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Original poster

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?

103 replies

fivenonrouses · 03/10/2023 18:02

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!

OP posts:
Holly2285 · 03/10/2023 20:31

I would quite like to, but maybe from 16 and redo my college years and do something more career driven etc. Feel like I've been throught a lot of crap and right now the only good thing is my daughter. But I never wanted kids when I was younger

RedRobyn2021 · 03/10/2023 20:37

No. I do think I could have worried less but overall I couldn't give up where I am now.

Dammitthisisshit · 03/10/2023 20:38

Humm. My instant reaction was yes. I get to live my life again? Of course! Nearly 30 years more life. Who wouldn’t!

But then I though about my children not existing. And that would be the worst thing ever. I know I could maybe have different children in my next life but they wouldn’t be them. So effectively if the choice is to give up my chance of life so they can live I’d do it in a heartbeat. I just hope that I can do enough in the time I have with them to set them up to have a happy life.

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AgnesX · 03/10/2023 20:40

Definitely wish I knew then what I know now.....there's a lot I'd do differently.

Whattodowithit88 · 03/10/2023 20:42

No way! If I could go back to 18 and relive my life I would change a few small things if I could keep my memepry of how it unfolds, but to go back and possibly not have my life, no.

catwithflowers · 03/10/2023 20:42

Needanewnamebeingwatched · 03/10/2023 18:07

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.

How utterly awful. I'm so sorry 💔

sexnotgenders · 03/10/2023 20:46

pinkhousesarebest · 03/10/2023 18:25

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).

Beautifully put. I'm always metaphorically telling my young self that she'll be ok. She doesn't think it, but I wish she knew

Sparehair · 03/10/2023 20:50

Depends- if I know what I know now, yes. If I’m just 18 again and memory of current life wiped then no as I’m probably lucky things have turned out as well as they have so probably shouldn’t risk it again 🤣

1FootInTheRave · 03/10/2023 21:22

No.

I'm happy with the person I am and the people that surround me.

Wouldn't even change mistakes as they led to this.

SirenSays · 03/10/2023 21:34

Yes! Yes! Yes! How do I sign up?

TwigTheWonderKid · 03/10/2023 21:34

No. Despite the fact it would mean seeing my parents again, who died when I was 20, or that I might not end up with the rare and aggressive cancer which is likely to kill me in the next few months and before both my sons grow up, I would still not be willing to sacrifice the 33 years I've had withy lovely husband, the time I've spent with my boys, and all the amazing friends I've made along the way.

Gnomegnomegnome · 03/10/2023 21:39

No. Every mistake, every tragedy and trauma got me to where I am today.

I worked hard on creating a life that 18 year old me would hate! It’s a better life that I wouldn’t or couldn’t have imagined possible.
I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for some of the not so great bits along the way.

Liv999 · 03/10/2023 21:42

No, if it meant not having my two lovely dds and my husband

DrCoconut · 03/10/2023 21:43

I wouldn't be without my kids but if I could go back in time and still know what I know now about men and life in general I would do it.

BBno4 · 03/10/2023 21:44

Already had 2 kids by then, so my life would've been the same.

Titsywoo · 03/10/2023 21:44

Not a hope - sure I could have done things better at 18 but I love my life now and wouldn't want to lose that.

Mum2jenny · 03/10/2023 21:45

Definitely yes, but I’m not sure my life would have changed at all because of this.

pinkhousesarebest · 04/10/2023 05:36

Twig what a testimony to love.

Mouldyfoodhelp · 04/10/2023 06:09

100% looking back at university I wasted so much money and was unhealthy, and I could have taken anti depressants a lot earlier and potentially saved my 20s

fatrascall · 04/10/2023 06:13

Depends if I'd have the brain of my 18 year old self or my current self!

If the former, definitely not, because my decisions then led me to where I am now, and my life is pretty good.

If the latter, perhaps. I am wiser now and could potentially have an even better life by now if I had my current wisdom at 18.

SD1978 · 04/10/2023 06:14

Nope. Purely because of my daughter. If I went back and knew where things could have gone/ been done better, I would change that if she wasn't a factor. Going back with no knowledge or understanding of the big mistakes just means they could go worse than they did.

CopperLion · 04/10/2023 06:15

Wow, interesting that I immediately thought ‘yes!’. I have a lot to be grateful for, but if I could go back with the knowledge I have now, I would make a lot of changes in terms of studying harder, career choices, financial choices, and choices about partners. I don’t have kids though so I am not imagining a life with them no longer in it.

I don’t experience any sense of regret, though. I’m 43 but still feel very young (possibly deluded!). My response to this question gives me some good insight into where I should be making some changes.

Nonplusultra · 04/10/2023 06:20

I think about this a lot. On the one hand I’d like to be able to back and meet dh sooner and have more time with him. But I couldn’t risk my dc. That said if it happened without my consent, I wonder if I’d have dc at all - I wasn’t remotely prepared for the reality of them.
I’d definitely make different career decisions and save like crazy. I’d have chosen a different university too.
My mental health was very poor at 18, and I don’t honestly know if I could face that time again

Oysterbabe · 04/10/2023 06:57

I would. I put up with so much bad treatment from so many people. I wish I'd realised and stood up for myself.

OhMrDarcy · 04/10/2023 07:04

100% yes. Love my life now but having finally got some self confidence I'd love to go back to being 18 again and make some changes/put up with less shit. And lose the 7 extra stone I've gained.