I Wish I Had
Now that I’m, well, not as young as I once was, I find myself looking back on life every once in a while with an “I wish I had.”
Now I’m not talking about major things–those I’ve done pretty good with. I like my values, I like my convictions, I think I’ve done (and am doing) a good job as a mom, and I’ve had the drive to become the writer I always wanted to be.
But there are a few things I wish I’d done or done differently.
1) I wish I’d stuck with piano. I truly believe the ability to play an instrument is a gift you give yourself. It’s something to turn to when things are rough, something to make you smile.3) I wish I’d lived on my own a little longer after college. I think wisdom about yourself mostly comes with age, but I think some of it, too, comes from being on your own. I had a little of that (as in five months before Hurricane Hugo reared its ugly head on my Mount Pleasant, SC apartment) but not enough.
So there you go. A few “I wish I had” moments that pop up now and again.
You ever have those?
I wish I had stuck with the piano, too! Thirteen years of lessons and then dropped it when I went to college; I can't play a thing now, I don't think. Loved this post, Laura!
Maggie, my teacher taught me by numbers rather than reading music. I think that helped kill it for me. But I regret it, I truly do.
Sometimes I wish I'd been more careful with my health because even though nothing is dire on that front, I find that in my 50's there are some prices to pay for not being more careful when I was younger and, to face facts, it was easier. It is by no means ever too late to do things the smart way, but there were ups and downs of weight and too much indulgence of booze and cigarettes, etc. Fun, but it would be paying off better now and into the future to not have been as carefree about my youthful indestructibility! I guess it's a common error, right?! There are no truer words than "when you have your health you have everything".
Vicky, I guess this is where we should have listened to our parents… It seems so clear now…
I wish I'd lived on my own. I went from my parents home to sharing one with my husband. (Not uncommon back in those days.) And I wish I'd learned to ride – really ride, not just sit on a horse and hang on.
I had about 6 months between houses, LD, and I wish it was longer.
I wish I had gotten more degrees in and around my field of work. Options, you need options!
Good one, Gram!
Because I married a career service man, I lived alone lot…oh, forgot to count the kids, guess I wasn't alone. LOL
Marilyn, you probably have a strong sense of self though, because of that. And that's important!
I wish I had trusted my own voice sooner.
I wish I had majored in English and fought to go on to law school.
I wish I had learned to love exercise.
I wish I'd learned to love exercise to, Lynn. Ugh! I'm trying now, but it's a tough sell at this point.