Happy September!!! Anyone else shocked that it is September already?!?!
My “Secret Subject” is:
Back to school time, if you could go back in time to your freshman year, knowing what you know now, how would you do things differently? or would you?
It was submitted by: http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com/
This topic really made me think. I thought of the endless list of things I could change. I thought of the endless list of things that I could keep as is. I thought of the endless list of things I did not do, that I could do. I am a huge believer in everything happening for a reason, and to learn from both the good and bad. So, I guess at the end of the day, I would not change anything. Everything happened for a reason, I survived, and I ended up right where I need to be.
That answer does not exactly make for an interesting read, so I have decided to list the things I would change, if I did change anything.
I would study harder and get better grades. I did fine in school, but I have learned that knowledge is truly power. I would love to have learned even more. I would have paid more attention, taken better notes, done more research, and strengthened my weaknesses.
I would have learned more basic life skills. Cooking, money management, and other basic life knowledge. I would have learned to sew and crochet and do other DIY household activities. I would have learned more about credit and mortgages and investing.
I would have set up my credit better.
I would have gotten into a different college, and I would have better prepared for the whole college experience. I should have looked into more colleges over the years. I decided on three colleges my Freshman year, and never really explored other possibilities. I also would have given more thought to the major I selected. It was great when I was six and selected it, but it wasn't that great for adult me. I would have spent my years in high school exploring other career possibilities.
I would have gotten down to a healthy weight. I was always chubby, and if I could do it over, I would have been extremely fit and active.
I would have done more with my faith. I am still not confirmed and I am nearly 35. I would have followed through with confirmation and attended Bible Study regularly.
I would have learned how to do more mechanical and carpentry skills.
I would have strengthened my bonds with family.
I would have partied a bit more. I would have been a kid. I think I took on too much responsibility. I missed out on many normal teenage activities. I would change that.
I would have traveled more, focusing on international travel. Looking back, I had a few missed opportunities for travel, that I should have definitely taken advantage of. I should have gone to Mexico my Freshman year.
I would have stressed less. I think I really stressed myself out during high school, especially my Freshman year and my Senior year.
I took Spanish from Kindergarten until eighth grade. My Freshman year, I chose to take French. If I could do it over, I think I would have done both.
There is a lot I could change. I still think I should leave everything as is, but must admit, with a few small changes, my entire life could probably be better. Regardless, my life is my life. My choices were my choices. I am grateful for the life I have, imperfections and all.
Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:
LOVE your post! Yes, there are so many things I can think about changing, but ti;s like a butterfly effect...one small change and the future is vastly different. We are who we are because of our past. great post.
ReplyDeleteGreat job! I think you are right everything happens for a reason and we are where we are because of the choices we have made. Life would be so much easier with the gift of hindsight, but I guess that would make life pretty boring!
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to look back and think about what to change, because it seems like such a disservice to the person you have become. Even those mistakes play a part in forming you.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I certainly accept your belief that everything happens for a reason, I also believe that it's unrealistic to look back and not see things we could have done differently or done better or done with more passion.
ReplyDeleteThe way I see life is that for everything you might have done better, you would have made a different mistake or bad choice. I like to think that the end result is not much different either path we chose.
ReplyDeleteIf you've ever watched "Sliding Doors" with Gwyneth Paltrow you know what I mean ;-)
Oh, and J? You're 35? You can still do many of the things if they are important to you!
Look, Lady, I said nearly 35. Don't be adding years to my years. Pffffttt. I do hope you're right. Lots I want to do, some I should have done years ago. As they say... Better late than never.
DeleteHard to know what I would change. I'm with you. All those choices have given me the life I love now, which i love.
ReplyDeleteMy life is cursed so even if I got a redo, the curse would somehow would mess it all up again. I do always say that youth is wasted on the young, however, because it is.
ReplyDeleteOur pasts are just that, past!! No matter what our choices were we are where we are now and have to go from there.
ReplyDeleteEach day is another chance to do those things we wished we had done before.
I'm with you. Everything happens for a reason and if you change one thing it changes who and where you are now.
ReplyDeleteBUT having said that i think we all have things we would have done differently.
Love how you used the prompt.
Thank you! It was a wonderful prompt. I'm not perfect. My life isn't perfect. I appreciate everything, even the imperfections.
ReplyDeleteSo many things I would do differently. Mostly, I wouldn't be as shy as I was. Because now, at my age, I'm so absolutely NOT shy. I think I missed out on a lot!
ReplyDeleteLove the prompt-and your answers. I did okay in high school but think I would have benefited from carpentry /mechanical classes so much, it's hard picking it up as an adult-or so it seems for me.
ReplyDeleteAnother trip down the "what if" rabbit hole. I think you chose wisely, because you are an amazing person and I wouldn't want anything to change that.
ReplyDelete