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

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Feeling pensive and maudlin and curious.

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

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?

Biggest achievement - my children and becoming fluent in a foreign language. I travelled a lot and saw a lot of the world.

Biggest regret - didn't really find a man who loved me the way I wanted to be loved.

I’d say I’ve done well in my career and had an award from a national newspaper and been on tv.

Have a wonderful, loving marriage, which is an achievement as we’ve been through some real hardships.

I’ve been an advocate for a cause I really believe in and caused real change.

On smaller notes I’m proud of having co-written a pantomime that was performed locally, backpacked in a country most people have never visited and lived abroad for a year on my own, knowing nobody when I arrived.

Things I haven’t achieved that I’d like to- having a child, which hasn’t happened yet due to infertility. Writing a novel- creative writing was always my talent as a child and I haven’t nurtured it at all.

@DDIJ it’s never too late! Plenty of people in their 40s, 50s and older go on nights out and to festivals. And I’m sure you will definitely have achieved things! Your child(ren) is/are an achievement to start with.

@chockaholic72 Sorry about your mum. I know someone who had a gap year in her late 50s, did a house swap and taught abroad, like you say it’s never too late!

There must be something but I’m feeling so useless right now

Going back to uni and doing my MA as a mature student.

Helping write a law that helped fix some serious injustices.

Running for election, even if I narrowly lost.

By-lines as a journalist.

Falling in love and marrying my best friend.

Travelling.

Becoming a mum.

Beating eating disorders.

Lots of missed opportunities and past regrets,but most have been overtaken by the good things that have happened on account of going down a different path.

Biggest actual regret is not talking about pain/ depression/ anxiety and eating problems as a child and teenager and suffering for far too many years when help was there. Other regrets are, investing too much time in people who don't like you/ want you to fail - rather than in people who like you and want to spend time with you. I find it hard to walk away from toxic relationships and have been very guilty of the sunk coat fallacy in years gone by.

5 children.
Good legal career.
Wrote 30+ books.
Bought an island.

The things that really matter are that I am happy and healthy and have a nice family though, nothing material really counts.

I don't feel I have missed out on anything.

My greatest regret would be not travelling and seeing more of the world, as there is so much to see.

My biggest achievement....I can't choose between 2.....

1. Despite having severe depression and anxiety, when I found out my daughter was being born with severe congenital defects, I rose to the challenge. I researched the hell out of the condition and became her biggest advocate. 4 surgeries in and she is flourishing, whilst my previous mental health issues have been overcome. I like to think that she is the happy confident secure child she is, in part because of me and my desire to put her before myself.

2. I passed my driving test on the 13th time after trying for 12 years

I've won an award, and helped a few people turn their lives around, and to my knowledge have helped prevent a few suicides.

That said there's so much more I want to do, take the next few steps in my career, I want to write a book, I want to see my son grow up, buy a home we'll actually live in ... in many ways I feel like my life is only just starting out.

My most lingering regret is we couldn't have children. We tried so hard for years and it nearly broke me. However I've mostly moved on from the pain of that and now only have occasional what-if pangs.

The best thing I ever did wouldn't impress anyone else, but it was marrying my best friend. 15 years+ now and we're still closer than close. I know some people would find that suffocating but I am grateful every day that we met.

@chockaholic72. Greatest respect to you flowers Plan that gap year!

@DDIJ I was almost 50 before I did my first concert.

I only ever wanted to travel & I've done that. Should I die tomorrow then I'd miss out on a final holiday.

Where's the flowers gone? The thought was there @chockaholic72, sorry.

🌹

I honestly can think of absolutely nothing. That is so pathetic.

Happy 30 year marriage
Surviving infertility and having a life after it

Missed out on
A career
University education

Greatest achievement: having spent most of my life carrying out conservation work, hopefully leaving small portions of the environment in slightly improved shape.

Having been profoundly lonely for a greater part of my life, missing out on friendships and never having had the family and children I have always wanted is my regret

@Xenia

That's a lot, what books?