What would you say to your younger self if you had the chance to meet?

You have been blessed. It's good that you ended up doing something that you love. I haven't personally met many people who are miserable with their life, but I'm aware that there are many that are feeling stucked right now. Looks like you don't need that time machine, lol. Have a Merry Christmas.

'The Time Travelers Wife" as come up a few times in this discussion. Both my husband and I learned that we were in the wrong professions immediately after we were married! Amazing but true! We had a baby and we could not go back to our parents. We did it anyway. Today we are both very happy with our careers. Neither one of us hold a bachelors in anything. Yet we make almost $100,000 per year! We aren't looking for more money, never have. We both just want to be happy in our careers. I've always been suspicious that teachers cannot help us find our way to our own success and in my case it was true. Instead I tapped into something I can do and what I enjoy doing. I became a customer service rep. for the financial industry. For thirty five years it was a wonderful for me. Up until recently it was important to banks and investment companies that the customer felt that they were an important part of their business. Today they find doing that to be too time consuming and have created their own (canned responses) when a customer calls in. My husband switched to heating and air from horticulture. I created my own company that involves lots of customer service and making the customer feel important again! I love every minute of it as my expectations of myself are even higher than any of my previous employers! I (hold the reins) of my business and I love being my own boss! Thirty Five years ago I did too much worrying and continued to worry until 2008. My biggest worry now is to stay on schedule and look for marketing strategies others have.

I had a a best friend from Kindergarten through junior high. she had been spreading lies about me from 6th grade on. I finally dumped her during my final year in junior high and eventually regretted what she did. I never gave it another thought and had many days of absolute bliss, riding a wonderful horse and having many friends who didn't even know who she was. Ha!

Same as my experience!She's been my friend since I was in grade 6.Every competition I join she joins also.When I joined our swimming team she tried to audition too.When I became the volleyball team captain she was furious.She joined too.When I represent the school in a chess competition she was furious again.I didn't know anything of those until a friend of mine tell me so.When we were in highschool we part ways until we saw each other again in college.She envied me when she learned that I have high grades.She envy that I have many friends.I thought she got over the competition between us that she started.She asked for my forgiveness and I easily forgave her.Until at my last semester in our school she made all the things I didn't know she was able to do.She literally destroyed me.When I learned about it the damage was so extensive.many people were affected.My friends were doubting me already.I convinced them that I am doing nothing.It was that girl who used my cellphone and text them all.

Yes, you are lucky getting a career and not continue your education to get there. I hope that your career is one that you really like. There is nothing like being miserable at a job just to be able to get by.

I'm pretty lucky and went on to a great career without continuing my education. But it's amazing the number of people responding who regret not continuing theirs.

Absolutely! Change is what keeps life an adventure.

That is very cool! You must love change! Me too.

I'm glad you got some good advice! I didn't.

If I could turn back time, I would really want to make my life much better than what I have now. No regrets with having my children. I just wished I could have started family life the right way so that I could have provided better for all my kids.

It's wonderful to have the money and the self confidence to continue our education. I have always been a cheerleader for the kids who are working full time and getting their degree at the same time. No those are the ones with "guts".

@vernaC , u took the words outta my mouth. I did great in school....but I was super lazy about it. When I gotto college, I met a lot of ppl who were more focused. I tried at times to muster the same determination But by then, my tendency to procrastinate was so hard to break. I finished college but it was a struggle. I would urge my younger self to have fun, but also to buckle down in school, play more sports, and take hold of Opportunities that came my way.

My parents didn't let me touch the languages, music, you name it. My husband communicated for me in Mexico. Sad, but true.

My parents always said I had more guts than a government mule (whatever that means). But I knew once I had the chance if I put everything into it I could build a future and I knew I'd be doing it alone, without the help of my family. They still tried to slow me down but I had something that would help me rise to independence. I love to fiddle with numbers and I'm detail orientated. Mom was bummed I built a decent income in two years after joining the workforce. That's because my whole life was never based on what they told me to do but what I wanted to do. And I did only what I was good at!

I was labeled a lazy, daydreamer who would get better grades if..... Sometimes they even convinced me which turned my thoughts to food. My dad was even worried about me. But when I turned 19 my father accidentally (or by pure logic) let me have the reigns to my life. I knew what I was really good at and what I enjoyed doing. I could say by my actions this is what I want, this is what I can do, this is what I should learn to do this better, etc. etc. It worked. By the time I was 20 I was in the work force and found what matched my skills. I stayed there 35 years. I still daydream to this day when I want to relax! I deserve it.

Just knowing that one day I would be successful would actually make me carry my self with a lot more pride and confidence! I would ignore negative people (especially my family and some teachers). Luckily I figured out my own path in college,taking classes I felt would benefit my career one day, much to my mothers dismay. I knew I had benefits that would serve me well. And they did!

Funny the things fate does.

That's called a positive outlook on life.

Why do adults think its so wonderful to pick on children? After turning 18 my world was a completely different. It shall remain so.

You are very welcome my dear.

That's what a successful person does-remember their successes and learns from their mistakes! If we forget the bad times we forget what we learned from them.

Exactly. No one can get anywhere for very long by stepping on other people to do it. Nor can you get anywhere by being a "shrinking violet" either!

Ha ha ha ha!!! Then go back to your high school reunion with pictures of your view from your floor to ceiling windows in your house, your view from your corner office, your wedding, your family, your "awesome" friends and tell them you can't stay long because you are due in France on business because a detail was left out when you were there last month! Life is now fun!

Holy crap! I can see I was definitely not alone!

I would tell me to remember my successes and learn from my mistakes.

making goals and working hard to attain them is very rewarding!