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20. The only real regret I have is that I didn't discard my biological dad from my life sooner

Wed Dec 31, 2014, 04:53 PM

Dec 2014

But it wasn't until my life had a semi-blowup when I was 16 and 17 that I realized he was never going to change and so had to be cut out of my life. So I don't feel too bad about not realizing he was a cancer for me until then.

And yes, growing up with an abusive dad has shaped my interpersonal relationships after that, but I've grown and changed as I've needed to and as I've matured. But as others say, those previous decisions put me in the place that I am now, which isn't bad all things considered (recent major knee surgery not withstanding). And I wouldn't be the man I am today without making the previous decisions and having other people's poor decisions impact me. Plus going through hard times has made me better appreciate the good times. If I didn't know what an piece of crap my dad is, I wouldn't appreciate my mom or my stepdad as much. If the high school teacher hadn't betrayed my confidence in an attempt to hurt me (and get me kicked out of school), then I wouldn't have appreciated the college professors who believed in me.

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If you had to do it all over again,what would you change? [View all] SummerSnow Dec 2014 OP

Apropos of nothing, but a great line from a song sung by Dave van Ronk HERVEPA Dec 2014 #1

I can think of somethings but TexasProgresive Dec 2014 #2

Just 2 things. LWolf Dec 2014 #3

That's the big caveat -- "If I could be guaranteed the exact same children." villager Dec 2014 #29

That's the thing, isn't it? LWolf Jan 2015 #37

15!? I guess it's not just the former pups getting older! villager Jan 2015 #40

I am exactly where I am supposed to be. JayhawkSD Dec 2014 #4

Awesome... SomethingFishy Dec 2014 #16

I feel the same way Lurker Deluxe Dec 2014 #22

I would have bought Apple stock a decade earlier yeoman6987 Jan 2015 #39

al gore wins PowerToThePeople Dec 2014 #5

+1 and Carter gets reelected lunasun Dec 2014 #8

John Brown holds the east-bound train for 24 hours. Failing that, Lincoln decides KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #42

I would have been a good student at a younger age. roody Dec 2014 #6

Same here. tammywammy Dec 2014 #27

I'm too dumb to know what to change. dawg Dec 2014 #7

Mothers. Bah, what are you gonna do? Few people know that Mark Twain was an KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #46

2014? I would have taken my meds and avoided the aneurism and 3 head surgeries. NYC_SKP Dec 2014 #9

That is scary, NYC_SKP. femmocrat Dec 2014 #11

Aw, thanks femmocrat! NYC_SKP Dec 2014 #25

Freaking wow! malaise Dec 2014 #30

Thanks, darlin'! NYC_SKP Dec 2014 #31

I'm glad you are doing better. Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2015 #48

Studied more and partied less. femmocrat Dec 2014 #10

There's a song in there somewhere... Iggo Jan 2015 #45

LOL femmocrat Jan 2015 #53

In personal terms I would have taken hifiguy Dec 2014 #12

I'd have taken better care of my teeth. Ron Obvious Dec 2014 #13

My underwear Glassunion Dec 2014 #14

I would have never joined the Army Victor_c3 Dec 2014 #15

I'll keep things the same. Oh Wait..um..SummerSnow..I'd help you convince your parants to... BlueJazz Dec 2014 #17

I'd have put pressure on my parents to smoke and drink MORE! 1step Dec 2014 #18

I would pass... abakan Dec 2014 #19

The only real regret I have is that I didn't discard my biological dad from my life sooner mythology Dec 2014 #20

Nothing. Blue_In_AK Dec 2014 #21

. Iggo Jan 2015 #44

I would have put more faith in my opinion of myself, less faith in other's opinions of me. uppityperson Dec 2014 #23

I would have stood up to my mother tabbycat31 Dec 2014 #24

Finished my bachelors degree when I first went to college. tammywammy Dec 2014 #26

I didn't finish until age 40. roody Dec 2014 #32

Most of the time my intentions were good. lpbk2713 Dec 2014 #28

chosen a different major renate Jan 2015 #33

when I was living on the edge of the Silicon Valley from 77-81 I should have gotten into computers Douglas Carpenter Jan 2015 #34

Majored in something else and taken college more seriously. nt raccoon Jan 2015 #35

Never should have returned to the United States after living in Europe for 4 years ChosenUnWisely Jan 2015 #36

In 1967 I had a passing interest in the stock market. Vinca Jan 2015 #38

Study math and physics, rather than literature and history. - nt KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #41

If I'd made better choices, my brother would have never met the mothers of my nieces. Iggo Jan 2015 #43

I would never take that first drink of alcohol and I would take better care Skeeter Barnes Jan 2015 #47

Exercised more. Saved more. TexasMommaWithAHat Jan 2015 #49

Underwear 1step Jan 2015 #50

If I had to do it all over again, I would not have gone to the roller skating rink with Sandy. Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #51

Spent less time regretting what I did in the past. Liberal Veteran Jan 2015 #52

... Jamaal510 Jan 2015 #54

Instead of the lay off - I would have taken JustAnotherGen Jan 2015 #55

I never would have poked it. rug Jan 2015 #56

I never would have married my first wife. nt madinmaryland Jan 2015 #57

I would have married the man I loved.. nruthie Jan 2015 #58