If You Could Go Back...

[Estro Felino]

Conversely I can think of all the things I was given beneficially. Basically delivered on a silver platter that I just threw away and regretted, but you know ?

Interesting.
If I think of all the guys who dumped me...even if I was really in love with them...I don't feel pain any more, I just think that some regret it, looking back.
But maybe they left me because I was a bit cold back then with men...

What I would do is just move forward and like never go back to that age. Beside I still have some things going on that I value, like meeting and marrying my better half. As the soldiers say, "You continue on with the mission".

I am happy that I have always used my free will wisely, that is I did things because I wanted to do them, and nobody told me to do them.
It's a beautiful sensation.

I figure as far as universe is concerned, I'd wager there will be plenty of opportunity and challenges ahead for my future self anyways that will more than make up for the deficits that I've encountered in this life. Steps forward, steps backwards, its all in the stars.

Life is really beautiful whenever you take your own decisions and nobody imposes anything on you.

We are all different. What can be great for others can be dull of you.
We should not think that others have a better life or better opportunities than we do, because we are all different due to a unique DNA.

 

[Kfox]

If you could go back to say age 18, with all of the knowledge of the future you currently have would you?

Just think of all of the better decisions you could now make.
Although maybe you are one of those who made all of the right decisions so no need to make any changes.

However, still seems a tough decision. I consider the family I created. Likely none of the people in my family would currently exist if I had made different choices.
Are you willing to erase their existence.

Also, once I made any change, I'd be proceeding into a new unknown future so all of that old future would now mostly be irrelevant.
Though there'd still be some benefits to your additional experience.

I guess maybe if your current life was so unbearable you'd risk everything to change it.

Nor only would I know which decisions to make, but I would also know which stocks to buy and by the time I'm in my mid 20's I'd be rich beyond measure. I'd be rich, wise, and happy!

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

If you could go back to say age 18, with all of the knowledge of the future you currently have would you?

Just think of all of the better decisions you could now make.
Although maybe you are one of those who made all of the right decisions so no need to make any changes.

However, still seems a tough decision. I consider the family I created. Likely none of the people in my family would currently exist if I had made different choices.
Are you willing to erase their existence.

Also, once I made any change, I'd be proceeding into a new unknown future so all of that old future would now mostly be irrelevant.
Though there'd still be some benefits to your additional experience.

I guess maybe if your current life was so unbearable you'd risk everything to change it.

But how you understand things today, is based on the choices that you did make. Had you made other choices, you’d understand other things, plus see the same things differently to how you do today.

Our perspectives (on one and the same experience, too) are unique because we each walk life uniquely. We share fragments of experiences with others, but our “journey” as a whole is entirely unique. And that is the beauty of it: no one but you shall experience life from your very own perspective!

From a spiritual point, that is essential, because each unique understanding of what being is like, enriches the collective perspective on what it means to be.

Humbly,
Hermit

 

[Alien826]

I would never go back to that age.
I was much less wise, and filled with religious indoctrination, fears, insecurity.

But it would be the present "you" with all you have learned not the then "you". That's how I see it anyway. I can't see much point in just resetting everything and running it again. That would pretty much guarantee that you would make the same mistakes again.

I'll expand on my response in light of what others have said. The reason I want a second go is that I have identified a number of basic problems with the way I have lived and these have been the cause of most of my unhappiness. Even though they stem from my character, I hoping that the new "me" would have enough incentive from memories of a lifetime of errors to overcome my natural tendencies. In case anyone is thinking I'm a drug addict or similar, I'll list a couple of examples. There are others.

I don't do well in committed relationships with women. I should avoid them and concentrate on friendships.

I tend to put up with things that are less than ideal, like a boring job, instead of making the effort to change them.

As far as becoming rich off my memories of the Stock Market or similar, I don't need to be rich, just what my mother used to call "comfortably off". That is, having enough money so I never have to worry about the lack of it. Investing in the housing market would probably be enough, though it would be a huge temptation to buy Microsoft shares when they first came out. I have a feeling that extreme wealth brings more problems than benefits, though I've never been able to test that.

 

[Alien826]

But how you understand things today, is based on the choices that you did make. Had you made other choices, you’d understand other things, plus see the same things differently to how you do today.

That's an interesting point. If I had lived a different life, would I have different things I would want to change? See my previous post. I think I've identified very basic problems in my approach to life that go far beyond just changing some details. I've also learned what makes me happy which would give me a more positive approach than just "don't do this".

Who knows though?