Deep question of the week; if you had the chance to start over, would you?

would want to be a female and marry a rich husband or be a pimp!

 

In theory....
any change along one's life path could have significant implications. For example: you re-live your life and at that critical juncture you save the failed family business by not hiring the embezzeler.....only to be wiped-out 2 years later for everthing you have for product liability or some such repercussions.

Since I'm not an addict, I'm not sick, have no debilitating issues....I'll keep what I have...the good & the bad.

 

...another good movie to see along these lines is "The Butterfly Effect" with Ashton Kutcher from last year.

As much as I like things they way they are, I would make some changes...mostly involving taking larger risks earlier in life. :^)

 

Or "Sliding Doors", or the Star Trek TV episode where they go back in time to the 20th century, pre-WWII, when McCoy changes the future by saving a woman from dying in an auto crash.

This is a very old theme in literature and movies. H.G.Wells "invented" the time machine, remember? If we all had it to do over again, knowing what we know in life now, would be do everything the same, or change things? I don't believe people who say they'd do everything just the same. You'd change something, and that would probably change everything. Old New England saying: "Too soon old, too late smart." If I could go back, knowing what I do now, I'd do a lot of thing differently. Would I be happier? Maybe, maybe not.

 

Know what I know now? Of course. On the other hand, I have no complaints. Oh sure, I wish my ex wife was never my wife to begin with, but that is nit picky.
All in all, as the song goes, Life's been good to me so far...

 

yes if I could change my past and be happier then I am currently... I would go back and not click on this post

 

I believe in manifest destiny, so I think everything important happens for a reason. I think there's a reason for all of it, whether I can understand it or not. I am not all that spiritual or religious, but I believe this nonetheless.

I'm with Clyde tho, I'll take what I got. Not happy with all the decisions I've made in life, but it turned out OK so far...

 

Funny you say that. They did a study in a retirement village with the elderly. The average age of the person asked was 95. The question asked was what would you do if you can go back and relive you life. The answer...take more risks.

 

It does seem to make sense....living to 95 playing it safe all the time does seem to beg the question: "What could I have gotten away with?"

One way to aviod regrets (that's what this is all about, isn't it) is to have a "Life List" and work it down, one item at a time.

 

Ferrari: check
Divorce old PIA wife and get young girlfriend: check

OK, my work here is done.

 

Man, I'm gonna be THAT guy who chimes in with the cliche response....but going to be 23 in a month, I still have PLENTY of life to live, but from my experience thus far and just interacting with people of all ages, you make the best decisions you could make AT THAT TIME. Do I have regrets? Eh, maybe, but nothing significant. Everyone that happens to you good or bad shapes the person you are today.

Now my only regret would have been sticking with football when i was younger and maybe I could be in the league right now!!!

nah, i'm doin aight.....werd

 

Regrets? I've had a few. But then again, too few to mention.

 

and isn't the rest of the song by Joe Walsh....
"My Maseratti does 185.
I've lost my license, and now I don't drive."

nothing about a Mondi.

 

I planned each charted course, each careful step on the Bi-way.

And more...much more then this, I did it My way.

 

My father always told me not to waste time when I was in high school. I always said "yeah ok dad." I look up and 20 years have already passed. I'm just here for the ride and enjoying great time with good friends here in the EC!

 

Ever hear Sid Vicious' version? He sings it with the attitude it deserves.

 

David,

Don't mean to be pedantic... well, actually, I do... but you misuse the term "manifest destiny." Manifest Destiny was the rational for the US expansion and takeover of islands throughout the Pacific during the mid-1800s and the expansion westward. It means "an ostensibly benevolent or necessary policy of imperialistic expansion."

What you are talking about is simply "destiny" or pre-ordination -- That some higher power or force has pre-determined what will happen in your life. Your second paragraph is inconsistent with that philosophy, however. If you believe in pre-ordination, than you don't make decisions. Decisions are made for you. Fate.

But, if you are making decisions, you have free will and can change the course of your life and life events. Of course, the decision not to make a decision is, in fact, a decision, so everything that happens to you in your life is decision driven and therefore within your free will to determine for yourself. Go see "Candide" if you really want to get confused about the philosophy of life.

I'm glad I made the decision to get a good education. It's allowed me to carry around useless information like this most of my life. If ignorance is bliss, what does enlightenment bring?

Fu$# this $h!t. Let's just drive our Ferraris and enjoy life while we can.

 

this thread is getting to be spookey

 

Mistakes arent necessarily a bad thing. We learn from them. Sure there are some things i might have done differently (hindsight is always 20/20), but nothing big, mainly just things that would make it easier to do the things I want to do. There are many many more things that i'm happy i did (or am doing) and would do all over again, despite the high [non-monetary] costs or effort involved.
As for a different profession...i have my fingers crossed and i'll let you know once I start this summer.