Reply to: Regrets/mistakes/bad decisions in life?

[quackhandle]

Back in my East Berlin days this Russian guy down the pub wondered if he was cut out to go into politics.

"Vladdy, " I said, "You'll be awesome at that. Go for it."

No, straight up. He came to the Bierkeller every Wednesday for the quiz. A wizz on Judo questions. And killing.


qh

[Whorty]

No regrets.

As Rachel said to me before passing ... don't live life with regrets. You only regret what you don't try. She loved her life and regretted nothing (not even marrying me ... I know, that surprised me too!)

Take opportunities as they turn up, try them, if it doesn't work, move on and try something different. Just don't get to your last day and regret not trying something as that's the worst regret in life.

Although, saying that, I'm probably going to give pegging a miss

[NotAllThere]

Yeah you've either got to bleat about how bad your life is or present the "my life is awesome, suckers" version instead. No half measures.

My life is awesome, suckers.

… Cuz I got a brand new combine harvesteranti-aircraft missile battery
An' I'll give you the key
Come on now let's get together
In perfect harmony

The Ukrainian farmers version.

I bought some points timeshare things once. Bad idea. In the end told them to get stuffed and ignored their (empty) threats.

[d000hg]

His divorce settlement mandated he give his ex wife any and all future Nobel prize money which he honoured.

How bizarre, if true. What a strange stipulation... maybe he thought there was no chance he'd ever win it

[Fraidycat]

Einstein worked hard to gain the Nobel Prize so that he could pay to divorce his wife Mileva. Had he been happy with Mileva, there may not have been the E=Mc2 equation.

He must of fell out of love pretty quick

Married Mileva in 1903
Special Relatively (E=MC2) published 1905
Divorced 1919
Nobel Prize 1922

His divorce settlement mandated he give his ex wife any and all future Nobel prize money which he honoured.

[d000hg]

Einstein worked hard to gain the Nobel Prize so that he could pay to divorce his wife Mileva. Had he been happy with Mileva, there may not have been the E=Mc2 equation.

Not sure this is very accurate. He won the prize nearly two decades after the work which motivated it, and only after a lot of internal politics. The prize was not due to his work on relativity and he certainly didn't work to 'earn' a Nobel.

[Paddy]

I don't really have any regrets. Disappointments, maybe, but if I had done some things differently or made different decisions would I be the person I am today?

Einstein worked hard to gain the Nobel Prize so that he could pay to divorce his wife Mileva. Had he been happy with Mileva, there may not have been the E=Mc2 equation.

[Lockhouse]

I don't regret anything; but, with hindsight:

I should have left school at 16 instead of faffing on for another couple of years and then wasting my time at college.
I should have been less trusting of financial "experts" in the 80's and 90's.
I shouldn't have married my first two wives.

[ladymuck]

I don't really have any regrets. Disappointments, maybe, but if I had done some things differently or made different decisions would I be the person I am today?

[d000hg]

Reflections on past decisions in hindsight are not really the same as regrets, in my view. I have some of the former but few of the latter.

In which case you have had the same normal life and reflection about regrets that most of us have. My biggest regret is that I have been an empathist when in fact I should have put myself first. However, I learn from the past but don't live in the past.

So you regret not being more of a selfish git?

[TheDude]

I wish I had absorbed more of the Essex wideboy wheeler dealer business acumen which is part of my birthright.

[TheDude]

Some time ago one of my wife's friends bought a Rolf Harris painting for several thousand pounds.

[Paddy]

I think if you make it to middle age and you dont have any regrets you've done something wrong. I look back on certain things and still cringe with regret. But at the same time mistakes happen and sometimes these things either make you or break you.

That being said if I had a time machine I'd use it for a few decisions.

In which case you have had the same normal life and reflection about regrets that most of us have. My biggest regret is that I have been an empathist when in fact I should have put myself first. However, I learn from the past but don't live in the past.

[pjt]

I think if you make it to middle age and you dont have any regrets you've done something wrong. I look back on certain things and still cringe with regret. But at the same time mistakes happen and sometimes these things either make you or break you.

That being said if I had a time machine I'd use it for a few decisions.

[TwoWolves]

I wish I'd had more kids and started a family sooner. Being a father is hard work but the most rewarding thing I've ever done, plus they are turning out to be good kids.