[Zavulon]

57. Starting smoking. (NT)

[Book Lover]

60. Not until we invent a time machine

What has been done can never be undone. And so I can only move forward.

[XemaSab]

62. Not putting the make on whatsisname when we were drunk in that hotel together

And no, there's no undoing it.

And to elaborate: I finally put the moves on him a year later, and he was already into this other chick. He rejected me and got together with her, and she cheated on him. He was so depressed and upset, he became a crack addict and made at least one serious suicide attempt.

What a waste. :(

And as for me, I haven't met anyone else I liked half as much in the last 5 years. Nobody else comes remotely close. :(

[HEyHEY]

64. Never studying in high school

[davsand]

65. I lied.

Nobody died, nobody went to prison, I only hurt myself and someone I cared about.

I will carry that lie to my grave.



Laura

[PaddyBlueEyes]

66. Not waiting to settle down

until I found my soulmate, the love of my life...Not only will I correct it, I have to.

[Kutjara]

67. Being born.

Fortunately, if I stick around long enough, time will correct that little mistake without any effort on my part.

[mcctatas]

68. Marrying the wrong person...

but that mistake gave me my three children so I am eternally grateful that I made it. Now I have found the right person, the one and I will try my damnedest to make it work

[PRETZEL]

69. Mine is definately my second marriage,

I was given fair warning about the type of person she was but chose to ignore it.

[Lyric]

70. The last words I ever said to my Dad. I can't correct it, but

I make sure every day that ThinkBlue and OktoberKid know how much I love them, and how much they mean to me, so at least it never happens again.

[AirmensMom]

71. Building a house.

NEVER again! This has been the biggest nightmare of our lives and it continues ... don't know if we can ever correct all the problems. The repairs and legal fees are bleeding us dry. :cry:

Yes, we did our homework, checked out the builder's license and reputation, looked at other houses, etc. Still got shafted.

[sakabatou]

73. Going tpo a four-year college before I was really ready

[Danger Mouse]

74. Probably getting involved with this girl Christine. It was a terrible mistake.

I even knew it, deep down inside, but I was stupid and in love.
The repercussions of the resulting train wreck lasted for years afterward. We only just recently finally put to rest the ghosts between us, and it was a painful process.

[gmoney]

75. there have been SO many...

dumb things done, smart things not done, bad choices, fears indulged...

guess that's why I'm hanging around with you guys! ;)

[unpossibles]

76. I try to look at life events in other ways than seeing the bad as mistakes

Some of the worst things to happen to me - both those which came about through my own decisions and those which just happened - have also lead to good things, and vice versa. I would not be who I am today were it not for my mistakes. For instance, one mistake I used to kick myself over was losing touch with someone I was very much in love with, and for being too afraid and not making the right decisions, etc., but if I had done something different I would not know my wonderful wife, or many of the friends I have now, and who knows what else.

The shitty times not only help you appreciate the good times, but can directly put you on the path to something better/different.



This moment of Zen brought to you by coffee.

[TK421]

77. Touching credit cards n/t

[KansDem]

78. Earning a Ph.D. in a field that had no job openings (for me, at least)...

My job now I could do my first day out of high school. I sit on my couch during dusk and ponder what I could have done differently.

I drink a lot of scotch...

[Alexander]

79. Moving to Arizona.

A corporate, cultureless, racist hellhole where people would rather treat each other like shit than know stuff or think about things. There is absolutely nothing to do here and very little social mobility, hence the enormous drug and crime problems.

Thankfully I'm leaving this pit next year, one way or the other.

[leftyclimber]

84. Moving back to the US from Canada in 2003.

I was there long enough to go native. I've tried and tried to reassimilate to US culture, but it just isn't happening.

One of the reasons I decided to get my Ph.D. was to make it easier to expatriate again.

[BlueIris]

86. Ouch. Good luck getting back to your true home. nt

[hobbit709]

85. Not going back to Austria when I had the chance.

[Orsino]

87. My former marriage.

Long since corrected. :thumbsup: