If you could go back in time and be 18 years old again, with no guarantee of having the life you have right now. Would you do it?

[fivenonrouses]

Just that really. Would you?

The prospect to me would sound very tempting. Undoing the many mistakes I made. Being more serious about my education. Enjoying uni, the fun of being in halls with my friends, and being completely care free.

Youth is wasted on the young, sometimes!

I would without a doubt if I hadn't had my son but I couldn't imagine not having him as he is

Sorry, I meant to post that in Chat, not AIBU. I will ask to get it moved

No way wouldn’t risk not having partner and son for anything!!!! Everything I did in my twenties led me to them.

I was a free spirit who wasn’t tied down by anyone or anything and then I met “the one”, life is a lot simpler now but the love I have in my life means more than anything.

Buying Apple, Google etc from the start ...? Even as a teenager (I was on my own since 17) - or telling my father to?

Of course!

No way, I feel like every step I took at 18 has led me to living the amazing life I have now! Not that it’s perfect by any stretch, but through the years I have learned from mistakes and taken bold decisions to build the life I want. And I am pretty sure my 18 year old self would be pretty happy with how it turned out

Hell no!! I look back at photos of me at 18 and see a confused and unhappy girl. Those 18-21 years were brutal you were discovering who you are as an adult while alcohol is around and going to horrible clubs with sticky floors and sore feet…. No no no

However, I do agree youth is wasted on the young I wish I had been more serious with buying a house earlier and my education and travelled more…. Sigh… oh well

100%

But can I go back to 15 before I was raped and had a child, which i gave up for adoption, that kind of set the tone for life.

There’s lots of things I should have done differently including marrying ExH at the age of 22 which was objectively bloody stupid but I wouldn’t want to change the DC so… I guess I have to stay as I am.

No, I would love to go back and work harder at Uni, do a different job and travel more, but my DH and kids are awesome and I wouldn’t change them for the world!

No, 60 soon, together 35 years with husband. Can’t think of anything major we’d change.

God no. I only regret one thing. Regrets are pointless. I'm happy with the ride I've had. I don't want to go back.

No, I don't think I would. I often wish I could redo my education, because even though I did well, I was very lazy and am in a career that isn't brilliantly paid and doesn't really suit my introvert leaning personality, even though I don't hate it. I was also very self conscious and didn't get out of it what i wished i had.

No, I really couldn't be fucking bothered to do it all again.

@fivenonrouses Would I go back with the knowledge and experience I have now? If not I fear I would make all the same mistakes!

((((( warm hug )))))

Yes, this - it would only be worth doing with hindsight!

Nope - I own it (including the cock ups along the way), and things have worked out pretty well so far. Also, the thought of having to do it all again sounds so exhausting!

100% yes...... if I had the wisdom not to tread the same path !

Sure. My life is fine but if I could roll the dice again, I would.

No, I don't think I would. Not to say I wouldn't like to erase some small mistakes but on the whole, I'm happy with the main things such as education, career and partner.

Absolutely not. I would absolutely love to relive my University days, but I've been lucky to be happy and healthy so far so no way would I gamble that.

This is interesting!
Some things yes as in taking a career and education more seriously (although I graduated it wasn't a great result) but I also think every decision led me to where I am now which is a pretty decent place including DD.
I wish my parents had fought more for my anxiety/anorexia/depression and I'm sure I'm ADHD but I think back then the medical profession treated each individual symptom rather than looking at the whole person. Maybe I wouldvhave been able to hold down jobs and understand my behaviour more.
On balance though I probably wouldn't change anything. I am extremely resilient and independent and I wouldn't want to lose those traits.
I do frequently long for the freedom (and body) of my youth but that's probably normal for anyone approaching middle age!

Wouldn’t change a thing. I often think about the scared, hopeless person that I was t 20 and think she would be so relieved if she could see me now( nothing to do with money).

I don't want to live my life again. I've had a great time, good career, fantastic wife and daughter. We could afford to buy a house and live a nice lifestyle. I don't think many 18 year olds will have the fun, opportunities that my generation had.