Rewind you life to when you were 20.

[Tulipsroses]

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

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

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.

Try and not get fat again after losing weight.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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

Not got married at 20.

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.

Travelled more, slept around more,lived more

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.

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

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

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

Enjoyed the flings but stayed single.

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

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

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.

Stayed single and worked and traveled

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

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!