What's the best thing you've ever done for yourself?

[Apirateslifeforme]

If you look back at your life, what's the best thing you've done? I want to know what is the best thing that people have done for themselves in their life.

I'd really like to read things that people have done that have changed their life for the better =)

Zebracat, I get what you’re saying. Every year I organise my own birthday, a party for big birthdays, meals out for other birthdays. Usually a mini break or holiday too with a nice spa treatment on the actual day and a slap up meal. I read so many posts where people moan that they their OH did nothing for their birthday, some almost sound victim like. I always think you know your birthday is coming up why not treat yourself to something nice and it plan a nice day or activity close to your birthday.

Had my 2 kids but also spent 2 years travelling and working around the world! It was the best thing I have ever done after my children!

No such luck. Exactly! I’ve always felt a bit cowed by those Mumsnetters who say birthdays are for children, and dead sorry for people who get nothing, but I bet they do the whole it’s not important thing. I get stupidly excited on my birthday, and everyone’s else’s, and in our family we make a huge fuss of people. We don’t spend a lot though, it is much more about it being a special day.

Said yes to the hard stuff at work. It usually leads to good/better things, either directly or indirectly.

Laser eye surgery.

Took a risk on a change of direction in my career

Weight loss surgery.
Quitting teaching.
Leaving XP.

My life is incredible. I was so miserable before but am rocking it now.

@Sueblue1 your path sounds quite similar to mine! I also do 'stuff' in education now and am more highly paid than I was teaching. I wonder if I know you.

Joined a dating site and met dp

I decided to go for a routine mammogram that was being offered, on a trial basis, to women under 50. I so very nearly didn't go for several reasons, and infact the first time I went along, the machine was playing up so I was rebooked. But I went in the end. And it turned out that, yes, I had very early breast cancer Luckily, it was caught so early and was so tiny, only 1.2mm big, that treatment was relatively easy and didn't impact much on my life. Just surgery, which has actually massively improved the appearance of my boobs, and just five sessions of radiotherapy, no chemotherapy.

But it would have been a very different story if I hadn't gone for that trial mammogram and waited another two years for the standard one when I turned 50.

Peaceanddove So pleased for you.

Started working part time. Life's too short.

Sent my book off to a publisher.

So many amazing posts and people on this thread.

I also got divorced from an abusive ex. My self esteem took a big knock and I don't feel overly confident around other people.

A chap I had been talking to for over two years but never met, asked me to dinner. As it happened he was offered two tickets for a massive music festival (think young people's edm type event) on the same night we were meant to go to dinner. He asked me if I would like to go with him to the festival instead and do dinner another time. My first response was no ways, not a chance. The next day after sleeping I on it I thought why not. So after he had given me plenty info on himself including his families names, addresses and telephone numbers I decided, why the heck not.

A few weeks before my 50th birthday and lockdown I went to the festival on a blind date and had such a fantastic time and met a really nice person at the same time. I wanted to see my 40s out by doing something different, and I did just that.

It doesn't compare to what many of you have achieved, but for me this was quite a thing.

Reported my childhood rapist and cut off all my Mum’s side of the family for covering for a rapist. I didn’t know when I went to the police but I wasn’t the only victim.

We didn’t get a conviction (police messed up collection of evidence because of multiple victims and CPS didn’t pursue the charge) but his parents and wife know he was arrested for raping multiple children - I am sure they have justified it in their mind but I am confident the truth will catch up with them all in the end. And I am proud of myself that I didn’t take part in the cover up of child sexual abuse and I don’t feel any guilt anymore.

@CrimsonCattery I should have mentioned that I live in NZ. I'm so glad to hear that your life has improved immeasurably, as mine has.

Had my son

Oh and returned to work only part time

I love this thread - it's so inspiring!
For me:

• Having my amazing, very clever and kind son (now 21)
• Getting my Romanian rescue dog
• Learning to drive
• Taking myself off for week long breaks alone to places I've not been before (only in the UK...so far)
• Changing jobs (after working for 28 years in previous one) last May. I was scared as hell and wondered what the hell I'd done but it's been fantastic. I absolutely love what I do and the people I work with.
• Not caring a stuff what my extended family think about me and what I do with my life
• Realising that I don't want to "keep up with the Jones'"

There's so much other stuff I want to do with my life but I always try to see the positives in every situation. I guess that's another thread entirely.

Thanks for the thread OP.

I'm loving reading these replies! I thought we all needed something positive in mind!

Mine is that I've finally booked for myself to have weightloss surgery.
This is the only thing I've ever done solely for myself, I am so excited about the change this will bring around.
For the moment I'm unsure when itll actually go ahead because of the current situation, but knowing I'll soon enough be in better stead to control what I eat, between the operation and the psychology, I'm just really happy already!
=)

I'm really smiling here, reading about how everyone has made positive changes to their lives, its lovely.