Tell me about your nagging what-might-have-beens!

Jericha1992

A little depressing, but kind of cathartic.

I'm writing a story, and I'm looking for inspiration. I want to hear about those snowball effect decisions--the ones that leave you unsure if you made the right choice, but there's no telling what might have been. I want to know what those decisions were, what led you to that point, and what you think about it looking back.

It could be a decision you know was life-changing (like getting a divorce, choosing a college, having kids, etc) or one that you thought was small, but turned out to be huge (like sleeping in an extra ten minutes, then hitting a pedestrian on your way to work--in a place you wouldn't have been if you had left on time).

Chances are I'm not going to pick any one person's story and run with it, but I'd like to get a general sense of what they are. Besides... it'll make you feel better to talk it out!

Xxoxo

I'm a high school drop out… I might have been in college by now if I hadn't, but I did it for reasons that I can't explain on here.

LunaZuriel

About a year ago, I was doing extremely well with dieting, I lost 60 pounds. Then decided, for some reason that I would jump off that train. I gained back 20. Now I'm very pissed at myself for quitting when I could be at my goal weight right now. I would not be in this situation, or on this site to begin with. I could have BEEN at my 145-140 mark already.

Hope that helped. =-D

lmmathis86

Many years ago I made a decision to tell the man I loved that he could not be just my room mate! I felt bad after and gave in...we are now married!

AllOutof_Bubblegum

I only wish I'd had the self discipline and drive to jump straight into college after high school, and not have had to wait ten years to wise up and finally know what I wanted to do with my life.

But even that's not "nagging" at me. It is what it is, and I don't beat myself up over things I can't change. My life isn't all that much different than it might have been if I'd finished college like normal kids. I just go to school three times a week, now. Shrug.

TamTastic

I've always wished I could tell my younger self (teens and 20's) how to do this...and be successful..and not have to wait until my 30s to understand what healthy and active is like..how amazing it feels when you do it on your own terms. '

But I guess I had to learn the lesson of the wrong way in order to understand and appreciate the right way.

Jericha1992

I'm a high school drop out… I might have been in college by now if I hadn't, but I did it for reasons that I can't explain on here.

I appreciate hearing your experience! Thank you for being willing to share.

Forty6and2

When I was in high school. I was invited to attend a pretty nice residential high school for well-achieving students. I decided to pass on it because I didn't want to go through the trouble of making new friends (stupid high school brain) and now I wonder what would have happened if I did attend? I would have easily been able to go to almost any college (still had so many options, I had a 3.9 gpa on a 4.0 scale) but I may have gotten more scholarships to go to a more expensive school.

Forty6and2

Not really nagging at this moment, but I'm going to graduate soon and I can't decide if I want to go to law school, do the international politics Masters at the school I'm at, or do a fellowship before continuing my education. Regardless of what I choose, I know I'll just wonder what the other two might have been like.

Xxoxo

I'm a high school drop out… I might have been in college by now if I hadn't, but I did it for reasons that I can't explain on here.

I appreciate hearing your experience! Thank you for being willing to share.

On the bright side, now I have the experience and can help my future children to make better choices in life

BogQueen1

When I graduated from high school I had earned a full ride scholarship for a four year college. Due to her religious beliefs, my mother insisted that I only attend a two year program instead.

If I could do it over, I would tell my younger self to stand up for myself and go to the four year program in a useful major so that I wouldn't be strapped with a boatload of student loan debt like I am now from wasting 2 years of a full ride scholarship.

SaintGiff

All of them. I have pissed away more opportunities than most people have the courage to dream about.

HerkMeOff

8 years ago when I began my downward spiral of drinking/smoking/gaining over 200lbs.

My then fiance left me, because I just didn't give a *kitten* about myself, and she couldn't see me getting any better.

It wasn't until about 2 years when I started caring again, and its been a battle ever since.


She's married with two kids now, and I always wonder what might have been, had I not turned into a f*cking drunk.

Sinisterly

Shoulda dropped my first ex like a pancake in oil when I had the chance.

KimbersNewLife

I was just having this exact thought when I saw this post only for me it was like 3 years ago... I am working on a more positive attitude and less looking back and more looking forward.

About a year ago, I was doing extremely well with dieting, I lost 60 pounds. Then decided, for some reason that I would jump off that train. I gained back 20. Now I'm very pissed at myself for quitting when I could be at my goal weight right now. I would not be in this situation, or on this site to begin with. I could have BEEN at my 145-140 mark already.

Hope that helped. =-D

eelamme

Not sure if it will help and the "might have" is not mine but my mom's first husband's. He had a full ride football scholarship at a university that is all about football. There is nothing else in this state to get excited about. Well. He and my mom were pregnant with twins in highschool. Scholarship lost. Chance to play for an amazing team lost. Granted, he went on to be successful despite it all. Divorced my mom, remarried, found his true partner....has traveled more than most could ever dream...worked his way up the ladder of the corp he works for....yadda yadda yadda. Sometimes I wonder what would've happened if he and my mom wouldn't have "hooked up".