It's a cliche but mixing money and friends. Lost the money, lost the friends (nuff said).
I had to dig deep to find anything I regretted. I barely graduated High School and had to attend 2 elective classes in Summer School to receive my diploma. I rarely think about it though. I gave up a fully paid for scholarship in Computer Engineering through the SOAR program in the Air Force. I wasn't ready to commit 8 years of my life (3-4 for school, 4 active duty as an officer). Family was hit with hard times and needed me back in CA. I could earn more going the Corporate route and missed them dearly, so it was a no brainer, really. Not sure if this is a regret or not. Sunny
1. Making 2 B's my freshman year (haven't made any since). 2. Not doing something cool beans (even if stupid) to make myself stand out and be "unique" to colleges 3. Quitting Baseball before high school
This is very personal and I can't believe I'm typing this. But I regret being painfully shy and introverted most of my life. It has limited so many opportunities for me. What's worse is that people around you may get the impression that your stuck up, when in fact you lack the confidence to express yourself, and are even terrified at times. Being this way...I agree with Horsefly that nice guys do finish last....most of the time. I was a "nice guy" way too long. Being that "nice" is like applying for a job as a doormat, people will walk all over you. I have lived a decent life despite this problem, and have the car of my dreams. And over the last few years I have stopped being so "nice" and think more of myself, and do more for myself. People now respond differently to me, and it's very refreshing. But I often wonder how my life would be now if I had not been so shy. Whew...enough of this.....
A regret that is not mine: If Moses would have made a right instead of a left, we'd have the oil and they'd have the sand! DL
In the mid 70s, a client asked me to invest in his company, telling me that their product would change the worl. I didn't. Last time I looked, every $100 was worth $500k. He'd asked for the fee (40K) as an investment, although I've done pretty well, I guess I'd have done quite a bit better. You'd know the company. They changed the world. Art
Being shy is tough...Not something I necessarily regret though. I was born deaf and didn't really learn to talk until kindergarten. Since then I have always had trouble speaking and am bad at holding conversations. Because of that, I have never really talked to people or had many friends. I have just been extremely shy and quiet my whole life! To be honest though, I dont really have an urge to change. As long as I stay out of the completely unsociable range, I dont see anything wrong with being a quiet person. Not everybody needs to constantly entertain people and be the center of attention to be happy. Well, I had no point in my response, just relating to you
Hey horsefly and cargy - I disagree strongly. Nothing wrong with a strong sense of ethics and fair-play. True - many people taking shortcuts do get short-term benefits. Some of them even get to keep them for life. But certainly at a cost! I used to joke that my parents condemned me to an average existence because of the ethics they taught me. But over time the marketplace learns to trust those companies and individuals that have consistently done "the right thing" through the bad times, periods intense personal stress, and the long-term. After all, as a friend shared with me today - we only know what someone's made of once they've been scratched. Being shy is a problem I could relate to, but that's a problem of confidence, and not ethics.
A few years ago, I had a really really close relationship with a certain girl. In fact, for all intents and purposes we were going out. Then, when we started "officially" going out, I just backed away, for reasons that I don't even know to this day. Then, in April, we went to Spain together (with other people too), and I completely fell for her again. Except she has a boyfriend now and they've been going out for like over 2 years, so I don't think I have a chance of getting back together with her. *sigh* Other regrets? No major ones, but I've been having nightmares about having my admission to Penn revoked. Although, if that happened, I don't think I'd be around here to tell it....
I used to carpool with Michael Dell. Yes that is correct. He lived one block away from me. We were friends for a year or two. Michael lived on Grape street at the time in Houston. We must have been around 12 or 13 years old at the time. His family moved to the Memorial area of Houston a few years before we started Hi school. I overheard Dan Rather talking on the TV with Michael while I was in college in the mid 80's. I ran to the TV when I heard the name; only to miss the brief interview. I did not think much of it. Over the years his company has grown and grown. It is always nice to hear good stories. I hope he continues to find success. Next time: I will attempt to pursue a political favor in having the physical approved for UPT. I missed it by an inch. Only one little problem. OTW: 20/13. ~ Next time !!!! No big deal.
In my crazy days I had this sex-relations ship with this one girl. She called when she wanted it. One night she comes over, we are making out and she asks: "Do you want me to call my girlfriend and we can have a threesome?" My regret to date: "No, not today"
DeaF-Chatter's Unite! I was born deaf as well - profoundly deaf (86-87% loss) in both ears - Nerve Deafness as a result of Rubella (German Measles) plague that hit a whole lot of pregnant women in '59-'60, (along with everybody else, *duh*) - but many kids were born blind or with Mongoloid Syndrome. So, in that respect, I regard myself as fortunate. Started Hearing School when I was 2 1/2, as I'd never heard a sound prior to that time. Of all the kids I went to Hearing School with, my graphs were the worst - but I worked the hardest at comprehending speech. Split my days between regular school and hearing school through 1st grade, a monthly afternoon for another 4 years working on the "S's." Throughout - I absolutely refused to learn sign language. By the time I was in 8th grade, I'd won yet another spelling bee - this time, against every other spelling champ in the County. It wasn't easy, but it was a goal achieved by one who started with the odds stacked against him to do anything of the sort. Incidentally, other than myself - every one of those kids I went to Hearing School with uses sign language to this day - can't talk worth a damn. Many deaf kids have been assumed to be the least qualified in the realm of hearing, speaking, interpretation of sound - but turned it around to where they became the most qualified. You certainly have. Your astounding musical knowledge and skill did not come easily - it took perseverance on your part, and that of your parents as well. I can assure you - on your folks part, just as mine - sometimes it took resistance. For example: Though invited, my Pop refused to attend Reagan's Inauguration as Governor when a hare-brained idea came up for deaf youth's in California to be schooled near Sacramento. His voice of reason and that of countless others against this idea which would have put deaf kids across the State far and wide - into one place - separated from their families - got heard. He missed the Inauguration, but he would have missed his kid more. Found that out a few years ago when I asked why the still-pristine Invitation was in a drawer that they keep my old, body-worn hearing aids in. He still goes to Sacramento once in a while, though - to talk sense into heads of ASSemblymen who don't even understand what they're saying. Saves taxpayers a fortune. Butt, I digest. No matter that I'd won the aforementioned contest or pitched numerous no-hitters and perfect games throughout my youth, I stayed painfully shy for quite a long time... Finally, half a lifetime ago (I'm 43 now) - a lifelong friend (100% Italian) said, "You know, I know you, but I don't know you." Being the analytical person I am, I slept on it. Woke up - wasn't shy anymore. Mind you, I didn't counter my former shyness by turning into a raving lunatic - I saved that for when I joined F-Chat, much to the chagrin of many F-Heads.
That certainly is a regret! You reminded me of one though. You guys are going to think I'm full of sh*t but I SWEAR this is true. When I lived in LA about ten years ago, I was at a store and Brigitte Nielsen was in front of me in line. She kept turning around, staring at me lustfully, looking me up and down. Foolish me was in love and living with a woman so I didn't follow up on the "body language". My relationship with my live-in girlfriend went down the tubes anyway and now I regret not jumping Brigitte's bones, (although then again Sly Stallone probably has the opposite regret! His jumping her bones cost him about $6 million) LOL.
Regrets? Just before Christmas my wife left me and our two daughters to set up home in Finland with a rock drummer. Maybe I should regret buying the tickets for the show where she met him in September, but I don't. Better to find out now (after being together for 12 years) what she is like than wasting the rest of my life on her. I also have no regrets about our relationship either as we had some great times and have 2 great kids. I'm glad I told her before I knew about her new relationship how bad she was at blow-jobs! I'm sad that the kids are so upset, but I know things will get better. I honestly can't think of anything I would change if I could go back. Wow - what a great thread. I'm quite happy now!
This is a really good thread and I can relate to almost all of it. I will NEVER regret taking the high road when it comes to being a decent human being. Maybe it doesn't matter to another living soul on this planet but it does matter to the most important one, ME. That might put me out in left field with a lot of people but then, I've never been one to follow the rest like sheep. I don't have a problem looking at myself in a mirror either. Nice guys will finish last if they allow themselves to be used as a door mat. I know some nice guys that are winners because they don't allow abuse from the self centered, wicked Aholes in the business world. They fight fire with fire when required and THATS the difference. The same goes for relationships. If my partner doesn't play fair, I am not going to roll over and whine. It's a world of give and take and when I decide I won't take it anymore then I start to give it back. I have regrets. My first and last marriage was one of them. If I didn't have any I wouldn't have learned anything from my experiences. They put me where I am today and thats a good place, with good people doing good things. The rest of the 'animals' can go screw themselves! DJ
Darth: The client's name was Grove. Guess what his company's name was? Hint: It's a high tech company, the largest of its type in the world, with 70 - 80% market share. He's an immigrant from Eastern Europe. Art
wax, its great to see Im not alone here! I was born with about 90 percent loss in my left ear and an 80 percent in the right. The problem with me was in a damaged ear drum, cilia in the ear, and so on. Until I was 2 years old my parents didnt know I had hearing problems, they just thought I was stubborn when they would call me and I wouldnt turn around or respond. Once they took me into a doctor for a check up they were absolutely stunned...The doctor equated my hearing to being under 10 ft. of water. So, my parents took me to the best hearing specialists in the country right here in LA and after 7 operations and several sets of tubes in my ear, I had "normal" hearing. I still have bad hearing in my left hear, but nowhere near as bad as when I was younger. If anything, music has made my hearing extremely sensitive. I pick out the sound of a single instrument in an orchestra and detect slight discrepancies in pitch or timbre. Even though my hearing is sensitive, I cant understand people when they talk to me worth a damn. To me, conversation just sounds like a big blur, but I am getting better at understanding it. Now that I have pretty normal hearing, my only worry is loosing it which the doctors say is a possibility...
