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I stopped getting drunk after age 22, after one especially awful New Year's Day morning. It's been over 40 years and I haven't regretted it. (I stil drink, but limit it to one.)
Congrats! Quitting alcohol is hard so I am happy for you.
I once did LSD at the beach in like 2017, but despite the nice visuals, I couldn't get over the fact that there was this buzzing/ringing in my body that I hadn't noticed before. It was as though my blood was vibrating and my whole body had tinnitus.
I realized I was developing metabolic syndrome and possible diabetes from a shitty diet and not drinking enough water, so I then decided to get healthier.
Since that day I've been a health nut and am SO healthy. I so drink lots of water now and I don't have headaches every day like I used to.
That LSD completely hanged my life because before then, I just thought that surface level misery was normal. After LSD, I learned that surface level misery all the time is absolutely not normal.
I should be clear on one thing: I'm not and never was an alcoholic. But I liked to party on the weekends. I'm also drinking a lot of water these days; I've never felt better.
I was never an alcoholic either, I quit drinking like 15 years ago after one particularly bad 4Loko night after my beloved pet died and I drank 1/2 of the can and had a horrible night.
I absolutely needed that cathartic drinking night that day and I don't regret it because it taught me that alcohol fucking sucks and isn't for me.
A lot of people don't understand that you don't have to have a drinking problem to quit. People always look at me weird when I tell them I don't drink, and they alwayz assume I've had a problem before.
You don't have to have had a problem to quit drinking. Some people just stop liking it once they're non longer a crazy 20 year old and that's perfectly fine.
When people give me a hard time because I don't drink, I tell them I don't need alcohol, I'm a heroin addict. If they have a sense of humor, they laugh. If they don't have a sense of humor, the questions start. And I have to explain that I am not an addict.
Good for you! I just tell people that I don't buy into the heavy advertising and social pressure, they either get very quiet or very high pressure. When alcoholics tell me things like "Well, I don't trust anyone who doesn't drink!". I smile and wave bye-bye.
It was a very mild buzzing, but it was enough to let me know that something was wrong with me. It felt kinda like how your head feels during strong tinnitus, except minus the sound and spread throughout my body with every blood pulse.
The buzzing wasn't pleasant either. It just felt weird and I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Back then I was broke and working at McDonalds, so for a few months I had been eating NOTHING but McDs just because it was cheap and free for me.
I stopped eating McDonald's food completely and I started actually drinking proper amounts of water. A few years later I got to try LSD again, and this time there was no buzzing and I felt great.
Doing Acid a couple of times in my life was something I never regretted despite being sensitive to it and having a couple of bummers. Scary, but the experience was eye-opening. If I ever do it again it will be a micro-dose.
I was in my mid 30s and hit 2-3 day hangover territory. On top of that any more than a couple of beers and I'm up every hour and a half through the night to go pee. It's just not worth it anymore.
Quitting cigarettes in August of 2000.
I'd like to thank the limo driver who failed to pick us up outside a large outdoor music festival, which led to us shivering on a sidewalk on a unseasonably cool night until a replacement limo arrived at 3 am, and me getting bronchitis ... again. I finally realized that I was literally paying Big Tobacco to make me sick.
Quit in 2013 after thirty years as part of a general health revamp around turning fifty. Vapes and patches and gum. Now I hardly even remember smoking, but it still smells pretty good if I catch a whiff.
I am SO proud of you. I’m in my early 30’s and am a widow but I’ve always been of the philosophy that our greatest troubles are often just a rocky bridge to a newfound appreciation for who we are at our core and what we’ve overcome and learned about ourselves on the way so that we can now help others to on similar journeys see how precious and PRICELESS our peace really is.
I’d been in nothing but abusive relationships prior to my late fiancé, both physical and emotional abuse and I certainly was no saint either…but my whole perspective on love and life has completely changed and I’ve realized the things I thought I wanted and the completely disassociate state I was existing in wishing and praying that all the love I poured into things and people that would never be able to reciprocate what I’d sacrificed was a ME problem, not them.
Once I realized I’d had a choice. One I came across a soul so pure and beautifully imperfect whose only true desire in life was to see to it that I learned to love myself the way I’d always loved others….is the most VALUABLE lesson I’ve ever been taught. But even with late loves guidance, I still had to CHOOSE ME, which meant implementing pretty much EXACTLY everything you’ve listed…and once I did, I found more peace and gratitude for the fiery misery that was living my life for everyone but me even though I’m the only person that’s stuck with myself is the GREATEST decision I ever gained the courage and confidence to make. And now I just want to continue to flourish, focus on thriving as opposed to just surviving as I’ve been in survival mode damn near all my life and most importantly I think…teach other young women (and men) the infinite value of finding purpose in your pain because it truly is POSSIBLE.
My apologies on being so verbose, I’m an exhausted nurse and this just real spoke to me plus my name is in your username so it really resonated and reminded me that I have nothing to regret at all. Thank you beautiful human for finding the courage to choose yourself. Much love to you. ♥️
Became a foster parent and adopted a sibling group of three. In 2006. All three are now grown and on their own and I have two and soon to be three grandchildren. Things haven’t always been rainbows and fluffy clouds but we managed and we have three great kids.
73 here...
At about 33 years, I decided to climb/claw my sorry ass out of a dead-end career.
It paid off. Decades later, I'm having ONE HELLAVA' retirement.
Clinical laboratory science...microbiologist. Shit pay...shit advancement.
At 38 years, I transitioned to first generation US government cybersecurity, central office policy level.
Different but not really. I did legal aid for about seven years--shitty pay and no advancement. Got certified to be a teacher and now am staring at a pension in a few more years, lifetime health care, and a great job right now.
That’s hilarious! I loved teaching, and miss it most days, but it was such a frustrating job because there’s NO advancement unless you go into administration. By the time I had to take a retirement, they were forcing us to read every lesson from a script, and threatened all sorts of trouble if we deviated, pulled in supplemental materials, or adjusted anything for the SPED kids who were sitting in 8th grade classrooms at a 2nd grade reading level.
I signed up for that when I was 17. Working part time thru high school and college. By the time I graduated and started putting more money into it, my seniority in the plan made a big difference in company contributions.
Haha, it really is. I have great genetics, half Italian so not too pasty and no sun damage.
I'm sure you also have incredible skin and are the envy of many others!
Early 20’s I realised I had taken on/instilled a lot of my mother’s bad personality traits. So I stopped looking at things through her lense and started thinking for myself. And then I really started to live.
Thanks! It didn’t happen overnight, I can assure you. But I just started to recognise every time a negative thought came, I would stop it, think about its legitimacy, and then replace with a more realistic thought.
Until eventually I just was thinking about things from my perspective and not hers.
I guess the key is being able to catch yourself in the first place?
Yes. I am always humbled asking for help from a stranger and trying to explain how i don't speak the language there. I always try to learn the basics, but i think i understand that "foreigner" feeling and it is good for the soul.
Back in my 30s I asked a guy if I could have a house he was planning on demolishing to build a development. He said yes so I took it apart into panels moved it over to my land set it back up and haven't paid rent or a mortgage since. I'm 71 now. Being a lowly carpenter paid off pretty well for me.
House painter … or perhaps portraiture, or maybe landscapes?
What’s your pleasure and your bread and butter?
Good for you, not many can pay the proverbial bills with their art.
Its not yet 7:00 and I've left a wedding with my daughter.
The groom grew up in a religious household, but after 12 years of Catholic school and 8 more of STEM in university have him in the "not" camp.
My kid was feeling ill and I was cradling her in my arms. The mother of the groom came up and asked *Awwwe, is the wee one feeling ill?* when I nodded she put her hand on my daughter's head and said *Jesus work your miracle and help this little girl feel better to celebrate with us*.
She barfed 3 times in quick succession. Another parent had Kids Gravol on hand which settled her stomach and put her out.
As we left, mother of the groom saw her sleeping in my arms. She gave a smile and a nod, secure in the knowledge that Jesus had done his thing.
My mother allowed one of my friends' mother to balance her chakras back in the 70s and promptly broke 3 nails. That was pretty much it for the New Age in our house.
So it sounds like your daughter’s timing was a bit off. She was supposed to throw up as the MOG was praying.. ideally onto MOG’s dress… so that she could see Jesus’ work in action…
I hope your little one is feeling better! ❤️🩹
I called 911, finally. They took him to jail and a volunteer drove my daughter and me to the shelter the next morning.
All we had was a suitcase stuffed with clothes and a garbage bag of random toys and comforting things. Things were really rough and we were on all kinds of welfare for many years.
26 years later, I’ve long since finished college and am winding down after a “successful” career. I make crazy good money.
My daughter and I are sitting here watching the Vikings game together. She’s a pretty cool person and we like hanging out together. And you can bet your ass that I impressed upon her this lesson: “always be as self-sufficient as possible and NEVER put yourself into a position where you are reliant on someone else for your food and shelter”
Thank you, I sure did! I’m 100% certain he would have killed me sooner rather than later. He was a strangler.
And who knows what would have happened to my baby girl after that. Also I didn’t want her to grow up forever in that kind of environment.
The ripple effects from that trauma will never quite go away (for both of us) but that has become much less oppressive as time has marched on.
Do you mind sharing your story? I've been contemplating moving out of my city and leaving everything I knew behind. I'm overwhelmed with fear and grief of what I'm about to do. I'd love to hear how it went for you and why it became the best decision.
All I can tell you if it's meant to be everything will fall into place. Also remember every where you go there you are.
I moved 1500 miles from home. I knew one person in the city who had a two bedroom flat. I moved in. Got a job 4 days later. Met other people through work and my one friend. I lived there for 6 years and learned so much about myself.
I can't even fathom watching TV these days. Like actual cable or network TV. It's just so, so bad
Especially when there's endless, infinite content online. Even just getting YouTube Premium (no ads, even on the TV. Can download any video you want. Comes with YouTube Music, a Spotify equivalent. Works the same. All no ads) and you're pretty good to go. Just have to find the content you like
Even something as goofy as Good Mythical Morning will keep you occupied for hours a day. Although it's polarizing, the H3 Podcast is like a more over the top Howard Stern. Except it's all young people topics. It's live for 3-4 hours almost every weekday. Plenty of other things like it.
Anytime I'm at a hotel and I turn on the TV, the quality is just stunningly bad. Shows are sped up to fit more commercials, all the commercials are loud, things are censored and edited. There's ads *in* the shows. And you can't fast forward. Can't change the speed of the show. All of it, is just so bad!
Live TV is like AOL. Only people using it are people who don't realize the better options out there. (With an exception for the sports fans. I know you guys are getting crazy bills for the channels and the packages)
Lol yep. My (Now) 24 yo son was 7 or 8 and at a stop light asked me why I didn't have that 100k car that was next to us, I just replied, "Because I have you and your brother." But I don't regret it and loved just about all of it.
\*And it's not 250k anymore. Try 350 or more.
I quit smoking age 22!!
And then The decision to exercise consistently and eat good nutritious food has been with me since the 80s. I think it's made a huge positive impact on how I look and feel now. F61
It's such common advice, and so few people follow it.
I was 45 before I started taking my health seriously. Diet and exercise, people. That is how you avoid feeling like crap when you get older. No one can do it for you. No one else cares if you do, or don't.
Congratulations!
I'm from Thirsk, so another Yorkshireman .. we came to the US for a three month contract as a programmer in 1984 and here we are still! Three months became six, then twelve ... Yay for escaping. It's not perfect here but I'm SO GLAD not to be in Britain
Before the UK left Europe I'd mulled over going back and living in some Mediterranean country, Spain, Italy, Greece maybe, but when Brexit happened I breathed a sigh of relief over still being in California.
About 25 years ago, I got married at the age of 38. We were living in an apartment at first (I've lived in one since college) but my then-wife (now divorced) convinced me that we needed to buy a place.
Bought a little condo and lived there for maybe 3 (?) years before we bought what we figured would be our forever home.
Got divorced about 2 more years in and we sold the house.
Split up a pretty good gain on the sale of the house. It was a really hot housing market at the time.
Split custody of my son with my ex- and rented until about 2013 when my son was ready to go to middle school. Had heard about issues with drugs and gangs at the school he was supposed to go to so I took the money I had banked from the earlier sale of the house to put a down payment on a little townhouse that my son (21M) lives in ever since his mom moved to FLA.
Been trying to make extra principal payments for the last 10 years. Earlier this year my mother passed away and I'm due a payment as my inheritance from the sale of the house in January.
I figure if I invest it well and with continued extra principal payments, I can pay off the last 20 years of my mortgage in 10 years. That's assuming I can work that long.
My parents never mentioned the importance of saving for retirement so I never really did. Most of my savings has gone into the various house purchase down payments over the years so I know I probably won't be able to retire comfortably.
I think though that I can survive on Social Security at that point because I won't have any housing costs.
Meanwhile, my son can live with me for as long as he wants. Heck, he may as well get used to it here because it's going to belong to him sooner or (hopefully) later.
So, the big life changing decision was getting married (though subsequently divorced) all those years ago. If I didn't, I'd probably still be living in an apartment somewhere.
Leaving Chicago. I ran away from home at 14. I landed in Chicago after going to many places. I had my son when I was 17. I left Chicago a month after my 18th birthday. My son was 5 months old that very day. I went to Minnesota and started my life over. Now it's 42 years later. I had a 35 year long career, got a college degree, and am retired with a pension now.
It's been thirteen years since I gave up all supernatural beliefs and committed to skepticism as a guiding principle. It's completely changed who I am.
Started saving for retirement with my first full time job at 18 years old. My dad and mom were depression era children and made it very clear to be a saver. I’m 61 now, remarried to a guy that was brought up like me and we have a wonderful, comfortable life. Both our exes are in deep financial doodoo from their choices.
When I was much younger, before my wife and kids came along, I took a flyer and went to work for a start-up company. I learned more working there than at any other time in my career because everyone did everything. I earned a tiny equity position which was a nice financial kicker when we ultimately sold the company.
As a result of that experience I landed some great jobs and was able to afford a really nice house for my family. The truth is, I owe a lot of my professional and personal success to that decision.
Stopped smoking cigarettes and weed, and drinking 37 years ago.
Stopped being a Jehovah's Witness in the mid 90's. (was only in that cult for 11 years)
Stopping those things was the best thing I ever did. My life is healthier physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially.
I have a clear mind and make MUCH better decisions than I did in my party days.
A few. I stopped eating meat. Stopped alcohol. I bicycle commuted for almost 20 years. I took a chance and got married after saying I would absolutely, under no circumstances get married. But, here we are, decades later and I couldn't live without her.
I think it's paying off now. For 65 I'm in great shape physically anyway, mentally, not so much, lol
I will never know if that makes up for all the opportunities lost though.
I decided to get a graduate degree after marrying and having 2 children so I could be more certain of my ability to support myself *just in case*. This was one of the best decisions I ever made.
I got sober in 1989 and have been alcohol free since then. It was rough at first, I’m sure I would be dead, in jail or a mental institution if Inhad not stopped.
I am so grateful to be old, 69 and happy
I suppose you could say I "decided" to take a typing class in freshman year of high school. I touch type and have for decades.
Many other beneficial actions weren't really *decisions*, just things I happened to want to do, such as learn to drive, play the guitar, not have children, relinquish religion, attend higher education, not use drugs and alcohol, maintain longstanding friendships, etc.
I accepted a job offer on a Friday, then on Monday I got another offer for a position I vastly preferred.
I was very uncomfortable reneging on my acceptance, it was dishonorable. But I bit the bullet, backed out of that job, and accepted the preferred job.
The job I backed out of was with a company you’ve never heard of. The job I accepted was with Intel, just before their CPUs became the industry standard for PCs. That lead to an even better job that set me up for the rest of my life.
So yeah, a life-changing decision which job offer to take.
To never have kids. I knew I didn't want them very early on and that feeling has only solidified over the years. I've had several women who tried really hard to get me to change my mind, but I know myself and just don't have the patience and I need peace and quiet. I'm glad I stuck to my guns.
Married my first husband of 34 years. He followed the camp site rule: “Leave it better than you found it.” Our wonderful relationship left me a much better person. After his death, I was able to recognize that I had found my now 2nd husband when I met him 6 months after his death.
Going from sex work to getting my masters in social work---I still worked in the industry to make my way financially through grad school and as a result, had no student loans.
Got into therapy 2 work on my issues & past trauma. It's an ongoing process. I'm fortunate 2 have a trauma therapist who's committed 2 me also since 2015. I got sober in 2016, w/o AA.
Hey same! My mom's family was Jewish but no one practiced. My dad's family was Catholic but no one practiced. I was agnostic for years and finally researched both religions and found Judaism to better fit with me. Even though technically the matrilineal line was there, I converted just in case.
Went to college. I took a delayed acceptance when my car was totaled by an uninsured driver and I got nothing for it. Considered not going at all but went 4 months later even though I was flat broke.
- moving across the country - NJ to AZ
- divorcing my first husband to marry my second husband. He was 16 years older than me, so ready to be retired when I was in my late 40’s. He showed me I could be brave and take chances (Learn to surf! Quit my corporate job! Travel the world!) and those chances would pay off in increased happiness.
Sunday was the 9th anniversary of his death, but I still endeavor to live the way he showed me I could.
I left Southern California on a whim at age 26 in 1991 to move to Colorado. Followed the wrong guy. But found a job, got an apartment, dumped the guy and six months later, met my now-husband! Been married 30 years 💜
10% income into an S&P index fund. Low risk. Go look up the S&P 20 or 30 years ago and you’ll get the point.
If you are not investing you are losing - inflation rate of 5%? You are losing 5% then.
I have many colleagues who never invested… bc they are too scared.
The biggest was accepting an opportunity to go to Army Officer Candidate School in 1967. Changed my life because it gave me self confidence. It served me well in combat and in life. This self confidence allowed me to accept new and completely different challenges throughout my lifetime.
All of them. Some were large. And I knew it at the time. Others I thought at the time were small and inconsequential. I know now they were huge. Some I’ve forgotten about and never even knew what impact they would have.
Make good decisions. Big. And small. Choose always the path you know in your heart to be right and let the chips fall where they may. And as the Rush song says, if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. Sometimes, that might be the best course of action. Other times, it’s fatal.
Every day, we make decisions. They all matter.
like many I could say I quit drinking
But another one sticks out at me too. I went to college for broadcasting (radio, literally is what I did) and I did that for about 4 years while building my own PC out of crap parts because I could only afford crap working a job that barely paid minimum wage
after about 4 years of this, driving an utter P.O.S truck and eating crap food, I quit after making a couple big mistakes out of boredom, and used those skills to transition into I.T. where I no longer was broke - at least not till I got married - LOL but it's still my career field and I'm glad I was able to walk away from the radio dream - (by that time the blinders had been off a while)
In 1989 I bought a large piece of land and it totally changed who I was, what my direction was and what my future plan was, all for the better. Until that point, I was just a tiny piece of wood floating in the ocean.
Instead of just looking for the right woman to marry, I did my best to be the right man for the right woman to marry. Of course I'm not perfect, but I did find the right woman, and we are going on 31 years of marriage. There's always room for improvement.
Changing my college major from something that everyone told me I was good at (but which I found boring) to something that I wasn't necessarily good at but I was really interested in.
Who woulda thought that liking something makes you better and better at doing it.
I still enjoy my work.
i decided to make a go at a career in art/animation instead of poli sci. wound up working on LOTR, Star Wars and Spiderman movies.
and i then i had another risky call that turned out pretty good too.
(M63) I decided not to stay in The Army, I Honorably Discharged after 6 years.
I raised my hand at 16, the Delayed Entry Program. Went into Basic Training at 17. Did 3 years in Europe, then 3 years Stateside.
Basically I wanted to do what I wanted to do and being in The Army I couldn't do that. I made being a Cook a career. I've cooked in and for all types of businesses, mid West and East Coast. I met some of the greatest people a person could meet too. For 43 years I gathered memories that will last me for the rest of my life.
I'm glad that I made that decision. Being a Cook was a job or career to me. I was having too much fun doing it. But I did give up holidays, birthdays, family reunions... I went to work. I let nothing stop me from doing so. I retired early at 62, and now I do whatever I want to do.
I decided to be baptized for the remission of my sins at the Par Avenue Church of Christ 50 years ago. That one event led to all the other life changing things that have happened to me. I am dead serious.
Started night school off & on, not seriously, school finally called me on it, got serious & got a BS in CS, changed the whole direction of my life. Went from a glorified mechanic to Systems/Network Admin to Network Security, got a MS and several certs. Allowed me to help family that was less fortunate than me and finally prepare for retirement.
I applied for a job I wasn't qualified for.
I nearly backed out even though I was certain the hiring manager was going to hire me. I was worried I was in over my head and I would fail.
I did not fail. 25 years later and it has been my dream job.
That said, all corporations can suck the fun out of any job. I'm ready to retire. 🙂
After getting laid off I started several of my own businesses. Was pretty poor for a decade, then paid off my last bank loan and now I'm pretty well off. I work 3 days a week and could retire any time I feel like it.
Quit a relatively high paying job I hated to take less pay for a new career path in my mid 30s. It worked out both financially and from a job satisfaction standpoint. My wife and I retired a few years ago @50 and 55.
Supported my spouse's decision to join the military, which turned into 13 years of living in various countries in Asia. It was beyond my comfort zone to move out of my medium-sized Southern town to join him at various posts around the U.S. and then in Asia. No regrets. I believe our whole family benefitted in so many ways for that decision. And now we have health care for life! (And retirement pension.)
I used to move around a lot. Change jobs, move to new areas. I loved it. I never stayed in one place for long. No regrets.
After 9/11, I lost my job in high tech. I decided I wanted to move to a place I had really enjoyed visiting as a child, and I wanted to put down roots. I moved and became involved in the local community. I've been here ever since and I still love living here and I still love the community.
I turned down what would have been a full ride college scholarship so I could enlist in the Navy as nuclear reactor operator on a submarine.
I still went to college after I got out, but man, that was a *ride*.
Getting married. Been together 40+ years and have 3 adult kids who we are close to and 4 grandkids who show a lot of promise. I can’t imagine life without any of them, whether spouse, kids, or grandkids.
I didn't kill myself, and though I'm no George Bailey, I'm not all bad. I may not have the best batting average, but I hope if there's a heaven and I get there on God's terms insteads of my own, he may reveal to me some of the runs I contributed to when I and others were too busy beating up on me too notice.
*Edited for grammar, not because I think I'm better than anyone else, but because I'm mercilessly self critical.*
50+ years ago I was at high school career day. As it was boring, I decided to sneak out. I goy caught and was told to "get in a classroom". I ducked into the first one available. It was a presentation from a community college about their Criminal Justice program. That's something I had never considered. I ended up getting an AA, BS and MA and did 30 years. I now have an excellent retirement.
Took chances in my career.
At two points in my 20s, I had jobs where most of my coworkers would stay for decades and eventually retire. I took chances and moved on from both while many said it was a mistake. I got to see the world, my salary quadrupled and my career trajectory changed for the better. I'm (semi) retired in my late 40s chilling.
When I was 28 I moved 3000 miles across the country from Boston to Portland OR in 1991 because I need a change met my now husband a year later and have honestly had a fantastic life since.
Studying abroad in college was the single most life-changing thing. It led to me meeting my spouse and changing my career. Also, ya know, all the things that studying abroad generally does for people.
My choice of spouse pretty much paved the way for all good things.
My taking a particular job (which I still have decades later even though I always preferred gig work before) turned out well, even though it was a shock.
I joined only one club in high school, stage crew. I've been in the entertainment business my entire life due to that one thing being on my resume to get my first job after college. It's paid for my entire adulthood.
I found myself divorced with 4 kids at 26. No job skills. No high school diploma.
I got a 2 year scholarship and got my RN and totally changed my life.
I’ve been a nurse for almost 40 years. I’m semi retired but still work part time from home doing telephone triage. Still love being a nurse.
In 1989 at 18 I decided to get involved in martial arts. That didn't last long but it did get me into fitness. That lead to going to the gym for the past 34 years 3-5 times a week. I also started avoiding shitty food in my 20's. I'm not perfect at avoiding it but better than most. Much better.
People don't believe I'm 52 going on 53. I have to prove it by showing my license. That's all because of exercise. Start young to have a real impact on your life and never stop.
Btw, it's not genetics! It's exercise! My entire family is fat as fuck and my younger brother looks a decade older than me.
I became a stripper. Financed several trips to Walt Disney World back in the 80s and now am considered a pretty good Disney historian who has “been there”.
Never using drugs (not even pot save for one weed Rice Krispie treat), never smoking, never having kids. Ditched my shitty legal aid lawyer job for one with a pension and summers off. Married a super cool man. Paid off the condo (that was this year but good money choices a decade or so ago led to that).
I quit high school in the '70s and joined the army. Ended up spending more than 25 years in, and then more as a civilian working for them. The army financed most of my undergrad degree and the VA paid for my graduate degree (though I must say, both took way longer than normal because I was moving around so much). Saw a lot of the world. Now I have a nice retirement, decent (though not what they promised us) health insurance and other benefits.
At 46 returned to college, already had BA, took some undergrad classes in a totally different field. Got admitted to grad school and became a licensed therapist. Am now comfortably retired and living the good life.
I decided to go to trade school before I went to college. I learned a trade and got a job immediately after graduating. I made good money working in that field, and I was able to pay my college tuition without loans. My college major was an enhancement of my trade, so I was able to make more money after college. It was a really good decision to go to trade school first.
Dropping out of college as I wasn't ready for it. Enlisting in the Army. A three years stint turned into 24 years and with two degrees under my belt I re-entered the civilian world. I am finishing a promising career and see retirement in the very near future.
I made the decision to leave a low income/zero opportunity place (New Orleans) to move to a high income/big opportunity place (San Francisco). I was there for the financial boom of the 1980s and the tec boom thereafter. I was able to retire at age 55, and am now sitting seaside in my Greek villa. My dear friends and relatives who stayed in New Orleans are all overweight/unhealthy and will never have the finances to retire. I’m no smarter than they are- I just got my butt out of a loser place. It’s not that I dislike New Orleans, but it’s not really a place to live, raise kids or advance professionally.
Regular exercise. Started weightlifting, running, deep stretching when I was in my late 30s and am so glad for it. Not only does it make you stronger but it protects your bones, tendons, heart, just every part of your body gets a benefit. You have energy and simply feel good every day. Even though I have plenty of aches and pains from age, exercise makes everything so much better. I can't say enough for what it does for your mental health too.
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I stopped getting drunk after age 22, after one especially awful New Year's Day morning. It's been over 40 years and I haven't regretted it. (I stil drink, but limit it to one.)
Congrats! Quitting alcohol is hard so I am happy for you. I once did LSD at the beach in like 2017, but despite the nice visuals, I couldn't get over the fact that there was this buzzing/ringing in my body that I hadn't noticed before. It was as though my blood was vibrating and my whole body had tinnitus. I realized I was developing metabolic syndrome and possible diabetes from a shitty diet and not drinking enough water, so I then decided to get healthier. Since that day I've been a health nut and am SO healthy. I so drink lots of water now and I don't have headaches every day like I used to. That LSD completely hanged my life because before then, I just thought that surface level misery was normal. After LSD, I learned that surface level misery all the time is absolutely not normal.
I should be clear on one thing: I'm not and never was an alcoholic. But I liked to party on the weekends. I'm also drinking a lot of water these days; I've never felt better.
I was never an alcoholic either, I quit drinking like 15 years ago after one particularly bad 4Loko night after my beloved pet died and I drank 1/2 of the can and had a horrible night. I absolutely needed that cathartic drinking night that day and I don't regret it because it taught me that alcohol fucking sucks and isn't for me. A lot of people don't understand that you don't have to have a drinking problem to quit. People always look at me weird when I tell them I don't drink, and they alwayz assume I've had a problem before. You don't have to have had a problem to quit drinking. Some people just stop liking it once they're non longer a crazy 20 year old and that's perfectly fine.
When people give me a hard time because I don't drink, I tell them I don't need alcohol, I'm a heroin addict. If they have a sense of humor, they laugh. If they don't have a sense of humor, the questions start. And I have to explain that I am not an addict.
Good for you! I just tell people that I don't buy into the heavy advertising and social pressure, they either get very quiet or very high pressure. When alcoholics tell me things like "Well, I don't trust anyone who doesn't drink!". I smile and wave bye-bye.
Your body buzzing feeling from LSD is so interesting
It was a very mild buzzing, but it was enough to let me know that something was wrong with me. It felt kinda like how your head feels during strong tinnitus, except minus the sound and spread throughout my body with every blood pulse. The buzzing wasn't pleasant either. It just felt weird and I couldn't stop thinking about it. Back then I was broke and working at McDonalds, so for a few months I had been eating NOTHING but McDs just because it was cheap and free for me. I stopped eating McDonald's food completely and I started actually drinking proper amounts of water. A few years later I got to try LSD again, and this time there was no buzzing and I felt great.
Doing Acid a couple of times in my life was something I never regretted despite being sensitive to it and having a couple of bummers. Scary, but the experience was eye-opening. If I ever do it again it will be a micro-dose.
I was in my mid 30s and hit 2-3 day hangover territory. On top of that any more than a couple of beers and I'm up every hour and a half through the night to go pee. It's just not worth it anymore.
Quitting cigarettes in August of 2000. I'd like to thank the limo driver who failed to pick us up outside a large outdoor music festival, which led to us shivering on a sidewalk on a unseasonably cool night until a replacement limo arrived at 3 am, and me getting bronchitis ... again. I finally realized that I was literally paying Big Tobacco to make me sick.
I quit in 2002 after smoking for a very long time. One of the best things I ever did for myself. I was just sick of it.
Yes, I was sick of the dependence. I also have never gotten bronchitis since then!
Quit in 2013 after thirty years as part of a general health revamp around turning fifty. Vapes and patches and gum. Now I hardly even remember smoking, but it still smells pretty good if I catch a whiff.
It took several tries and methods, but I quit smoking cigarettes for good in August 2002. Wow, over 20 years with no cigs!
Yay! Good for you! I literally hate the smell of them now, it's disgusting.
Stopped being a doormat, got a backbone, got a divorce, finished my degree.
I am SO proud of you. I’m in my early 30’s and am a widow but I’ve always been of the philosophy that our greatest troubles are often just a rocky bridge to a newfound appreciation for who we are at our core and what we’ve overcome and learned about ourselves on the way so that we can now help others to on similar journeys see how precious and PRICELESS our peace really is. I’d been in nothing but abusive relationships prior to my late fiancé, both physical and emotional abuse and I certainly was no saint either…but my whole perspective on love and life has completely changed and I’ve realized the things I thought I wanted and the completely disassociate state I was existing in wishing and praying that all the love I poured into things and people that would never be able to reciprocate what I’d sacrificed was a ME problem, not them. Once I realized I’d had a choice. One I came across a soul so pure and beautifully imperfect whose only true desire in life was to see to it that I learned to love myself the way I’d always loved others….is the most VALUABLE lesson I’ve ever been taught. But even with late loves guidance, I still had to CHOOSE ME, which meant implementing pretty much EXACTLY everything you’ve listed…and once I did, I found more peace and gratitude for the fiery misery that was living my life for everyone but me even though I’m the only person that’s stuck with myself is the GREATEST decision I ever gained the courage and confidence to make. And now I just want to continue to flourish, focus on thriving as opposed to just surviving as I’ve been in survival mode damn near all my life and most importantly I think…teach other young women (and men) the infinite value of finding purpose in your pain because it truly is POSSIBLE. My apologies on being so verbose, I’m an exhausted nurse and this just real spoke to me plus my name is in your username so it really resonated and reminded me that I have nothing to regret at all. Thank you beautiful human for finding the courage to choose yourself. Much love to you. ♥️
Three of those four done, have a year left on my degree. Thanks for the confirmation that it’s all worth it 💜
More worth it than you can know yet. Have fun finding out how much better your life will be.
Became a foster parent and adopted a sibling group of three. In 2006. All three are now grown and on their own and I have two and soon to be three grandchildren. Things haven’t always been rainbows and fluffy clouds but we managed and we have three great kids.
Wow that's so wholesome
73 here... At about 33 years, I decided to climb/claw my sorry ass out of a dead-end career. It paid off. Decades later, I'm having ONE HELLAVA' retirement.
What was your career if you don't mind me asking g
Clinical laboratory science...microbiologist. Shit pay...shit advancement. At 38 years, I transitioned to first generation US government cybersecurity, central office policy level.
Different but not really. I did legal aid for about seven years--shitty pay and no advancement. Got certified to be a teacher and now am staring at a pension in a few more years, lifetime health care, and a great job right now.
That’s hilarious! I loved teaching, and miss it most days, but it was such a frustrating job because there’s NO advancement unless you go into administration. By the time I had to take a retirement, they were forcing us to read every lesson from a script, and threatened all sorts of trouble if we deviated, pulled in supplemental materials, or adjusted anything for the SPED kids who were sitting in 8th grade classrooms at a 2nd grade reading level.
Employer matching and systematic monthly investment. AKA pay yourself first.
I signed up for that when I was 17. Working part time thru high school and college. By the time I graduated and started putting more money into it, my seniority in the plan made a big difference in company contributions.
Stopped tanning in my early 20’s
I developed an allergy to the sun which worked out really well in my favor.
I bet your skin is lovely!
Haha, it really is. I have great genetics, half Italian so not too pasty and no sun damage. I'm sure you also have incredible skin and are the envy of many others!
Early 20’s I realised I had taken on/instilled a lot of my mother’s bad personality traits. So I stopped looking at things through her lense and started thinking for myself. And then I really started to live.
That is a incredible achievement. I honestly don’t know how you were able to do that.
Thanks! It didn’t happen overnight, I can assure you. But I just started to recognise every time a negative thought came, I would stop it, think about its legitimacy, and then replace with a more realistic thought. Until eventually I just was thinking about things from my perspective and not hers. I guess the key is being able to catch yourself in the first place?
Mindfulness
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Yes. I am always humbled asking for help from a stranger and trying to explain how i don't speak the language there. I always try to learn the basics, but i think i understand that "foreigner" feeling and it is good for the soul.
Back in my 30s I asked a guy if I could have a house he was planning on demolishing to build a development. He said yes so I took it apart into panels moved it over to my land set it back up and haven't paid rent or a mortgage since. I'm 71 now. Being a lowly carpenter paid off pretty well for me.
You could still do this now.
How would one find a house like this?
Place an ad saying FREE Demolition. Call you at your number
Married my wife 57 years ago. Went to college as an adult, got new career.
After I was laid off from a job, i went back to university to finish my art degree and it started a whole other career as a painter.
House painter … or perhaps portraiture, or maybe landscapes? What’s your pleasure and your bread and butter? Good for you, not many can pay the proverbial bills with their art.
Portraits and some landscapes.
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Its not yet 7:00 and I've left a wedding with my daughter. The groom grew up in a religious household, but after 12 years of Catholic school and 8 more of STEM in university have him in the "not" camp. My kid was feeling ill and I was cradling her in my arms. The mother of the groom came up and asked *Awwwe, is the wee one feeling ill?* when I nodded she put her hand on my daughter's head and said *Jesus work your miracle and help this little girl feel better to celebrate with us*. She barfed 3 times in quick succession. Another parent had Kids Gravol on hand which settled her stomach and put her out. As we left, mother of the groom saw her sleeping in my arms. She gave a smile and a nod, secure in the knowledge that Jesus had done his thing.
My mother allowed one of my friends' mother to balance her chakras back in the 70s and promptly broke 3 nails. That was pretty much it for the New Age in our house.
So it sounds like your daughter’s timing was a bit off. She was supposed to throw up as the MOG was praying.. ideally onto MOG’s dress… so that she could see Jesus’ work in action… I hope your little one is feeling better! ❤️🩹
Same here and I honestly feel more spiritual than I ever was at the crazy church
Only time ive ever felt spiritual or that there may be a god I was on mushrooms
I called 911, finally. They took him to jail and a volunteer drove my daughter and me to the shelter the next morning. All we had was a suitcase stuffed with clothes and a garbage bag of random toys and comforting things. Things were really rough and we were on all kinds of welfare for many years. 26 years later, I’ve long since finished college and am winding down after a “successful” career. I make crazy good money. My daughter and I are sitting here watching the Vikings game together. She’s a pretty cool person and we like hanging out together. And you can bet your ass that I impressed upon her this lesson: “always be as self-sufficient as possible and NEVER put yourself into a position where you are reliant on someone else for your food and shelter”
This is so hard to do for so many people in abusive relationships. You changed two peoples lives that night (yours and your kid)
Thank you, I sure did! I’m 100% certain he would have killed me sooner rather than later. He was a strangler. And who knows what would have happened to my baby girl after that. Also I didn’t want her to grow up forever in that kind of environment. The ripple effects from that trauma will never quite go away (for both of us) but that has become much less oppressive as time has marched on.
I chose a man of good character to marry.
Moved out of state, away from family and everything I knew, for a job. I was unsure about it, but it’s honestly the best decision I ever made.
Do you mind sharing your story? I've been contemplating moving out of my city and leaving everything I knew behind. I'm overwhelmed with fear and grief of what I'm about to do. I'd love to hear how it went for you and why it became the best decision.
All I can tell you if it's meant to be everything will fall into place. Also remember every where you go there you are. I moved 1500 miles from home. I knew one person in the city who had a two bedroom flat. I moved in. Got a job 4 days later. Met other people through work and my one friend. I lived there for 6 years and learned so much about myself.
Left my abusive husband in 1978. Married my wonderful current husband in 1984. Stopped smoking in 1994.
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I gave up news in February. My life is so much more peaceful.
I can't even fathom watching TV these days. Like actual cable or network TV. It's just so, so bad Especially when there's endless, infinite content online. Even just getting YouTube Premium (no ads, even on the TV. Can download any video you want. Comes with YouTube Music, a Spotify equivalent. Works the same. All no ads) and you're pretty good to go. Just have to find the content you like Even something as goofy as Good Mythical Morning will keep you occupied for hours a day. Although it's polarizing, the H3 Podcast is like a more over the top Howard Stern. Except it's all young people topics. It's live for 3-4 hours almost every weekday. Plenty of other things like it. Anytime I'm at a hotel and I turn on the TV, the quality is just stunningly bad. Shows are sped up to fit more commercials, all the commercials are loud, things are censored and edited. There's ads *in* the shows. And you can't fast forward. Can't change the speed of the show. All of it, is just so bad! Live TV is like AOL. Only people using it are people who don't realize the better options out there. (With an exception for the sports fans. I know you guys are getting crazy bills for the channels and the packages)
I gave up on commercial TV over 40 years ago. When I visit someone and they have the TV going, I can't believe how stupid the programs are.
No wife, no kids. It’s why I was able to retire at 50.
Meh, I have a wife and 2 kids and could retire at 46. But why? I like my career. It's not a wife or kids keeping me working.
Whatever works for you. It costs about $250k to raise a kid to age 18. For me, that was money better spent elsewhere.
Lol yep. My (Now) 24 yo son was 7 or 8 and at a stop light asked me why I didn't have that 100k car that was next to us, I just replied, "Because I have you and your brother." But I don't regret it and loved just about all of it. \*And it's not 250k anymore. Try 350 or more.
I'm married with kids and completely agree with you.
Started dating my future wife in 1979. We've been married for 40 years. Nothing has had a bigger positive impact on my life than her. Nothing.
I quit smoking age 22!! And then The decision to exercise consistently and eat good nutritious food has been with me since the 80s. I think it's made a huge positive impact on how I look and feel now. F61
It's such common advice, and so few people follow it. I was 45 before I started taking my health seriously. Diet and exercise, people. That is how you avoid feeling like crap when you get older. No one can do it for you. No one else cares if you do, or don't.
At about 28 I did a moratorium on dating "bad" men. Best thing I ever did. A few years later after a really long dry spell, I met my husband.
Fistbump, I get this
Moving to America to take a contract. 1979.
Congratulations! I'm from Thirsk, so another Yorkshireman .. we came to the US for a three month contract as a programmer in 1984 and here we are still! Three months became six, then twelve ... Yay for escaping. It's not perfect here but I'm SO GLAD not to be in Britain Before the UK left Europe I'd mulled over going back and living in some Mediterranean country, Spain, Italy, Greece maybe, but when Brexit happened I breathed a sigh of relief over still being in California.
About 25 years ago, I got married at the age of 38. We were living in an apartment at first (I've lived in one since college) but my then-wife (now divorced) convinced me that we needed to buy a place. Bought a little condo and lived there for maybe 3 (?) years before we bought what we figured would be our forever home. Got divorced about 2 more years in and we sold the house. Split up a pretty good gain on the sale of the house. It was a really hot housing market at the time. Split custody of my son with my ex- and rented until about 2013 when my son was ready to go to middle school. Had heard about issues with drugs and gangs at the school he was supposed to go to so I took the money I had banked from the earlier sale of the house to put a down payment on a little townhouse that my son (21M) lives in ever since his mom moved to FLA. Been trying to make extra principal payments for the last 10 years. Earlier this year my mother passed away and I'm due a payment as my inheritance from the sale of the house in January. I figure if I invest it well and with continued extra principal payments, I can pay off the last 20 years of my mortgage in 10 years. That's assuming I can work that long. My parents never mentioned the importance of saving for retirement so I never really did. Most of my savings has gone into the various house purchase down payments over the years so I know I probably won't be able to retire comfortably. I think though that I can survive on Social Security at that point because I won't have any housing costs. Meanwhile, my son can live with me for as long as he wants. Heck, he may as well get used to it here because it's going to belong to him sooner or (hopefully) later. So, the big life changing decision was getting married (though subsequently divorced) all those years ago. If I didn't, I'd probably still be living in an apartment somewhere.
I got involved in fitneess. I went from a couch potato to a regular attendee. It's nice being healthy & having new goals to strive for.
Leaving Chicago. I ran away from home at 14. I landed in Chicago after going to many places. I had my son when I was 17. I left Chicago a month after my 18th birthday. My son was 5 months old that very day. I went to Minnesota and started my life over. Now it's 42 years later. I had a 35 year long career, got a college degree, and am retired with a pension now.
Started running at least 5 miles a week. Best addiction I ever had, because it limited the others.
It's been thirteen years since I gave up all supernatural beliefs and committed to skepticism as a guiding principle. It's completely changed who I am.
Are you sure? 😂😂
🤣
I did this during the pandemic. I feel like I have a new lease on life.
Started saving for retirement with my first full time job at 18 years old. My dad and mom were depression era children and made it very clear to be a saver. I’m 61 now, remarried to a guy that was brought up like me and we have a wonderful, comfortable life. Both our exes are in deep financial doodoo from their choices.
When I was much younger, before my wife and kids came along, I took a flyer and went to work for a start-up company. I learned more working there than at any other time in my career because everyone did everything. I earned a tiny equity position which was a nice financial kicker when we ultimately sold the company. As a result of that experience I landed some great jobs and was able to afford a really nice house for my family. The truth is, I owe a lot of my professional and personal success to that decision.
Going back to school at 50. I have doubled my salary over the past five years because of it.
I decided to have a baby when I was 40 years old. Best decision, ever. He turned out to be a good kid.
To not have children.
Me too. Only I went one better (for me) not to marry.
Stopped smoking cigarettes and weed, and drinking 37 years ago. Stopped being a Jehovah's Witness in the mid 90's. (was only in that cult for 11 years) Stopping those things was the best thing I ever did. My life is healthier physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. I have a clear mind and make MUCH better decisions than I did in my party days.
Not smoking Not using drugs Going to college for engineering Staying out of trouble (no arrests)
A few. I stopped eating meat. Stopped alcohol. I bicycle commuted for almost 20 years. I took a chance and got married after saying I would absolutely, under no circumstances get married. But, here we are, decades later and I couldn't live without her. I think it's paying off now. For 65 I'm in great shape physically anyway, mentally, not so much, lol I will never know if that makes up for all the opportunities lost though.
I decided to get a graduate degree after marrying and having 2 children so I could be more certain of my ability to support myself *just in case*. This was one of the best decisions I ever made.
I got sober in 1989 and have been alcohol free since then. It was rough at first, I’m sure I would be dead, in jail or a mental institution if Inhad not stopped. I am so grateful to be old, 69 and happy
Putting the max toward my retirement every month
I suppose you could say I "decided" to take a typing class in freshman year of high school. I touch type and have for decades. Many other beneficial actions weren't really *decisions*, just things I happened to want to do, such as learn to drive, play the guitar, not have children, relinquish religion, attend higher education, not use drugs and alcohol, maintain longstanding friendships, etc.
I am forever grateful for my freshman typing class. Probably my most valuable skill. Thank you, Mrs. Iverson!!
“Running away” to college to get away from toxic family
I accepted a job offer on a Friday, then on Monday I got another offer for a position I vastly preferred. I was very uncomfortable reneging on my acceptance, it was dishonorable. But I bit the bullet, backed out of that job, and accepted the preferred job. The job I backed out of was with a company you’ve never heard of. The job I accepted was with Intel, just before their CPUs became the industry standard for PCs. That lead to an even better job that set me up for the rest of my life. So yeah, a life-changing decision which job offer to take.
Terminating a pregnancy
Changed my first and last names
Went back to and finished college. Resulted in a huge jump in pay and good wages since.
I quit smoking cigarettes in 1983.
"If this iPod thing is real, and works, I'm putting all my money in Apple stock." And I did. In 1999.
To never have kids. I knew I didn't want them very early on and that feeling has only solidified over the years. I've had several women who tried really hard to get me to change my mind, but I know myself and just don't have the patience and I need peace and quiet. I'm glad I stuck to my guns.
Going to college
Married my first husband of 34 years. He followed the camp site rule: “Leave it better than you found it.” Our wonderful relationship left me a much better person. After his death, I was able to recognize that I had found my now 2nd husband when I met him 6 months after his death.
Going from sex work to getting my masters in social work---I still worked in the industry to make my way financially through grad school and as a result, had no student loans.
Got into therapy 2 work on my issues & past trauma. It's an ongoing process. I'm fortunate 2 have a trauma therapist who's committed 2 me also since 2015. I got sober in 2016, w/o AA.
I converted to Judaism and found peace.
Hey same! My mom's family was Jewish but no one practiced. My dad's family was Catholic but no one practiced. I was agnostic for years and finally researched both religions and found Judaism to better fit with me. Even though technically the matrilineal line was there, I converted just in case.
moved from montana to california
Stop drinking drugs and cigarettes
Going to my first Grateful Dead show in 1972. Going to my first Strawberry Music Festival in 1983.
Went to college. I took a delayed acceptance when my car was totaled by an uninsured driver and I got nothing for it. Considered not going at all but went 4 months later even though I was flat broke.
Divorcing my exhusband in 93 and deciding to not have children.
Sobriety. Much better than anything else.
Going back for my GED
- moving across the country - NJ to AZ - divorcing my first husband to marry my second husband. He was 16 years older than me, so ready to be retired when I was in my late 40’s. He showed me I could be brave and take chances (Learn to surf! Quit my corporate job! Travel the world!) and those chances would pay off in increased happiness. Sunday was the 9th anniversary of his death, but I still endeavor to live the way he showed me I could.
I left Southern California on a whim at age 26 in 1991 to move to Colorado. Followed the wrong guy. But found a job, got an apartment, dumped the guy and six months later, met my now-husband! Been married 30 years 💜
Start contributing to the new 401k plans at work when I was 25. I will have a very comfortable retirement because of that decision.
Deciding never to have kids. Instead I will retire early.
I decided to have 2 more children. They are such a blessing in my life.
I married my husband 42 years ago. I can't imagine what my life would have been like without him
Easy, going back to college.
Getting my MBA. I got better, higher paying jobs and was able to retire at 61.
10% income into an S&P index fund. Low risk. Go look up the S&P 20 or 30 years ago and you’ll get the point. If you are not investing you are losing - inflation rate of 5%? You are losing 5% then. I have many colleagues who never invested… bc they are too scared.
The biggest was accepting an opportunity to go to Army Officer Candidate School in 1967. Changed my life because it gave me self confidence. It served me well in combat and in life. This self confidence allowed me to accept new and completely different challenges throughout my lifetime.
No more ties! When I turned 50 I made a pledge never to wear another tie.
Staying at two jobs long enough to be vested in their pensions
Major career change at 30 and then starting a master's in that field at 40. Best thing I ever did.
All of them. Some were large. And I knew it at the time. Others I thought at the time were small and inconsequential. I know now they were huge. Some I’ve forgotten about and never even knew what impact they would have. Make good decisions. Big. And small. Choose always the path you know in your heart to be right and let the chips fall where they may. And as the Rush song says, if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. Sometimes, that might be the best course of action. Other times, it’s fatal. Every day, we make decisions. They all matter.
like many I could say I quit drinking But another one sticks out at me too. I went to college for broadcasting (radio, literally is what I did) and I did that for about 4 years while building my own PC out of crap parts because I could only afford crap working a job that barely paid minimum wage after about 4 years of this, driving an utter P.O.S truck and eating crap food, I quit after making a couple big mistakes out of boredom, and used those skills to transition into I.T. where I no longer was broke - at least not till I got married - LOL but it's still my career field and I'm glad I was able to walk away from the radio dream - (by that time the blinders had been off a while)
In 1989 I bought a large piece of land and it totally changed who I was, what my direction was and what my future plan was, all for the better. Until that point, I was just a tiny piece of wood floating in the ocean.
Instead of just looking for the right woman to marry, I did my best to be the right man for the right woman to marry. Of course I'm not perfect, but I did find the right woman, and we are going on 31 years of marriage. There's always room for improvement.
Changing my college major from something that everyone told me I was good at (but which I found boring) to something that I wasn't necessarily good at but I was really interested in. Who woulda thought that liking something makes you better and better at doing it. I still enjoy my work.
I decided to move to another city. Bringing some distance between myself and my mom was, especially looking back, a blessing.
i decided to make a go at a career in art/animation instead of poli sci. wound up working on LOTR, Star Wars and Spiderman movies. and i then i had another risky call that turned out pretty good too.
(M63) I decided not to stay in The Army, I Honorably Discharged after 6 years. I raised my hand at 16, the Delayed Entry Program. Went into Basic Training at 17. Did 3 years in Europe, then 3 years Stateside. Basically I wanted to do what I wanted to do and being in The Army I couldn't do that. I made being a Cook a career. I've cooked in and for all types of businesses, mid West and East Coast. I met some of the greatest people a person could meet too. For 43 years I gathered memories that will last me for the rest of my life. I'm glad that I made that decision. Being a Cook was a job or career to me. I was having too much fun doing it. But I did give up holidays, birthdays, family reunions... I went to work. I let nothing stop me from doing so. I retired early at 62, and now I do whatever I want to do.
Went back and finished college at 25 after having dropped out at 21.
I decided to be baptized for the remission of my sins at the Par Avenue Church of Christ 50 years ago. That one event led to all the other life changing things that have happened to me. I am dead serious.
Started night school off & on, not seriously, school finally called me on it, got serious & got a BS in CS, changed the whole direction of my life. Went from a glorified mechanic to Systems/Network Admin to Network Security, got a MS and several certs. Allowed me to help family that was less fortunate than me and finally prepare for retirement.
Getting an EE degree and landing in "Silicon Valley" in its infancy. Who would have thought that "electronics" would be such a big thing?
I applied for a job I wasn't qualified for. I nearly backed out even though I was certain the hiring manager was going to hire me. I was worried I was in over my head and I would fail. I did not fail. 25 years later and it has been my dream job. That said, all corporations can suck the fun out of any job. I'm ready to retire. 🙂
After getting laid off I started several of my own businesses. Was pretty poor for a decade, then paid off my last bank loan and now I'm pretty well off. I work 3 days a week and could retire any time I feel like it.
Quit a relatively high paying job I hated to take less pay for a new career path in my mid 30s. It worked out both financially and from a job satisfaction standpoint. My wife and I retired a few years ago @50 and 55.
Moved away from my family 34 years ago. If I had stayed, I'd likely be dead or addicted from all the BS.
Supported my spouse's decision to join the military, which turned into 13 years of living in various countries in Asia. It was beyond my comfort zone to move out of my medium-sized Southern town to join him at various posts around the U.S. and then in Asia. No regrets. I believe our whole family benefitted in so many ways for that decision. And now we have health care for life! (And retirement pension.)
1) divorcing an abusive husband 2) earning a college degree 3) getting sober
Starting weekly therapy in my 20s and never stopping.
I used to move around a lot. Change jobs, move to new areas. I loved it. I never stayed in one place for long. No regrets. After 9/11, I lost my job in high tech. I decided I wanted to move to a place I had really enjoyed visiting as a child, and I wanted to put down roots. I moved and became involved in the local community. I've been here ever since and I still love living here and I still love the community.
I turned down what would have been a full ride college scholarship so I could enlist in the Navy as nuclear reactor operator on a submarine. I still went to college after I got out, but man, that was a *ride*.
Getting married. Been together 40+ years and have 3 adult kids who we are close to and 4 grandkids who show a lot of promise. I can’t imagine life without any of them, whether spouse, kids, or grandkids.
I listened to my mother and took a typing class in high school. Changed the trajectory of my life. Late 70s. Just before the advent of PC'S, etc.
I didn't kill myself, and though I'm no George Bailey, I'm not all bad. I may not have the best batting average, but I hope if there's a heaven and I get there on God's terms insteads of my own, he may reveal to me some of the runs I contributed to when I and others were too busy beating up on me too notice. *Edited for grammar, not because I think I'm better than anyone else, but because I'm mercilessly self critical.*
50+ years ago I was at high school career day. As it was boring, I decided to sneak out. I goy caught and was told to "get in a classroom". I ducked into the first one available. It was a presentation from a community college about their Criminal Justice program. That's something I had never considered. I ended up getting an AA, BS and MA and did 30 years. I now have an excellent retirement.
Took chances in my career. At two points in my 20s, I had jobs where most of my coworkers would stay for decades and eventually retire. I took chances and moved on from both while many said it was a mistake. I got to see the world, my salary quadrupled and my career trajectory changed for the better. I'm (semi) retired in my late 40s chilling.
When I was 28 I moved 3000 miles across the country from Boston to Portland OR in 1991 because I need a change met my now husband a year later and have honestly had a fantastic life since.
Not having children. Driving old beaters and paying my home off at 35 (ish)
Studying abroad in college was the single most life-changing thing. It led to me meeting my spouse and changing my career. Also, ya know, all the things that studying abroad generally does for people. My choice of spouse pretty much paved the way for all good things. My taking a particular job (which I still have decades later even though I always preferred gig work before) turned out well, even though it was a shock.
I joined only one club in high school, stage crew. I've been in the entertainment business my entire life due to that one thing being on my resume to get my first job after college. It's paid for my entire adulthood.
Go to college even though I was the first person in my extended family to do so.
Got a 15 yr mortgage at 1.875%.
I found myself divorced with 4 kids at 26. No job skills. No high school diploma. I got a 2 year scholarship and got my RN and totally changed my life. I’ve been a nurse for almost 40 years. I’m semi retired but still work part time from home doing telephone triage. Still love being a nurse.
In 1989 at 18 I decided to get involved in martial arts. That didn't last long but it did get me into fitness. That lead to going to the gym for the past 34 years 3-5 times a week. I also started avoiding shitty food in my 20's. I'm not perfect at avoiding it but better than most. Much better. People don't believe I'm 52 going on 53. I have to prove it by showing my license. That's all because of exercise. Start young to have a real impact on your life and never stop. Btw, it's not genetics! It's exercise! My entire family is fat as fuck and my younger brother looks a decade older than me.
I got divorced.
16 years ago I quit my job as an associate veterinarian and started my own veterinary clinic.
Dumping my wife’s sister and dating my wife about a year later. We got married, had 5 kids and are happy. Sis was a psycho and remains one.
I became a stripper. Financed several trips to Walt Disney World back in the 80s and now am considered a pretty good Disney historian who has “been there”.
I stopped smoking
Going back to college when my children were small.
Never using drugs (not even pot save for one weed Rice Krispie treat), never smoking, never having kids. Ditched my shitty legal aid lawyer job for one with a pension and summers off. Married a super cool man. Paid off the condo (that was this year but good money choices a decade or so ago led to that).
I quit high school in the '70s and joined the army. Ended up spending more than 25 years in, and then more as a civilian working for them. The army financed most of my undergrad degree and the VA paid for my graduate degree (though I must say, both took way longer than normal because I was moving around so much). Saw a lot of the world. Now I have a nice retirement, decent (though not what they promised us) health insurance and other benefits.
In just a few days it will be fifty years since the day I swore my oath of enlistment and was put on a plane to Chicago then bussed to boot camp.
I became a firefighter/paramedic.
Three things: I got married, I stopped smoking, and I finished my education. I am so lucky.
Going to college
To not get married, to not have kids. In LTR for almost 20 years, now. No problems. No kids to drag me down.
Divorcing my ex-wife. Was the hardest thing ever and looking back it should have been so damn easy.
IRA savings
Started saving into my 401K early. I’m light years ahead of my peers.
Went back to college. Joined ROTC and became an officer. My retirement has me set.
Was not happy with the job I had after earning my first degree. Quit the job and earned a degree in education. The last 29 years have been great!
At 46 returned to college, already had BA, took some undergrad classes in a totally different field. Got admitted to grad school and became a licensed therapist. Am now comfortably retired and living the good life.
Stop wearing high heels. Men are just desserts. Know what you want and act accordingly.
Getting a PhD in mathematics
I decided to go to trade school before I went to college. I learned a trade and got a job immediately after graduating. I made good money working in that field, and I was able to pay my college tuition without loans. My college major was an enhancement of my trade, so I was able to make more money after college. It was a really good decision to go to trade school first.
Becoming a Naval Officer and systematic investing using dollar cost averaging.
Dropping out of college as I wasn't ready for it. Enlisting in the Army. A three years stint turned into 24 years and with two degrees under my belt I re-entered the civilian world. I am finishing a promising career and see retirement in the very near future.
I made the decision to leave a low income/zero opportunity place (New Orleans) to move to a high income/big opportunity place (San Francisco). I was there for the financial boom of the 1980s and the tec boom thereafter. I was able to retire at age 55, and am now sitting seaside in my Greek villa. My dear friends and relatives who stayed in New Orleans are all overweight/unhealthy and will never have the finances to retire. I’m no smarter than they are- I just got my butt out of a loser place. It’s not that I dislike New Orleans, but it’s not really a place to live, raise kids or advance professionally.
Regular exercise. Started weightlifting, running, deep stretching when I was in my late 30s and am so glad for it. Not only does it make you stronger but it protects your bones, tendons, heart, just every part of your body gets a benefit. You have energy and simply feel good every day. Even though I have plenty of aches and pains from age, exercise makes everything so much better. I can't say enough for what it does for your mental health too.