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 =)

Learned to drive, probably!
I look at my mum and MIL and sigh - always waiting on someone to take them to the shops or wherever..... I don't have that problem.

Ploughed on with PhD when having kids, became financially independent with interesting job. Nearly quit. So glad I didn't.

Going back to education in my late 20s without a date... it gave me confidence which led to leaving a abuser and mine and my kids lives are been so much better!

My life is 100% in all ways better and it started with going back to evening college to do a English GCSE! (The access course and degree followed which in turn means I have a career)

Worked hard, long unsociable hours, 2 jobs at the same time when I bought my first property. Paid into a pension since 18, able to retire at 55. I feel l have bought an extra 12 years of life, not having to work until I am 67. Presuming I last that long of course!

I ve quit two jobs that were both damaging my health to the point I couldn't sleep most nights and started having panic attacks.

Giving my now husband a chance and going on a date with him.
Forgiving myself for being totally lost from the age of 16-30 and whilst not blaming others, also not blaming myself anymore.
Not drinking alcohol - I used to go out once a week and get blind drunk and hate myself and my actions. Naturally stopped around the time I met my husband and my life is so much better for it.
Clearing debt and refusing to get back into it.

Doing EMDR therapy for my PTSD. One of the most intense, scary things I’ve ever done but it’s made such a massive difference to me. Barely ever get flashbacks anymore, I’m not jumping at the slightest thing, I can relax.

Also moving back up North to the town where I lived as a child. I love being somewhere I have some roots (we moved a lot so always felt like the newcomer everywhere I lived), I’ll be able to buy a house some day and I get to live near my best friends.

Oh and finally- stopping trying to breastfeed DD. I only tried for a week and it nearly broke me and her, switching to formula meant I was able to enjoy being a new mum.

flowerycurtain

What was it like to lose 5 stone?

Moved into social housing from private rental. Its allowed us to consider a second DC where we would never have been able to afford to before and provide a quality of life for DS that I'm proud of in a sense that he isn't constantly hearing about money and debt as he would have been where we were before.

Got help for my depression

Started Yoga. And continued Yoga to be fair.

Increased my working days from 3 to 4 a week. Im amongst my PND I felt I had to spend more time at home than at work, when in reality I enjoyed my job and wanted to be able to do it efficiently and to a good standard. I'm looking forward to working again when DS can go to nursery.

Ooh what a great question.
Taking a horrible bully to task, who coincidentally was the Director of HR (I know right, where to report a bully, if the person you go to is one!?) I told her she was a bad person but she still had time to change her ways, she could also stick her job.
And contacting a beautiful man I met on holiday, who I initially just wanted to be friends with because he was just lovely, he’s my DP, together 6 years now and he’s still lovely.

Went to the usa to work at the best camp ever.

Left exh

Bought a small flat.

I'd done the sums, couldn't afford it, but went ahead anyway.
Very tough for a few years, but the best thing I ever did.

If the title was the worst thing, I'd get RSI typing a list.

Started running

Had DD. Lots of other smaller things, but she is the one best thing I have ever done.

Had a hysterectomy at 26 due to endometriosis, everyone else felt I was too young but it gave me my life back and allowed me to be a better parent to my two daughters. It also pushed me to start fostering at 27 and our son has now been with us for 9 years .

Married my second DH - first marriage was OK but we drifted apart, second DH is perfect (for me) and I couldn't think of anyone I would rather be in lockdown with. Love him to bits.

Sued my employer for discrimination. Finally, after all these years of bullying and harassment standing up for myself was amazing. Getting a much better and more senior role was my way of saying F*^% you to them.

Starting going to the gym regularly after deciding that I was worth putting the same effort into as I put into the rest of my family. It has been life changing in terms of how I feel about myself, my fitness and relieving a long term, very painful condition. I cannot wait to get back into it as I’m definitely feeling the difference now I’m not able to go. I’m still doing stuff at home but it doesn’t have the same effect as the different gym equipment.

On a similar level, not giving up and just accepting I had to live with severe OCD. I paid so much for therapy over the years and read so much self help stuff and was still suffering that I honestly thought I would suffer with it for the rest of my life. Took 2 years to be referred to a specialist centre (it wouldn’t accept private referrals although I’d have been prepared to sell my house to pay for it!) that I researched, after having to educate my GP that it existed, that I was eligible for a referral and fighting with my PCT who insisted I was ineligible because they didn’t want to pay for it, but it was well worth it and after 15 years of a living nightmare, I’m now 90% cured after 8 sessions. The remaining 10% keeps me on my toes so I’m happy to keep it. I still suffer from anxiety but I don’t live life full of dread from the time I wake up to the time I finally fall asleep.

If I had to pick one thing, it would be the very expensive session I paid for with a career coach about five years ago. I paid £200, cried for 2 hours, and it has literally changed my life. Everything I wanted but was too afraid to try for has happened. I left my job, took a part-time role, set up a training course that I've wanted to do for years, and now I'm paid to do that and I basically have my perfect job that I'll be happy to do until I retire.

Whencountingto10isntenough I'm also a endo sufferer who's had sufficient treatment as to solve my issue - I've not had a hysterectomy but it's my next step, when I can no longer tolerate my current hormonal treatments. It's so liberating isn't it?! After literally decades of pain and missing out on life, I have one back. Incredible.

Weight loss surgery

@ploopsie

I did Slimming World initially. My kids must have been 4 and 2? Something like that. I just snapped one day and asked my Mum if she would pay for my membership for a few months as my birthday present, because I knew I would feel obliged to go then! It was really hard to get to groups with the kids in tow, but everyone was kind and let the kids tear around while I got weighed each week. I didn't stay to group because that would have been too stressful, but it kept me in check. I lost probably 2 or 3 stone that way, then when the youngest started school nursery I joined a gym. I stopped SW at that point because my portion sizes were huge - even though they were "free foods" like pasta - and my gym instructor looked at me in horror when I told her what I ate! Lost another stone and became generally stronger. Took up running and was feeling quite fit, but last year I developed a knee problem and now I can see the weight creeping on.

I've gone from size 20 down to 12, crept to 14 last year and have just had to buy some 16 clothes for the summer. I hate it. I need to get a hold of myself again.

Good luck to you! It's hard to manage around young kids, but the feeling of freedom and confidence to go riding bikes with them, taking them swimming - we even went surfing last year! - are just magic. It was the best thing I did for myself and I must do it again.

Therapy.

I grew up in care for my first ten years and as an adult carried so much pain and guilt around with me from years of neglect and abuse, believing I didn't deserve love or family or friendship. I had quite intensive therapy for a couple of years and it changed my world.

It taught me that my childhood wasn't anything but the result of the people who treated me shittily and that I didn't need to spend my whole life carrying around all of that sadness. It taught me to move forward and let go. It's such a cliche but it was like a ten tonne weight was slowly lifted.

If I'd not had therapy I honestly don't think I'd have learned how to be happy. I know I wouldn't have married DH and had the DC. I wouldn't have trusted myself to try and be a parent.

Gone NC with my family and had dc

Wished I done one other thing I think my life would have been totally different