What are the three best things you have done in your life?

[JapaneseBirdPainting]

Not children-related, but more hobby/experienced based.

My NY Resolution for 2020 is 'to have more fun'.

Mine to date:

Scuba dive on the Great barrier Reef

Christmas in Vienna

A fantastic vegetarian cooking course

Going on my first cruise - been every year since
Getting my dogs
Having Motorbikes

Some pretty fantastic experiences here. Mine are much less awe inspiring! Apart from having DD, mine would be:

• when DH & I bought and renovated our first house 10 years ago. We did everything ourselves and as cheaply as possible, working late into the night after work and around my shifts (nurse). It was a LOT of fun (and hard work!) and we did a brilliant job!

• getting our dog and all the lovely places and walks we have done because of him

• learning how to grow things and look after a garden. It’s a lovely feeling.

My first solo holiday (skiing in Bulgaria) changed my life. I learned to ski (scary and exhilarating) and realised that the world really was mine to experience anything I wanted.

After training as a counsellor, the first time I realised that a clients life really had been transformed by the work we did together.

Sitting in my beautiful, comfortable living room in my lovely house with my family and marvelling at how far I’ve come in life.

Living in Seoul
Hong Kong harbour for Chinese New Year
Swimming in a cenote in a remote part Mexico

Moving to London
Leaving London when I was ready
Doing the Au pair in America scheme

Can I add getting my cat- he’s been amazing for me and started a series of positive life changes. (I know that’s 4!)

Aurora chasing in the Arctic
Taking DC on a surprise trip to New York
Flying to Barra and landing on the beach

Took off for a few years in my twenties with a backpack, so some of those experiences are hard to beat:-
Working (teaching English) and travelling in China (pre Tiananmen Square in 1989)
Spending two years in Australia; working on remote cattle stations as a cook, saving money then travelling around this fabulous country.
Working in Hong Kong for a year, where I met OH.

Lovely thread!

• Living abroad at various times
• Buying my first property (I come from a very messed up, low income family)
• This is a bit vague, but: doing activities that forced me out of my comfort zone and had me interacting with people I otherwise never would have met. Some of my best friends have come out of this.

Holiday in Galapagos
Getting my MBA
Setting up and running my own business for 2 years. It wasnt a success but something I'm very glad I did as it was a life goal.
Having horses at home. A goal i achieved but one I didnt enjoy when I reached it.

I'm happy that I've reached middle age and when I retire I have no desire for anything really as I've achieved all the goals I set myself even if they weren't a success. Well maybe I would like to do a PhD.

Kids of course as well are a success but they are challenging too!

Oh doing camp america when I was 18. That was great fun. Sorry that's 5!

Racing motor bikes for a few years

Travelling with (and on), and without motorbikes

Travelling with work

Playing for the rugby team I supported
Passing my professional exams
Leaving home at 17 and never going back

Hiking the Annapurna sanctuary.
Becoming a sailing instructor.
Road trip round California with DH.

-Deciding to leave someone who wasn’t good for me

• getting my masters degree
• travelling round Europe

OP: ‘not children-related’...
MN: ‘having kids’

Singing at the Festival of Remembrance- very emotional and a privilege.

Getting ASD diagnosis and onto a research trial that has allowed me just a bit more courage socially.

I’ll come back with a third (no DP or DC)

Purchase my own home which will be paid off by the time I'm 40.
Get a 1st in my uni degree.
Taking my kids to Disneyland.

Owning my home.

Travelling around the world to places no-one else had heard of, let alone visited!

Getting my piano Grade 8 at the age of 55.

Learnt to drive. Best feeling of independence . Wouldn't be without my car now.

Getting my dogs.
Going on Roaccutane.
Becoming a student so I can do the job that I love.