If you could go back in time to any point in your life

[skygazer]

knowing what you know now, what point would you go back to? Or would you want to?

I started thinking about this the other day after watching one of those time travel type movies in which the person wakes up in their past with the same mind and knowledge they'd had. At first I thought I'd go back to my teenage years but then I realized that my life was already completely fucked up by then. And if I went back earlier, I'd have to deal with my mom's death all over again. So I don't know if I'd even want to.

The main thing I'd like is to wake up in the morning and NOT be in pain. That would be pretty cool.

[Canadian Socialist]

1. Excellent question!

Knowing what I know now, I think I would go back to grade 10, when I was 14 (about 1970). I would work harder in school, not go on to university... instead go to a technical college and get a trade. As well, I would have gone for treatment for my depression. I was diagnosed with major depression about 5 years ago, and thru much work, have come to realise I probably always was depressed. I think dealing with it at that young age would have made me a much happier and more ambitious. As it is, I'm 50, with no career, no money, no life.

[skygazer]

3. I can relate

I too am a lifelong depressive who was not diagnosed until I was in my mid 30's. Your thoughts run much as mine - I lost focus in school after my mom's death and dropped out halfway through my senior year. I've always regretted it.

[SouthernDem2004]

17. Well, your only 50. Go back to college (University) and start over.

Can not help you with that socialist thing. :)

[Wapsie B]

2. Yeah I've thought about that a lot.

Going back in time to redo the things I wanted differently, doing things over socially and career wise. It's a nice fantasy. But until time travel is perfected I've got to just move on with what I've got.

[ZombieNixon]

4. I wouldn't.

The past few weeks of my life have been tough, but some good has come of it. I've decided that I will not look back. There's nothing you can do about it, so why live in the past. The future is what matters.

[FuzzySlippers]

8. Oh good grief! You're only 18 aren't you?

You're far too young to have any regrets. Get outta this thread!:P

[ZombieNixon]

9. I don't really have any regrets, so there's nothing I'd really want to

try and change or anything. At least events-wise. There's a few fundamental things about myself I'd like to change, but nothing that time-travel could fix!

[skygazer]

19. I don't live in the past

Never have. Nor do I bother much with regrets which I feel are mostly a waste of time and energy.

No, this is simply a fun thread, an "imagine if you will" thread. Believe me, I know darn well I can't actually do it and as I said in the OP, I doubt if I would if I could anyway.

[ZombieNixon]

40. I can't really think of a time of my life I miss that much.

Everything's kinda been "meh..." up to this point.

[FuzzySlippers]

5. I think I'd go back to college. Major in music this time.

I thought at the time that the competitive aspects of studying music would make me hate it. I've always been extremely neurotic. But I really love it above all else, and I wish I had pursued it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. I wish I had never broke up with MrG in the first place. I know we're

together now, but the three year "breakup" was a crap time in my life. But, on the other hand, I would not have my beautiful daughter. I guess everything that happens in life happens for a reason.


A side tip: I tell myself every morning that if I get up and get moving the pain will go away, skygazer. I mentally shed warm, pink ( I got this from Gilda Radner's book) on the parts that hurt. It works.

Hope you feel pain free soon. :hi:

[skygazer]

20. Thanks, MrsG

I shouldn't complain - it's not like my pain slows me down really or keeps me from doing stuff. I have arthritis in my back and my knees and my hands but not so bad that it's debilitating.

Thanks for the tip - I'll have to read that book. I loved Gilda and was so sorry when she died.

[bikebloke]

7. Back to my world wandering years

There are plenty of crossroads in life. But one of them was when I was hanging around Switzerland for a chick I had met in Israel (young dumb love - embarrassing to even think about now). I should have split, hitching to Berlin (pre-unification era) where I had some acquaintances. Who knows, events might have sent my life in another direction.

[MrScorpio]

10. I'd go back and choose the Red Pill

This Blue Pill madness is killing me

[Fox Mulder]

11. I'd go back to before college and pick a different one.

For those of you who are going to pick colleges, don't go to the University of Minnesota, Morris. You won't have a good social life plus you're stuck in the middle of nowhere. Go to a college in a bigger city instead.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

12. Nothing farther back than August 2000

Or else my little girl wouldn't have been born.

[skygazer]

21. That's another big issue with me

I have three great kids and three grandkids and I wouldn't want to do anything to risk not having any of them!

[paul_fromatlanta]

13. For me it would be some sexual opportunity I didnt take.

For me it would be some sexual opportunity I didnt take.

I'm basically happy with my life but there were several nights that could have been better.

[anarch]

14. Halloween, 1998

and I'd try not to act like a complete idiot. But I don't think I'd really choose to do this. I'd probablly just screw things up even worse than they are now....

[SouthernDem2004]

15. Wouldn't. Every thing good or bad brought me were I am today and

made me the person I am. Even the horrible events. Heck, life sucks right now that Katrina destroyed everything we own but I know it will eventually get better. You just have to deal with life as it happens and do the best you can.

[skygazer]

22. I agree

And as I said in the OP, I doubt if I really would even if I could for precisely that reason. It's just a fun thing to toss around, especially since the opportunity to do so is not real likely to come along.

[progmom]

16. I try not to have any regrets.

Even things I could see as mistakes have resulted in some beautiful things in my life. So...it's all good.

[Devra]

18. I don't have any regrets but it would be cool to go back in time any way

getting work done would be much easyer, for all intents an purposes there would be no deadlines and there would be two people (me and my former self) to do the work

[tigereye]

23. hmmm

if I had known what I know now, I would have gone to either:

a. Med school
b. Berklee School of Music

probably a little late for med school, but maybe...;)

[tazkcmo]

24. I'd be 8 again

Awwww...8 years old. No worries, no cares. *sigh*

[Chan790]

25. hmm...

I'd have played things differently with my ex-girlfriend. She dumped me and even though I didn't know it at the time due to naiveity, it was my own damned fault.

[LaraMN]

26. I'd go back in time and hold my oldest, when he was a baby again.

Knowing now how fast his baby days flew by.:(

[swimboy]

27. Pick a time closest to the event you want to change or remedy.

I've always thought I could just sail forward because I would know what was coming next. But the innumerable small changes will add up and before long your alternate life will have veered so far from the one you knew that you will have your wisdom to aid you, but not necessarily any knowledge. I would love to know how changing one particular act or decision would redirect that life. But only if I can take do-overs.

[wildhorses]

28. I would go back to when I was

sixteen and I would tell my parents NO...I am NOT moving with you.

[liberalitch]

29. Right after my divorce.....

There could have been a lot of woe avoided..... like cocaine addiction.
But... the bad part is.... I may not have met the commie

[bicentennial_baby]

30. there isn't one...

all of my life experiences, good and bad, have made me who i am today. also, i'm happier than i've ever been before. if not for my lessons learned, i may have never arrived at this place, and never have found such blissful joy. :)

[Ilsa]

31. I'd skip nursing school and head straight into

a grad program to become a speech pathologist.

[catmandu57]

32. I've thought about it

and I've came to the conclusion that no I wouldn't, I'd stay who I am. It took all of yesterday to make today, and much of it just plain stank, but, I wouldn't be who I am today without it.
If that makes any sense.

[Left Is Write]

33. Knowing what I know now? I wouldn't.

[merh]

34. How about before Katrina

I would have saved my papers and photos and would have had every type of insurance coverage possible. I would have packed all of my clothes and personal possessions and jewelry in a uhaul and I would have made certain all of my family did the same thing and we all stayed away from the damn storm.

[skygazer]

35. Awww, merh

:hug:

[progmom]

36. ....

:hug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

37. I'd like to fast forward to the end.

Get on with things.

[ThatsMyBarack]

38. *The Bicentennial!*

I was 5, Sesame Street was at its best, and America had (at least) 200 reasons to celebrate!

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[WeRQ4U]

39. I'm happy with how it's gone so far.

Get back to me in about 10-15 years though. I'm not at all "Wise" yet.

[VelmaD]

41. I would go back to the day I started dating...

my evil-ex and JUST NOT DO IT. :)