If you could turn back the clock....

[Deleted]

Sept 9, 2014 11:13:55 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Since there is a good chance that I would have the exact same kids I have now, I can all too easily say that I would absolutely change things.  Finish a degree or two, focus on myself and my goals, and spend more time with my grandparents/helping my parents in my early 20's.  

I think the odds of having the exact same kids is almost non-existant.  You could maybe argue that no matter what you'd be with the same spouse, but to conceive at exactly the same time with the same egg/sperm combo...eh.  Pretty sure you'd have different kids.  It wouldn't take much of a change in your past to send you on a completely different path. 

[Ryan]

Sept 9, 2014 8:47:26 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

If you could turn back the clock to relive any period of your life, would you, and if so, what period of your life would it be?

Does this work like back to the future where messing with the past will screw up the future?  Cause if so, I'll leave it be.

If it doesn't mess with the future, I'd want to go back to college years.  

[raeoflyte]

Sept 9, 2014 11:19:14 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Sept 9, 2014 11:13:55 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Since there is a good chance that I would have the exact same kids I have now, I can all too easily say that I would absolutely change things.  Finish a degree or two, focus on myself and my goals, and spend more time with my grandparents/helping my parents in my early 20's.  

I think the odds of having the exact same kids is almost non-existant.  You could maybe argue that no matter what you'd be with the same spouse, but to conceive at exactly the same time with the same egg/sperm combo...eh.  Pretty sure you'd have different kids.  It wouldn't take much of a change in your past to send you on a completely different path. 

We used a sperm donor, and I had very limited options on who I could pick because I've never had some virus that they screen for that dropped the numbers of donors to pick from hundreds to single digits.  It's always possible that I wouldn't have felt ready for kids if my life hadn't progressed the way it had, but I was the one deciding I wanted kids, making appointments/decisions, etc. I was glad that dh was on board with having kids, but he was very much a passenger at that point.  

Of course, maybe if I had done everything I feel like I missed out on, I would have gotten that virus and would have ended up with different kids too.  

[achelois]

Yes, if I could retain present knowledge, I would go back to age 6 and start over. I would not go to 5 because I was sick and spent a year in bed, but definitely would go at age 6. 

There is a book called Replay, dealing with this. Fiction. Came out in 1998 by Ken Grimwood .

[cktc]

At first I thought I wouldn’t want to go back and change things, but maybe go back to observe and savor things a bit more, like study abroad trips. But over time I’ve grown to appreciate the way I filter and store memories, it takes time to process and compartmentalize things in ways that make sense and allow you to move forward. It might be torture reliving the long stretches of being tired, confused and lonely, when the wonder and awe were frequent but much more fleeting. It’s probably better to just have the brief wonderful memories and stuff all the bad ones into a small box.

[Phoenix84]

Sept 9, 2014 11:27:28 GMT -5 achelois said:

Yes, if I could retain present knowledge, I would go back to age 6 and start over. I would not go to 5 because I was sick and spent a year in bed, but definitely would go at age 6. 

There is a book called Replay, dealing with this. Fiction. Came out in 1998 by Ken Grimwood .

I'll admit, it might be kind of fun to go back to when you were a kid and creep out all of the adults with how mature you are and your knowledge of future events.

Though I imagine it would be quite difficult to relate to the same people in the same way you did, even if it was a good relationship.

[billisonboard]

No desire to relive periods of my life. There are moments of my life that I would love to experience anew.  An example is doing the parachute jump when I pulled my own chute. To feel that rush again .    There are also a few that the PG13 guideline prohibits detail. 

[swasat]

Sept 9, 2014 12:21:03 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

I'm too tired to go back and try to re-do anything...

Except drink more whisky and margarita and cocktails

[achelois]

Sept 9, 2014 11:52:59 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Sept 9, 2014 11:27:28 GMT -5 achelois said:

Yes, if I could retain present knowledge, I would go back to age 6 and start over. I would not go to 5 because I was sick and spent a year in bed, but definitely would go at age 6. 

There is a book called Replay, dealing with this. Fiction. Came out in 1998 by Ken Grimwood .

I'll admit, it might be kind of fun to go back to when you were a kid and creep out all of the adults with how mature you are and your knowledge of future events.

Though I imagine it would be quite difficult to relate to the same people in the same way you did, even if it was a good relationship.

It would, but fun, I think. 

I would  grow my hair down to my butt and never cut it except to trim the ends. I would not tan at all. 

I would keep my Cuban boyfriend, Jorge, that I had in eighth grade and become really proficient in Spanish and have his abuelita teach me to cook Cuban food. I would keep rollerskating and riding my bike. 

I would know that I actually could learn many of the things that I "knew" then that I could not and would know how to go to college on my own earlier. I would go to med school, not nursing, and would not get married. 

I would start saving/investing for retirement earlier.  

I would try to learn to play piano and how to dance, although those would have to wait until 18 or so.  I doubt I would be able to sing any better, though. 

I would write sci-fi books using all the tech we have today and people would think I was clairvoyant or something. 

[Phoenix84]

Sept 9, 2014 12:38:19 GMT -5 achelois said:

Sept 9, 2014 11:52:59 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

It would, but fun, I think. 

I would  grow my hair down to my butt and never cut it except to trim the ends. I would not tan at all. 

I would keep my Cuban boyfriend, Jorge, that I had in eighth grade and become really proficient in Spanish and have his abuelita teach me to cook Cuban food. I would keep rollerskating and riding my bike. 

I would know that I actually could learn many of the things that I "knew" then that I could not and would know how to go to college on my own earlier. I would go to med school, not nursing, and would not get married. 

I would start saving/investing for retirement earlier.  

I would try to learn to play piano and how to dance, although those would have to wait until 18 or so.  I doubt I would be able to sing any better, though. 

Why do you need to wait to grow you hair out so long?  I'm not sure why you'd what to do that but *shrugs* to each their own.  And not get married?  Ever?

[achelois]

Nope, never. If I wanted a relationship, I would just be an unrepentant sinner and loose woman.   Living in sin and liking it. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

My maternal grandmother and my MIL have both said if they could be my age today they would not have gotten married. It's not they don't/didn't love their husbands and kids. It's that back in their day getting married/have babies is what was expected of you as a woman so that's what they did.   You weren't expected to have any other ambition besides being a SAHW/M.

If they had the options I have available to me they said no way they'd allow themselves to be chained down to a husband and kids. At the very least they would not have gotten married at 19.

[Peace Of Mind]

Can I be who I am now when I go back but younger?  If so, I'd relive the 80's again in a heartbeat! 

Oh hell, - I'd redo it all but hopefully be smart enough to leave out the bad parts. 


I'm ready!  <<closes eyes and gets ready for space age time travel>>   It better not hurt! 

[mollyanna58]

I'd go back and go away to college at 18, instead of taking a gap year and then never going away to school.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

No I wouldn't turn back the clock - what I am and what I've /experienced up to this point, would no longer exist - including people who've come into my life.

If the clock could be be turned back to start over at age 20 (or whatever) that life may travel in a completely different direction - and possibly come with a lot of hardship or illness, or early death along the way. Best to be satisfied with the life you have, than wonder about the "what-ifs".

[Sam_2.0]

I find that ignorance is a blessing. No way I would have gone back, knowing what I do now, to relieve some of those years. It got me to where I am now, but there were some dark days along the way.

I think my problem more than anything is that I keep looking forward to the next big thing and tend to miss some fun stuff that's happening along the way. Really trying to slow down and enjoy the moments more.

[wyouser]

I wouldn't want to redo any experiences. However there are a few features of youth I would like to have back now. It would be really cool to have 20/20 vision back because bifocals and trifocals just suck! It would be nice to hike and backpack again....you understand, to sleep on the ground and be able to stand up and walk the next day. It would be nice to be able to eat anything again without something disagreeing with me.  It would be great to be able to sleep all night again!  If I could get back into my twenties, maybe I'd stand half a chance of being able to keep up with two grandchildren.  That's the only drawback about that CLOCK we are all born with...there are things about getting older that are a real pain in the a$$! 

[Tired Tess]

I'm pretty sure this isn't the response you're looking for, but I just want to go back to my family again.

I miss my Dad and my Brother.  

[billisonboard]

Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then

[Chocolate Lover]

Sept 9, 2014 9:12:40 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Sept 9, 2014 8:51:52 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Would I be 37 year old me reliving life as a 5 year old or would I be 5 year old me reliving life as a 5 year old?

Whatever you want I guess. I was sort of envisioning you retaining your current mental age. Going back and reliving parts of your life knowing what you know now.

That sounds like a special kind of hell. Especially if you chose to be a kid again. You are in no way in charge of yourself. Lots of people have opinions about you and your behavior, your appearance, everything. I'd have no control of my day to day life and that would suck. No thanks.

I happen to like where I am best. I'm with whoever it was that said, relive MOMENTS maybe, but to start over? Nah....

[weltschmerz]

If I could relive a wonderful time, it would be living in the Bahamas on a sailboat with a beautiful man, listening to jazz, making love and sailing through the Bermuda Triangle.

I don't think I've ever been happier.

[sesfw]

I had a mid life crisis that I would change in a heart beat.

[Artemis Windsong]

I would have turned and ran like h*ll away from the man who was my first husband.

[shanendoah]

I don't want to go back and change anything, but I wouldn't mind visiting my first couple of years of college again. I had lots of fun.

[qofcc]

I'd like a do-over going back to the summer I was 18. I lost it for a while after my boyfriend died & made bad decisions that affected the rest of my life.

[skubikky]

Sept 9, 2014 8:51:52 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Would I be 37 year old me reliving life as a 5 year old or would I be 5 year old me reliving life as a 5 year old?

Oh Sweet Jesus....the thought of a 5 year saying the things you do Archie is just too much..
Reminds me of that new Geico commercial with the little boy and his Dad giving him the keys to the car...

[skubikky]

The only reason I would ever want to go back would be to undo some of the things that I've done and said that have hurt people...

[Miss Tequila]

I don't know that I would change anything. I would be afraid of the butterfly effect. My life is far from perfect but I love my kids, love my lifestyle that my career choice gives me, etc.

If I could change one thing without changing who I am now or what I have (family, money, etc) I would have not chosen to to into accounting/finance. Way too much stress, long hours, etx. But I chose it for the money I could make so I guess I would rather work the hours than have to worry about every dime i spend

[cronewitch]

Sept 9, 2014 19:35:26 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

I would have turned and ran like h*ll away from the man who was my first husband.

Me too. I was 18 when I met him so would like to be just before that. I was working in a factory and just getting started in life. He was too old for me and controlled me too much. Life was much better post divorce.

I would have saved my money and taken a class or two in accounting as I could afford them and tried to land an office job.

I have different ideas on housing now than then, I didn't believe owning a home was a good thing, rent was cheaper. I would like to have know about inflation and compound interest.

[Firebird]

Provided nothing at all would change, I'd gladly return to 20 or so and live those years again.  This time I'd enjoy the freedom of being single and not tied down.  I didn't appreciate it enough the first time, and knowing that my current happy family life was on the horizon, I could relax and just enjoy myself.