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Original poster

If you died tomorrow, what would your greatest achievements be, and what would you have missed out on?

67 replies

AbsentmindedWoman · 27/04/2020 21:07

Feeling pensive and maudlin and curious.

I can't even name any stupendous achievements of my own Hmm

I've missed out on having children due to health problems and it does make me quite sad at times. My career hasn't taken off (yet) and always hoped i'd loads of time but if covid takes me out then I'll never get there! It's made me think about how quickly time goes.

What about you?

OP posts:
bigchris · 27/04/2020 21:09

Well this is mumsnet so lots of people will say raising their children

My biggest regret would be not travelling very much

Whatsername177 · 27/04/2020 21:10

I have no huge achievements. I'm a nice person, a good friend, a great teacher and the best mum I can be. That's enough, I think.

Original poster
AbsentmindedWoman · 27/04/2020 21:11

I agree that raising children is a fine thing to nominate as one's best achievement.

OP posts:
Original poster
AbsentmindedWoman · 27/04/2020 21:12

a great teacher

I think that IS a huge achievement!

OP posts:
beebeedandelion · 27/04/2020 21:14

Seeing my DD graduate would be what I missed out on most. Greatest achievement? Not sure really, I can't think of anything.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 27/04/2020 21:16

My kids are my greatest achievement even though they are only tiny.

My greatest regret would be not seeing them grow up to have happy lives & families of their own.

puffinandkoala · 27/04/2020 21:19

Nothing - nobody beyond my immediate family would care very much.

But if I'm dead, I don't care either. My view when I am annoyed about something is to think I won't care next week so try to put it out of my head now. It usually works. So if it's something more serious, like Brexit, I try to think the only person it matters to is me, and nobody will care once I'm dead. It keeps things in proportion.

I don't kid myself that I make any great, or indeed any, contribution to world history.

Missed out on? Nothing. I would have liked have visited New Zealand as I lived there when I was tiny but I doubt I ever will, even if I live another 50 years, I think I am fated not to.

Mayhemmumma · 27/04/2020 21:20

My children are my greatest achievement, they make me so proud.
I would also be happy that I have a loving husband, beautiful home, good friends and people who would miss me.
I've tried hard in my work - key worker but I find some of it tiring and stressful, there are moments I love it...I would like to find something that brings more daily happiness ideally.
I would be desperately sad to miss seeing my children grow up.

ChristmasTree999 · 27/04/2020 21:23

I’ve been thinking exactly this over the last few days! Combination of approaching 40 and too much thinking time on my hands while off work. I had my kids young (first one at 18) so didn’t do uni/career. My kids are absolutely the thing I’m most proud of and I have no regrets that I was a young mum. So my kids, and my little business that I’ve built up over the last few years that I have a reputation for being good at.
Today I started a free Open University course called Planning a better future - it explores exactly what you are thinking about here. I’m finding it really useful to sort my thoughts out!

PantsCrisis · 27/04/2020 21:30

I've built a proper compost heap Grin

CherryPavlova · 27/04/2020 21:31

Raising children to be good, hardworking, successful young adults with a good moral compass would be my proudest achievement - although it’s a shared outcome.

If I die tomorrow my books won’t be published later in the year and I’ve worked hard on them. No real regrets about life thus far.

MuchTooTired · 27/04/2020 21:37

My greatest achievement in life are my two year old twins. I’m pretty unspectacular at everything really, apart from my babies who are amazing. So my greatest regret would be dying before they grow up, and not having anything of value to set them up in life. Oh, and not having gone to the Maldives.

I really must sort out my bloody life insurance!

workshyfop · 27/04/2020 21:37

Achievements - I’ve done well in my career and hopefully carved a path and made it a bit easier for other women to progress to senior roles.
Of course I’m very proud of my wonderful children, but their fabulousness is their own doing.

Missed out on - I’ve never been lucky enough to have a relationship with someone I love. Makes me very sad.

StripeyLurcher · 27/04/2020 21:39

I've built a proper compost heap grin
There are some organic gardeners who seem to have composting as a serious hobby so this can certainly be included!

I'm proud of my dd but I see her as a bit of a lucky fluke who turned out well despite all my mistakes.

Missing out wise I wish I had been able to be more healthily, more enjoyable job, travel a bit more.

NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace · 27/04/2020 21:46

Biggest achievment: enjoying (just about) every minute of my 53 years.

Missed out on: enjoying the next 50.

cocklepicker · 27/04/2020 21:48

Biggest achievement- my children
Missing out on - my children

FusionChefGeoff · 27/04/2020 21:48

I got sober before I could do any serious or lasting damage to my family. Greatest achievement easily Grin

Obvs missed out on 'meeting' my kids as adults but...

I've always imagined that at some point in my future I'll nurse / care for my parents and they're still fit and well (touch wood) so I'd miss out on the opportunity to give back some of what they gave to me.

icelollycraving · 27/04/2020 21:49

My Ds. I was told I’d not have DC naturally so he is my miracle baby. He is a cheeky kind boy, I couldn’t love him more.
I regret not learning to drive when young. I literally have no drive to do it now.

Jolydia · 27/04/2020 21:52

Ive always said my kids are my greatest achievement especially given the fact I was never really that keen on being a mum. I think I am amazed at how well they have turned out. I regret not following my career choices before i got married and letting my other half dictate what i could and couldnt do

Selmaselma · 27/04/2020 21:53

I have been extremely lucky in my life - lived in three great cities, forged myself a successful career, found a loving partner, have a great kid, owned a house with a beautiful garden, travelled the world, have good friendships and neighbors and team mates at work. I am proud of having a moral compass and a positive impact on the world at work.

If I die tomorrow it would be worst for my child having to grow up without a mother :(

I think I missed out mostly on a great childhood. Unfortunately both my parents were not cut out for the job and didn't know how to support us. My dad had issues with alcohol which wasn't helping.

dayslikethese1 · 27/04/2020 21:55

Not much achievement really; I just try to go through life doing as little harm as possible so I can avoid feeling really guilty.

I regret overplucking my eyebrows in the 90s though Grin

If I died tmo theres a few places I'd regret not having seen.

Alyic · 27/04/2020 22:04

My son, I raised him to be kind and gave him the best I had to offer, I must admit there are times I don't actually like him.

I had a stellar career from a poor education.

I desperately wanted a happy marriage but haven't had one.

OhTheRoses · 27/04/2020 22:05

Leading a functional life having had a dysfunctional childhood. So functional both DC have entered Oxbridge whereas my childhood blew my education.

A third child. Wasn't courageous enough after too many miscarriages.

Mlou32 · 27/04/2020 22:06

I think my greatest achievement is my travelling. I have lived in and backpacked around so many far flung corners of the world, made friends from so many cultures, experienced so many different, amazing ways of living. That is by far and always will be my greatest achievement. And I am very proud of it.

Kljnmw3459 · 27/04/2020 22:10

I don't have any achievements, which would be my regret. Letting my fears guide my choices so often. Never really taking any chances on anything.

But I have given the world couple of lovely children. Trying to raise them to be nice people.