What has been your biggest mistake?

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The discussion revolves around personal reflections on life choices and regrets, with participants sharing their experiences and contemplating how different decisions might have altered their paths. Many express regret over academic choices, such as not applying themselves in school or dropping significant projects, which they believe hindered their career prospects. Others reflect on missed opportunities in relationships and career paths, weighing the potential benefits of different decisions against their current satisfaction with life. A recurring theme is the acknowledgment of past mistakes, such as neglecting health or not pursuing desired fields of study, while also recognizing that these experiences have shaped their identities. Some participants emphasize the importance of taking risks and seizing opportunities, suggesting that regrets often stem from inaction rather than action. Overall, the conversation highlights a blend of regret, acceptance, and the complexity of personal growth through life's choices.
  • #31
Danger said:
About the only thing that I would change would be smoking. I really enjoyed it for most of the 34 years that I've been doing it, but my outlook has shifted a bit now that it's killing me. :rolleyes:

Is it officially killing you? I hope not - that's heavy, man.

If it's not yet - there are some new treatments.. including a vaccine (!) that helps a person kick the habit.
 
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  • #32
mathwonk said:
as my friends coffee cup says: "most of my money i spent on whiskey and women - the rest i just wasted."

...brought this to mind. One of my favorite quotes.

When the Baath party was finally ejected from his town, and when asked what he wanted now that Hussein’s people were gone, one old Iraqi gent responded: “Democracy, whiskey, and sexy”.

Now that's why we fight wars! :biggrin:
 
  • #33
"What has been your biggest mistake?"

Marrying my last husband.

No, it was divorcing my first husband.

No, it was not marrying that boring but nice biochemist.

No, it was taking in that pregnant stray cat.

I can't decide, there are too many. :frown:
 
  • #34
Well, my biggest regrets are mostly dealing with women, the should've could've would've, but looking back at my life there are about 2 moments i would change, so far i believe I've taken a route which has made me more happy than sad in life, as long as the net shift in happiness is positive, i don't mind living with the choices I've made.
 
  • #35
Gale17 said:
i regret a lot of the things that happened to me when i was really young, but I'm not sure i could've changed things... so I'm not really sure they were mistakes.. at least on my part. when i was old enough to take a stand though... my biggest mistake was letting my self... be... er... molested i guess? and not doing anything about it... ever. i never got my self esteem back.

I have some advice for you, but I'll pm you instead...


Biggest regret is not applying myself after everyone told me how much I was wasting my potential. And realizing that if I had, I could have had a good shot at doing neurosurgery right now instead of what I'm doing.
 
  • #36
Zantra said:
I have some advice for you, but I'll pm you instead...


Biggest regret is not applying myself after everyone told me how much I was wasting my potential. And realizing that if I had, I could have had a good shot at doing neurosurgery right now instead of what I'm doing.
Zantra, my bosses husband is older than you and he decided to go back and become a neurosurgeon after a long career in telecom. I know it sounds weird. I thought it might be hard to get back into med school after so long, but apparently if you're good enough (and maybe know the right people), it doesn't matter.
 
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  • #37
Thanks for the encouragement evo. Actually I'm pursuing it as we speak. Allbeit slowly because I haven't given up my current career in IT yet, but I'm chugging along. The crazy things old people do...
 
  • #38
Zantra said:
Thanks for the encouragement evo. Actually I'm pursuing it as we speak. Allbeit slowly because I haven't given up my current career in IT yet, but I'm chugging along. The crazy things old people do...
Alrighty then! Good for you! :approve: Will you be giving discounts on brain surgery for your old PF buddies? :-p
 
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  • #39
My biggest mistake was going directly from college to grad school. I should have gone into the workforce and then let my employer pay for everything.
 
  • #40
Evo said:
Alrighty then! Good for you! :approve: Will you be giving discounts on brain surgery for your old PF buddies? :-p

Hey for you guys, I'll just take "half off" It's a no brainer. :biggrin:

yuk yuk.
 
  • #41
Not taking risks.
 
  • #42
I regret taking summer school.
I regret talking to people outside my family.
 
  • #43
I often wonder if the choices I made over my life have prevented me from getting where I dreamed I would be by now. Sadly, given my options and circumstances, I think nothing within my power would have made a difference

Noel said:
So Sally can wait, she knows it's too late as she's walking on by
My soul slides away, but don't look back in anger, don't look back in anger
I heard you say

I don't regret anything!
 
  • #44
I don't have any big regrets. The only one I can think of was today when I by accident met someone I've been wanting to meet for like a year and only talked to them for 2 minutes!:cry: Now I need a really good excuse to go back to his lab!
uh, I forgot my, um, pencil box holder cutting thingy?
 
  • #45
My biggest mistake was partying too much. But I look back at that and can only say, "wow, that was fun!". It was a waste though...if you consider that I didn't amount to anything like being a physicist, for example. I did happen to become a great mom...a stay at home mom...and drive a Chevy Suburban! lol. So, I guess my life isn't too bad. Just wish I had more to show for my years.
 
  • #46
pattylou said:
Is it officially killing you? I hope not - that's heavy, man.
If it's not yet - there are some new treatments.. including a vaccine (!) that helps a person kick the habit.
Advanced emphysema. It's slow but steady. I was having pretty good success with the new Nicorette inhaler system (aerosol nicotine), but have lapsed lately. I still have a bunch of it, though, so I'll get back on it. I'm scared to even look at the 'Can I Quit...' thread.
 
  • #47
Danger said:
Advanced emphysema. It's slow but steady. I was having pretty good success with the new Nicorette inhaler system (aerosol nicotine), but have lapsed lately. I still have a bunch of it, though, so I'll get back on it. I'm scared to even look at the 'Can I Quit...' thread.
Danger, you'd better quit! I care too much about you for you to get sick and die on us.

Have you seen the pictures that show how quickly the lungs improve once you stop smoking?
 
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  • #48
Yeah, Danger, you need to be in top form when we throw you in the volcano, or the gods will get angry.

I think I just quit today. :smile: It feels wonderful.
 
  • #49
Given some of the nastier, careless, heartless, and just plain pointless things I've done, I probably should regret some of them, but I really don't. If one of my parents dies any time soon, I'll probably regret not being nicer to them (or at least I should regret, but knowing me, I'll just shrug it off), but as of right now, I really can't think of anything.

Seriously though, if I ever do become a more emotional person who actually regrets the bad things he does, it'll probably be mistreating people that I at least thought I loved, and that definitely loved me.
 
  • #50
honestrosewater said:
you need to be in top form when we throw you in the volcano
What?! :eek:
 
  • #51
Danger said:
What?! :eek:
Funny Guru gets thrown into the volcano... c'mon, keep up. :wink: I'm still smoke-free, by the way. :biggrin:
 
  • #52
My biggest mistake in life was not going to Johns Hopkins Hospital School of Nursing where I would probably be earning big bucks right now as an alumni with some alphabet soup after my name. I am a nurse but my career path to success should have been much shorter. I think students today should go for the highest level of ahcievment possible, not sink into the easiest mode of life's roads of least resistance.
 

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