“Doing What My Parents Expected Of Me”: 30 People Over 30 Share Their Biggest Regrets

THIS is EXACTLY my philosophy!!! I've things I wish that could've been different but they couldn't be if I wanted to wind up where I did and I do cuz I'm AWESOME now

And those decisions were made based on what kind of personality you had back in your past. Not much anyone can do to acquire courage and the ability to make hard decisions when they lack life experience.

I completely agree with Op and with my fellow Pandas. I cannot my past, but it sure help me to become a better person than when I was younger.

I agree completely. So far, I've had a lot of adventures. Enough to know that the quiet life is pretty good, for now.

Exactly. The key is to habitually question yourself in the present: "Would I do this differently if _____?" and if the answer is "No" then in the future, you can rest assured.

Good job quitting!!

So highly addictive. I'm so happy I quit "early" after 10 years. Best decision.

I started when I was 19. Hey, she was cute ok? Could barely think straight for the job interview so when she offered me a cigarette....... I'll be 47 soon.

Gave up after 40 years of smoking, but too late I have COPD. Just don't do it.

I’m glad you quit!

I hope I never have to run to save my life.

Doesn't matter. I hit 40 and metabolism turned tail and ran for the hills.

If you wait too long in life, it'll kill you. Several celebrity examples out there. They don't do a movie for years, suddenly start getting in shape for a new comeback, and then they die shortly after.

Remember, you only need to floss the teeth you want to keep, 😁

I do too, but unfortunately without employee benefits it's so expensive to see a dentist!

Every six months? :o I go once a year for checkup.

This one. I’m about 5k and halfway into fixing all the neglect over the years to my teeth. I’m in my 40s and just had my wisdom teeth out, all my cavities filled, multiple caps, deep cleaning and got my invisoline(sp?)ordered. After that they will be rebuilding all my chipped messed up front teeth. Just about 10k all said and done and that’s with insurance. Take care of your teeth. You only get one set.

This! Between smoking, a Mountain Dew addiction, and never having consistent dental insurance throughout my adult life my teeth are not in the best shape. It wouldn’t have been that hard for me to pay out of pocket for a cleaning twice a year if I really tried

My wife and I never had that problem. But. You lose a lot of family, friends along the way. Meaning, you will pay a price and need to accept that.

I only managed to cut out toxic and abusive family members a couple years ago. I was diagnosed with cancer last year and regret living for everyone else and not myself. Spend the time you’re given on yourself more. You only get one life and other people will use it instead of you. My family’s response to my cancer? Filed a lawsuit against me to demand access to my 3 children so the abuse can continue into the next generation. But I will fight till I’m dead to protect them.

THIS!

It's not uncommon to care less about other people's opinions of us as we get older, but you need to be careful about how it's applied. It can be used as an excuse for bad behavior.

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It's never too late, and although children can pick up another language much more easily than adults, once you are an adult it's no more difficult at 50 than 30.

Same! One of my biggest regrets was never taking a second language in school. Especially now that I live in Texas surrounded by so many Spanish speakers. I have just started Duolingo so we’ll se how it goes

Start learning now! It’s great for your brain when you’re older

Also another thing I thank God I dedicated to learning in my late teens and early 20s.

I enjoy drinking, but I do it a lot less now that I'm getting older (38). I do not enjoy the 3-day hangovers of depression and anxiety that come with drinking when you get older.

I "quit", reducing it from once a week to once every half year, and then just one beer.

I am 33, and I haven't had alcohol for almost 10 years. I was talking to a guy that was 29, who was an alcohol distributor for a large company. Because of his job and the drinking that came with it, he looked 10 years older than he was. It really surprised me and turned me off completely. Drinking ages you, and you can always read a person's health by the condition of their skin. Your skin is the largest organ you have and everything comes out through your pores and waste matter (urine/feces).

I only drink a glass or two probably 3 times a year because I don't like the person I am when I'm drunk. Aggressive and vicious.

When I was younger in my early 20's got into going to bars for a while. Get drunk have a hangover and tell myself never again. Than come next Friday night or Saturday night there I was doing it again. After a period of time I decided this was not for me. Quit going to bars. Eventually change my life around, occasionally would have a drink here and there. My life is a whole lot better.

When I was younger when first presented with a 401K plan, I didn't understand what that was about. Wish I would have ask questions and started one back in my 20's. Wish had kept it up. Way my life turned out not sure how it would have worked out though. I am retired now but not sure if I would be better off financiall y

I agree. I also wish I wasn't so lazy when I was younger. I wish I'd gotten a second job or at least pushed myself harder not to just stay in the job I had because it was easy. I was so bored and I mistook that for hating work. I never understood that and so I just always thought I hated working so I couldn't wait to clock out and get home. I felt tired even when I wasn't. I could have saved so much money in my 20s if I'd found a better job and found something I liked more. Now I'm in my 40s and i'm stuck because now rents are so high that saving is really difficult. I can't stress enough how much you should save as much as you can, as early as you can. You can retire early, have health care, have f-you money, which means you'll never be forced to do something you don't want to do because you can't afford to say no. Especially women who feel stuck in a bad relationship because they can't afford to leave. 'Tomorrow' or 'later' is this magical place that sneaks up on you really fast.

Definitely. I never started a 401K and now that I’m middle age I really regret it. I have pounded into my kids to make sure they do

I did it with 5 friends, 04 weeks. Hands down the best trip of my life. Well worth it I worked for it and it was one of the best money I've ever spent.

When I was a teen, my Dad and I talked about taking a few days and sailing up to the next town and back. Really regret we never did.

After you get your education and a degree you will discover all that knowledge is just the foundation for what you need to know in the real work world. If you do not have that foundational knowledge you will be a failure in the real world. The rest of your life will be all about learning new things and dealing with new problems. Better get the most out of your school experience.

Never went to college. But didn't do very well in high school. Even if .I did better in high school , I don't think I would have been smart enough to go to college. I feel if I had done better in high school I feel I would have done better in life. To anyone in high school do the best you can otherwise you will regret it later in life.

Any entire generation of current students will soon be adults in society and have $h!t to offer.

I'm glad you're doing better! Keep it up!

I wish I knew a way out. Everyone always says this but there's no concrete examples of how to get out except for the obvious ways--go to school or actually know what you want to get into and work toward that. I never knew what I wanted to do. I've been on my own since I was 17 so the rent was always due. I couldn't go an 'find' myself. I don't have someone's couch I can sleep on if it didn't work out. So I just stayed at a job I hate because they gave me just enough raises to keep me from being able to start all over from the bottom again. If I knew what I wanted to do I might risk it. If you don't, then it's too risky to start over for a job that might end up being just as bad.

Most jobs are dead end and all jobs are awful.

Same

Hell with that. I did try to do what my parents expected of me. Made me truly unhappy and resentful.

The last sentence, is soo true.

They may be your employers but most don't care as long as they are making money. Don't stretch yourself thin for money.