From Coed Magazine, top ten things you do in your 20’s that you’ll regret in your 40’s
1) Not Spending More Time With Your Parents
2) Bad Credit
3) Smoking
4) Not Finishing School
5) Not Traveling (Enough)
6) Getting Married Too Young
7) Choosing Your Best Friend’s Girlfriend Over Your Best Friend
Tattoos
9) Risque Internet Pics
10) Body Piercing Plugs
Every now and again, I think about #4, not finishing school. I don’t regret it a lot–I went back to school when the kids were small and was trying to decide what my passion was–and it was (and still is) writing. Maybe a bit of #5, not traveling enough but I married and then we had kids. I don’t regret #6. marrying young. I married at 20, which seems insane now, but it all worked out.
And I just have to say, I don’t get plugs. See this genius with the star-shaped plug in his ear? Looks like mutilation to me! You can see through the star. That is a HOLE in his ear.Think he’s going to regret that in his 40’s?
Now in shape 20-something women with belly button rings look cute, so I get that.
But plugs?
Oh and choosing your best friend’s girlfriend over your friend–that’s just slimy! Massive Hunk Fail!
So do you have any regrets on this list?
March 30th, 2010 at 7:43 am · Link
I didn’t do most of these, so I’m down to #2, #3 and #4. I managed to fix #2 – although I did regret it for years. I don’t regret #3, unless you consider the $$$ I’m spending. Ugh. That leaves me #4, which I do regret from time to time. Funny, I was just having a conversation with my mother about going back to school. Even she’s thought about it and she’ll be 70 this year. Personally, I’m over the idea of a degree, but there’s always the possibility of taking classes to improve myself. =o)
March 30th, 2010 at 8:26 am · Link
I try really hard not to “regret”, I prefer to look at things as a learning experience that made me a better person and shaped me into who I am today. That said number 1 is probably the only one I can say I truly regret. My father passed away when I was young, so it was just me and my mom. I was the normal teenager and our relationship was strained until I was in my late 20’s. With age came understanding of some of the things I “hated” about her, and we are very close now. But I look back at all the time and years missed and wish I could do it differently.
I can also sympathize with numbers 2 and 6. I got pregnant in college, however, I did finish school. But it caused me to settle down long before I was ready. And of course because we were young and stupid, lol, bad credit shortly followed graduation. We almost have that all taken care of now, but man once you start paying old debts they just keep crawling out of the woodwork. But I can’t say I regret those things, my oldest son and my other two children more than make up for the hard times.
As for plugs, just nasty. I love tatoos, and think body piercings can be attractive on the right people and in the right places, but those plug things, yick.
March 30th, 2010 at 8:49 am · Link
I think the only two I qualify for is #5 & #6…and perhaps #4.
I was 20 when I got married, too. I can’t say I regret it because I wouldn’t have my kids, but I never lived on my own. I wonder if I missed something there.
#6…I did get my license to work on airplanes, so I did have some sort of education beyond HS…but no college. I’ve thought about going back and getting my degree a few times.
#5 I want to travel. I know if I didn’t have a family that’s what I would be doing. Travelling place to place and working where I could to support my travels. I will travel to some places one day, but not like that. Scotland is at the top of my list. The only problem with visiting Scotland…I might not come back! LOL
Oh, I love tattoos. Yum! Especially on the right guy.I like piercings too. On the right person and in the right place, can be very sexy. I tried for years to talk my DH into an eyebrow piercing because he has the right look for it. But he says he’s too old now. bleh!
Plugs I just don’t get. Not sexy at all!
March 30th, 2010 at 8:59 am · Link
Oh you girl are something else, lol.
But I think I am with you on 456…
I actually went to college (which I did not finish) in my twenties due to the fact that I got married early (real early)… due to having a child early in life… But I agree with Val on this.. nothing is a regret in my life. Just learning experiences I still have not learned from. LOL! But I try to live my life to the fullest of how I know and try not to look at the past as “OMG… I did that”.. instead looking it at as “I did that and this is how I have grown.”
And I am with Ashlynn on the tats and piercing…
Off to the Lair to play, I missed yesterday by a landslide… so must make up for the havoc I did not cause yesterday….
March 30th, 2010 at 9:09 am · Link
Hee! I love that #8 turned into
Tattoos. I know people will be dead when they end up on a morgue slab, but truste, much hilarity has been known to ensue. Trust me, a tramp stamp on an 80 yo woman is just….ewwww!
Multiple piercings. OWWWWW! Just getting the two small holes in my ears hurt like hell. Why would I want more?
I smoked. Quit 16 years ago.
Bad credit is bad at any stage of life!
I was lucky enough to get to travel when I was younger. I also waited to marry until I was 30 and The Only came 3 years later.
There are times I regret not finishing my degree but after 4 years and being told I needed another 2 1/2 because credits didn’t transfer, I said the heck with it. Now? Like you, Jen, my passion is writing. A BA after my name won’t make a difference. That said, I’m pushing The Only to go all the way to the Ph.D eventually. She gets her BA in May, rolls straight into her MA, and then she’ll take a break, work in her field (HOPEFULLY!) and pursue the doctorate as time and finances allow.
Now, to all you young’uns out there? Don’t be stupid, but don’t regret too much, either. Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed. Don’t look back with regrets.
March 30th, 2010 at 9:31 am · Link
Let me see…
) Not Spending More Time With Your Parents – Not an issue
Tattoos – nope!
2) Bad Credit – let’s not go there…
3) Smoking – I quit in 2005
4) Not Finishing School – I’m sort of sorry. A degree, I’m told, would earn me more $$ in the work place.
5) Not Traveling (Enough) – Nope
6) Getting Married Too Young – I was 24, is that too young? I don’t think so.
7) Choosing Your Best Friend’s Girlfriend Over Your Best Friend – EWWWWWWW!!!!!
9) Risque Internet Pics – lmao
10) Body Piercing Plugs – Again I say EWWWWW!
When I’m 45 years old my youngest will have graduated from high school and my oldest from college. My husband and I have decided to do all of our traveling then.
March 30th, 2010 at 9:37 am · Link
#1–I spent plenty of time with the parental units, my mom is still kicking at 88.
#2–never had bad credit, never will–parental units growing up in the depression made an impression on me.
#3–never smoked, that’s not saying I never tried, but it stinks too much
#4–got a BS degree in Medical Technology. Sometimes schooling is overrated.
#5–I traveled. Backpacked Europe alone when I was in my late 20’s after attending my bro’s French wedding–betcha all didn’t think I was that adventurous, didja? Visited France, Germany, Lichtenstein, Austria, Switzerland. Went to Europe about 3 more times in my thirties. Still haven’t made it to Italy or Greece–they’re on the list
#6–I married a younger guy at the ripe old age of 30. Yeah, I’m a cradle robber.
#7–no way, that’s just insanely stupid
#8–I admire tats on others, but it seems that it’s an addiction just like crack to many people and then it becomes a jumbled mess of color, or fading color.
#9–Sorry, internet just started when I was in my 20’s–no chance of drunken toga party pics surfacing
#10–don’t get plugs. right up there with tats, I think people get addicted to the endorphine rush when they get exposed to pain.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:20 pm · Link
B.E., I love the idea of taking classes to improve ourselves! Or just learn. We do that a lot as writers, anyway!
Fixing number 2 is impressive, by the way!
March 30th, 2010 at 12:22 pm · Link
Val, I can relate on losing your father young. I had the same thing, but there’s nothing you can do about that. I’m glad to hear you and your mom are close now! I was very close to my mom until she died. I’m so glad I took the time!
Yay on almost having your credit cleaned up!
Plugs are gross. I just don’t get it.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:25 pm · Link
Ashlynn, very cool to have your license to work on airplanes! I can see a heroine with that job
LOL on your husband!!! If Wizard got a piecing, it’d be so out of character, I’d have him in the next day for a brain scan. But I can see the allure of tats and piercings to some. Plugs I can’t understand!
March 30th, 2010 at 12:28 pm · Link
Cecile, exactly! How can we ever regret a child? In my case, I married then had our son 16 months later. But I was still youngish, 21, but I loved it.
I’ve been out all morning, what is going on in the lair? What’s all that noise? I shouldn’t just ignore it!
March 30th, 2010 at 12:31 pm · Link
Silver, ewwww! So don’t want to see an 80 year old woman with a tramp stamp!
You did get to do a variety of things before kids! That’s a great way to do it. Or like me, have my kids done and now I’m free
I know on the 8!!! I have to put in a space between the 8 and the ), and I forgot.
Your daughter is a very accomplished young woman!
March 30th, 2010 at 12:32 pm · Link
Erika, I don’t think 24 is too young! For me, it’s just weird to look back and realize how young 20 really is.
You’ll have having your kids grown when you’re 45! Okay you won’t think of them as “grown” but still, it’s really a nice time to have the freedom.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:35 pm · Link
Margaret, my parents married during WWII (my dad was a fighter pilot) so they were of the same era. I’m just as cautious financially, but I think that comes from my dad dying young and my mom and I struggled.
You’ve done some great traveling, but you need to get to Italy and Greece if that’s your goals. And wow, wouldn’t Greece be awesome? That hadn’t even occurred to me until you mentioned it.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:42 pm · Link
Yea, it is best if you just ignore the noise and keep walking, lol….
Oh no… never. She (halfing witch) is my best friend and I would be absolutely lost without her. I had her when I was really young… try 17yrs old. But I sooo thank God that He knew what He was doing ~ cuz I would not be the person I am today without her in my life. She has forced me to step out of comfort zone to teach her that things can be done. Going to college ~ in the after life (as teens call it, lol). Being a single parent and making it work. Supporting myself and her, working full time, going to college, being active in her life… She has helped me grow in more ways that I thought possible… all to show her that it can be done and to never say NEVER!
March 30th, 2010 at 12:56 pm · Link
I guess I’m boring ’cause:
yeah, wish I HAD gotten one
1) I spent plenty of time with my parents (still do)and we went on 3 camping trips a year.
2) I have average credit
3) Never even tried – stinks (both parents do tho)
4) finished HS, college and 1 yr at BBC
5) I wish I had traveled more but, as I said, we did go camping a lot and I did fly to Haiti …
6) I was 25
7) even if that said BOYfriend – no, never liked who any of my friends dated …
9) that would require some to be taken in the first place
10) um, no – just multiple ear piercings
March 30th, 2010 at 7:20 pm · Link
Here goes:
I’d like kids, though.
#1 – not an issue
#2 – does being stupid with credit (huge bills) count? I’ve got them paid off now (thanks to the parents) and I never actually had bad credit as I paid my bills. It just made it hard to do anything else
#3 – EWWWWWW! Never, never, never!!!
#4 – wish I’d not quit in my 20’s. I did go back in my 30’s and get an Associate’s. Not that it’s helped me find a better job.
#5 – never had the cash (see #2). I’m with Ashlynn about Scotland. Top of my list, too! I’ve been saving my tax returns for the past few years with a trip in mind
#6 – single here
#7 – Ewww! I believe in loyalty to my friends, thankyouverymuch!
#8 – pass, thanks!
#9 – only looking at other people’s pics
#10 – piercings only in my ears. Plugs? Again, ewwwww!