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 =)

Worked my arse off in a shitty comprehensive and got into Oxbridge...

... where I met DH...

... and made a friendship group that's still going several decades later...

... and got a degree (last but not least!).

My life would literally have been completely different without the decisions I made when I was a teenager. I've been incredibly lucky.

Learning to drive was good. But for sheer excitement and enjoyment, having singing lessons (not till I was 50 or so. Wish I'd started earlier).

Honestly, the best thing I ever did for myself was to adopt a dog. Thanks to him my mental and physical health are probably better than they've ever been. He's completely changed my life.

Left my verbally and physically abusive ex aged 19. He didn’t want me to go to uni.

I went to uni, and got a great graduate job where I then met DH

Paid for weekly therapy for over a year. It's changed my life

Having kids and getting married do not come in to this category.

For me is running 7 marathons. DH said “huh no way you can do it “🙄 so i ran one of the toughest in Europe in 4:10. Fuck you i said😂

Chosen to work within walking distance of home. Been there for 17 years and it's an hour's exercise five days a week (that I can't wriggle out of), exposure to daylight that keeps my mood and vitamin D levels up, plus free transport, plus freedom from problems with public transport or extreme weather (not that it's fun in driving rain, but it's possible to get there even when it snows). I'd highly recommend it.

Stopped drinking, went cold turkey from heroin and crack, got out of homelessness and prostitution and had my daughter a few years later. I thought I'd be long dead by this age (38) but now I've got a life I never imagined was possible.

@vampirethriller

Wow. I take my hat off to you.

Went back to uni to study law. It’s totally made my life what it is now.

Microwaveableteapot-

Ooh, I’m so curious, can you give us a little clue?

Vampirethriller-

Did you have help to do all that?

My education. It didn't buy me happiness but it has saved me a whole lot of stress not having to count pennies.
Also, just staying on top of my weight. When I feel good in my body, I am happy. When I don't feel good in my body, nothing else will make me happy.

Left STBXH when I did. I believe it saved my life and even though I actually left 3 years ago I still think every day how lucky I am to have got away and feel this flooding sense of relief

Left abusive ex and have no contact.
Went to comic con as I met partner there who is wonderful
Stated an Open University degree at 40

After having a car crash and ending up in hospital I was quickly discharged after cursery examination and no x-ray. I was walking out of the hospital and felt that something was not quite right so I went back in and insisted that I was no going anywhere before they checked me over properly.

They ended up giving me a mri scan and discovered I had a burst fracture in my spine and any minor trip would have paralyzed me. I was immediately told to lie down, not to move and was placed in a back brace for 3 months. I am so glad I demanded to be checked over properly but now have zero faith in the nhs.

Did my MA. I really never thought I'd get onto it, my confidence was at rock bottom, but every success was a huge validation and encouraged me to keep going. I came out with a first and a prizewinning dissertation: it gave me my career and the means to buy a home and have my baby. Literally nothing I have now would have been possible without that.

I think the next great thing I must do for myself is lose weight. Scared of failure but I really must.

DaysEChain thank you!
WitchesGlove no not much. I managed to get into a hostel and then a flat, then stopped everything else. I had to cut off everyone I knew and start again. I've been clean six years, nearly 7. My family have no idea what my life was like, I wasn't really in contact with them for a long time.

Completing a grueling physical challenge, after which I told myself my body was an amazing thing, and honestly believed it. I never feel self-consious any more.

For my confidence, I went to New York by myself during my divorce from my first husband. I did what I wanted, when I wanted and felt so glad to have my freedom.

vampire you're amazing.

I gave up smoking in my 30’s and drinking in my 40’s - drink was taking over so it was a case of must stop for the sake of my family and for my health .... not my proudest moment drinking like that.

Counselling and years of self-help, after an abusive childhood. So glad I kept going with it - I don't think I would've done out of self-esteem alone (as that was low) but luckily I was fascinated by psychology so that kept me going.

I've still made a semi-pig's ear of my life, but I'm extremely comfortable in my own skin, in a way I couldn't have imagined at 15.

I think that will always be my greatest achievement, no matter whatever else I do.

venusandmars I was inspired by your post could I ask what you do in you 50s and how you got there please?

Getting a good education. Getting divorced. Stopping drinking alcohol. All have changed my life for the better

Vampire, that's seriously impressive, good for you.