If you could go back in your life and make a decision to change the course of your life, would you do it?

Question

I was thinking that because of the way my life has turned out at present, what would my life be like now if I had made a different decision then.
The decision I made in the past was instead of going into the army, I opted to go to bible school and just recently found out that it was a cult that I was sucked into! So I spent 33 years in it! I am free of it and picking up the pieces of my life. What's done is done and I am just going forward with my life.

The other thing is that I could have been a hair model.

What other path would you have taken if you had that choice to go back and do so.

Answer 1

NOT get married in the first place -- that was a disaster, he was Mentally Ill, Abusive, Violent, and that trait ran in his family. Unfortunately in that short marriage I had two children that INHERITED the Genetic Trace for the Mental Illness, and they turned out to have the same problems -- so for the past 21 years, I've lived with the horrors and terror of caring for mentally ill people (first: Him -- then 2 Children, then Divorced the Jerk, then raised the 2 until they reached adulthood).

This meant that I had to give up a life I would have liked to live, and instead became NOT just the Military Retiree (which I did accomplish -- AND I AM GRATEFUL for MY EARNED Military Benefits), but I had to learn the skills of caring for Violent, Abusive Mental Illness when the individuals DO NOT wish to comply with their treatment protocol.

Thankfully, NOW with ALL of them out of my home, I no longer have to WORRY and Live in Terror of having the LIABILITY of them around me or in my care -- and I can finally NOT be responsible for their Crimes -- which included just recently -- my ex did burglarize my residence with one of the (now adult) children). I have filed the proper reports with Law Enforcement, and am awaiting what is going to happen to them.

Hopefully, it will NOT just be treatment and let them out again -- but prison time. I can't live in terror of being assaulted/battered, having my property damaged/destroyed/burglarized, nor can I live with their Criminal Activity and the liability that goes along with it.

Answer 2

Maybe that was a good decision. If you had went into the Army maybe you would have been killed or crippled a lot of people are.
Even if it was a cult, maybe some of the rules saved you from other terrible mistakes you could have made. A lot of people have AIDS from a promiscueous life style. And die way before 33 years. What do you want to do now?? That is the question that is so great that you couldn't do before?
religious cults usually have a tight network of friends.
Time only goes one way. Use what is left of your life to figure out what is best for you.

Answer 3

If I could? I would go back to the times tht I've done something to the ppl tht thought I really meant it, when I didnt at all. It was just out 'fear' really.

And then I hope tht sometime in the future, that if I happen to come across them again or if I had the chance to apologize to them in anyway... I would.

Other than tht, I take all the mistakes, hurt, accidents, etc. as a lesson to be learnt and then rebuild myself up from there to become a better and much more wiser person. And never giving up in trying to do so.

But Im also careful not to become too arrogant/egoist or take too much pride in myself at the same time.

N to me, I think to know whether ur heading thru the right path or not is in knowing tht ur at peace with urself n with others.

Answer 4

This is a great question! Yes, if I could go back and make different choices I would. But, because I can't, I try to stay positive and work with what I have. I try to instill in my children to follow their dreams and study things closely before they are stuck in something and miserable. I have had times in my life that I was miserable and it is hard to pick up the pieces. I am no longer miserable, I just hope my kids don't go through the things I have gone through.

Answer 5

I believe that everyone is taken down a certain path for a reason. I personally would not change any part of my life because I believe that one little change could change something enormous. Have you seen the movie Butterfly Effect? It's a good movie to show (possibly) how drastically life can change with one small change to the past.

Answer 6

Life's been rough for me a lot of times but it's been the best teacher I ever had! The only change I would make is my mother would not have died when I was 15 months old but would lived and would have only died four years ago when my sweet daddy died. It would have made life better for both Daddy and me.

Answer 7

I would have been with my brother in October 1981 when he was 24 and started driving home and broke his neck when he hit a chughole and tree and utility pole. He lived 15 years as a quad in bed. I would have done something to stop him from leaving to go home.

Answer 8

No i think you would not be the kind of person you are if you went back and changed things. you learn and you live. If you went back and changed things you would not learn anything.Maybe you would be better off but nothing would prevent you from making the mistake again. You are not your mistake,When you know better you do better-in the words of Oprah herself.

Answer 9

This is a very good question. It's making me think, and a decision I made is painful and won't admit it here :(

Answer 10

I would change the person I lost my virginity to. I was so blind.
And if I could, I would have my father not be an alcoholic.