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Original poster

Rewind you life to when you were 20.

73 replies

Tulipsroses · 29/11/2023 20:07

If you could press a magical Time Machine switch and rewind your life to when you were 20, what would you have done differently?

OP posts:
Leo227 · 29/11/2023 20:08

stopped getting drunk. most negative things that have happened through life have been under the influence.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 29/11/2023 20:10

I would have bought a load of property in East London dirt cheap, back when banks were irresponsibly handing out money to sub prime borrowers.

Eatbetterthisweek · 29/11/2023 20:10

Try and not get fat again after losing weight.

RJnomore1 · 29/11/2023 20:13

Nothing.

Everything I did, even the things I struggled with at the time, got me here and that’s a good place to be. I didn’t know it when I was going through it all though.

Cheepcheepcheep · 29/11/2023 20:13

Depending on when in that year, dumped the stupid boyfriend before he dumped me.

Stopped worrying I looked hideous, I was gorgeous.

Worked harder at getting a professional job after I graduated. I got there in the end but it would have been miles easier if I’d kept at it earlier.

But honestly - I’m not sure I’d do any of the above. Because I’m 34 now, my life is brilliant (I mean, I’m not a millionaire, my job isn’t amazing and I have a few health worries - but I have a nice house, a wonderful husband and the best kids in the world) and a lot of the crap of my 20s led me to where I am now. Butterfly effect, innit.

Witchbitch20 · 29/11/2023 20:15

Left the absolutely awful, abusive older boyfriend I was with (looking back I think I was groomed as met when I was 15).

Applied for university or for jobs away from home to spread my wings.

I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t limited my choices because of influences/pressure.

BarryK3nt · 29/11/2023 20:15

I would have been better with money and not spent so much on credit cards, I’m still dealing with it 13 years later

Lovethatforyouhun · 29/11/2023 20:17

I was at uni but instead of partying so much i should have got intense therapy! Oh and stayed single so i could have kissed more boys!

OppaDoppaDoo · 29/11/2023 20:17

I would have sworn off men, bought the house in Battersea and taken the good job in London. At 23 I would have sworn off men and stayed in the great job in Australia I had. At 25 I would have sworn off men and bought the flat in Nice.
There's a theme and later in life I have indeed learnt my lesson.

SusanKennedyshouldLTB · 29/11/2023 20:22

Stayed single and focused more on friendships. Studied far more. Done a different post-grad and taken a different career path.

user628468523532453 · 29/11/2023 20:22

Living my life once was bad enough, not doing it again.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 29/11/2023 20:23

Not got married at 20.

HarridanHarvestingHeldaBeans · 29/11/2023 20:23

I would not get married. I would probably move back to Germany but I am certain there would be no wedding for me, probably ever.
I had been managing pretty much everything by myself since I was 12, so at 20 I thought I was very mature and capable. I was when I wasn't busy being very, very gullible! And because I had no supportive family to talk to, I often made really stupid decisions, like getting g married at 20, to a man twice my age.

Hedjwitch · 29/11/2023 20:23

Travelled more, slept around more,lived more

Growlybear83 · 29/11/2023 20:24

I would have insisted that we really stretched ourselves to buy a house down the road that was on the market did £13,500 instead of the flat we bought at the time for £9,750! But at that time, it was a huge price difference and we would have had to commit such a high proportion of our incomes on the mortgage that we wouldn't have had any money to ever go out, which when we were 20 and 23 was still important.

caringcarer · 29/11/2023 20:27

Nothing. I had such fun in my 20's. I made some mistakes but I learned from them and had fun along the way.

Needmorelego · 29/11/2023 20:29

Learned to drive and bought a car.
My opportunities would have opened up massively if I could actually get to places.

nationallampoons · 29/11/2023 20:30

I would have gone to college after having my children and done something with my life

EmpressaurusOfCats · 29/11/2023 20:31

Enjoyed the flings but stayed single.

snowgal · 29/11/2023 20:33

Studied harder, worked harder, stopped drinking, bought a flat in Edinburgh, prioritised achieving over having a love life, watched more bands, travelled more, kept my old family and friend links

App13 · 29/11/2023 20:34

Dumped bf who went on to become ex husband. Took the job in HK. said yes to the hot Spaniard.. the list is endless

SFG112112 · 29/11/2023 20:34

I would rather rewind to when I was 16, as by 20 it had already gone wrong. Run a mile from red flags in an abusive relationship.

Applied on spec for a job at Kiss 100 London.

Gone travelling.

Not moved into the house share with abusive boyfriend, but I was desperate to escape my abusive DF and DBs at home.

Saved money and perhaps taken a second job.

MyLadyTheKingsMother · 29/11/2023 20:34

Stayed single and worked and traveled

Twoshoesnewshoes · 29/11/2023 20:36

Like some PPs, stretched more on houses that I bought, and had therapy.
not had an affair and not done a degree in psychology.

Rocksonabeach · 29/11/2023 20:36

I would have gone no contact with all my family - was at university and they were pissed off with me so barely talking to me. Read and done a whole load of therapy that didn’t exist 30 years ago. Brought a dog and married the lovely boyfriend I had at 23. Rather than spend 25 more years dealing with abuse. I would have walked far far away from my parents changed my name the works. And had more children - blessed to have to two I have but would have had 3 or 4 and at 25 not 41!