If you had the choice to change your past, would you live your life differently?

@inkyuboz (1392)
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
January 4, 2010 3:46am CST
I certainly would. There are many decisions that I've made that I regret and there are many things that I would have done which could have altered my life right now. If I was given the chance to erase all the bad memories, then I will take it with open arms. Of course, there are people who would disagree and say that "Life is what we make it." That everything happens for a reason and that if we change the things we've done, it will only end up hurting us. So what is your opinion on this? Will you or will you not change your life if you're given that chance?
11 people like this
61 responses
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
4 Jan 10
There are a few things that I would do differently but given the fact that if I went back..I wouldn't have the experiences that I have now, I may just make the same mistakes anyway..lol. I think that what happens does make us who we are and a stronger person. It would be nice to be able to change a couple of things though.
2 people like this
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
5 Jan 10
Yes, the mistakes we committed in the past made us the persons we are now. If we went back in time to change them, then we'll be completely different. And who knows? It might not even be for the better...
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
4 Jan 10
If I was given the chance to erase all the bad memories, then I will take it with open arms I wouldnt....which of course ppl who know me and what I have been through in my life think its nuts that I say that BUT EVERYTHING Ive been through not only at the hands of others but the things I've done to myself too, have made me who I am today and thats a strong, loving, intelligent woman with compassion and a very deep soul.....Its also helped me to raise my kids the way I have and be there not only for them on all levels but some of their friends who dont really have anyone to go to and my friends who dont really have someone to lean on etc etc.... My life has been full of nothing but trauma, pain and sorrow since I was a child and as much as I at times wish I'd never had to go through those things, end result is I am who I am now because of those things and I like me dang nab it
1 person likes this
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
5 Jan 10
I wish I also have your optimism and your refreshing zest for life. I'm 23 going on 24 and I already feel old and worn-out. I guess this is what they call quarter-life crisis.
@niara25 (147)
• United States
7 Jan 10
I agree with you totally. Most of my life hasn't been traumatic, but I have had traumatic experiences. The past experiences make you who you are. You either deal with it or choose not to live. You don't let traumatic experiences control you. Don't wallow in self-pity or self-doubt. Learn from past experiences. Live your life as who you have become as a result of those experiences.
• United States
5 Jan 10
That is a hard one to answer. Yes and no. The first guy I married I wished I didn't but if I wouldn't have been with him I wouldn't have had my 2 beautiful daughters. People make mistakes we just have to go on and learn not to repeat what we have done in our past. I wish my parents would have stayed together but I also understand why my mother left him and it was for good reasons. It does take affect on kids when parents divorce but we have to make things right even when something like that happens.
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Jan 10
o i would change alot the first thing would be is not getting married so young and i wish i would of listen to my parents did what they wanted me to do but i was very hard headed so i did it my way and it cost me i counldn't even go get a career until i was 36 so that is the hard way i sure wouldn't leave home at 15.i think i would be there right now if i could and i am 54. but that is my generation. this generation doesn't even leave home till 30 any more.
1 person likes this
@lowloy (316)
• United States
5 Jan 10
no, other lives than my own would be changed as well.
1 person likes this
@esjosh (912)
• India
4 Jan 10
All of first I never think about past and don't believe in this kind of fantasies. Because it's not possible. But what possible is, to live in Present and always try to prevent you self repeat the mistakes you have done in past. Never think about past it bring tears Never think about future it bring fears Always live each moment of present to bring cheers. So, I don't want to change anything from past, I always thank GOD for this life.
1 person likes this
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
5 Jan 10
It's nice that you don't have any regrets. Yes, there's this saying which states: "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." :)
1 person likes this
@jezzmay (1845)
• United States
8 Jan 10
I think if I knew what I know now, yes I would change my past. I have done things I am not proud of, and if I could change them I believe I would. I believe it would give me a better life with no regrets. Have a great day.
@tjburcham (690)
• United States
8 Jan 10
Most generally, I think people are given choices, that ends them where they are supposed to be. The choices would give different immediate concequences, but the end results would be the same. You end up where you should be.
@sharryCD (121)
• China
6 Jan 10
If i had the chance, i would change some parts of the past. Despite i am quite satisfied with my present situation, i can achieve more or do much better if i did something in another way. Human beings like to pursue perfectionism if possible, which is a little like our pursuit of Utopia. :) By the way, i want to share a very meaningful sentence that i read just now with you. "Be today who you want to be tommorrow." Have a nice day!
@millertime (1394)
• United States
9 Jan 10
Absolutely, I would. The main thing I would change is I would stay in college. I started college and never finished and that has been the thing that affected my life the most. There are also other things that I would do if I had the knowledge I have now. I would have started investing a lot earlier for my retirement and I wouldn't have moved to S. Florida. That was another big mistake, but one I hope to correct very soon. 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing but since decisions in the past can't be undone, I'll just have to live with them and look forward.
• Bangladesh
12 Jan 10
If God wished that I could change my past, I would have done so many things. Such as my country is encountering maladministration since it's origin. I would have changed the way my country is running. The ruling party (whatever it may be) and it's supporters always seek to earn money through corruption, terrorism, irrational price hike of the essentials etc. Besides, they are taking possession of lands by filling up the natural water bodies (rivers, ponds, canals etc) and cutting up forest trees. Thus they are destroying the environmental system and causing disaster in biodiversity. The rivers of our country are dying due to shortage of water. In short our country Bangladesh is stricken with maladministration, anarchy. The farmers are using artificial fertilizers and excessive pesticides in producing crops. Morality and honesty have no value. If I could, I would have changed all these mismanagement, maladministration and anarchy from my country to set up a model.
@funkeyguhl (1743)
• Philippines
5 Jan 10
As for me, I would still want to do some of it and maybe modify or edit some of it. In this lifetime, I have made my mistakes but I have learned from those mistakes and it has made me a better person. There could be some regrets in my life but I think it was for the best.
1 person likes this
• India
11 Jan 10
Hi, Yes, sometimes we wish if things had been a little different in our life. We wish if we could go back and change a couple of things. I do, and probably everybody does. But there is another thing I would like to mention here. If there is a mistake we've done there are two possible outcome of that. Either we don't realize it at all, or we realize and regret. I feel comfortable with those mistakes that I've realized as mistakes. If you can take total responsibility of what has happened to you, I would like to call it a virtue. Its not those mistakes that harm our future, rather those that have gone overlooked, have the potential to ruin our present and future. I am glad that I've made those mistakes and learned from it. I pray to God that no mistakes of mine may go unpunished, because I am eager to learn from them. One who has done mistakes and wish he could go back has demonstrated what I call self-realization, which would not be possible if you could go back and change it anytime. Self realization is most valuable and I consider it to be the ultimate purpose of our life. Thanks for starting this wonderful discussion Take care God bless you all
@sunisami (93)
• Australia
11 Jan 10
Yes. I would get a better education and pursue a career that would have seen me through my life instead of having to work in retail and hospitality.
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
6 Jan 10
Oh yes let me go back and fix the stipid mistakes that I have made over time., way I see it if we change the things we've done it can't hurt us any moore than what we hurting now. One mistake I would change would be quiting a job I had that was safe with the State, and taking a General Motors job that nearly ended up killing me. That would of changed my life for the better. And one other losing the best man I ever had because of pure bull cra*p. Those 2 there alone would of made my life a lot better for now. So I don't think that going back and fixing the mistakes we made in our past life can always hurt us later on. We have come to realize what those mistake caused us and won't make them again.
@derek_a (10874)
6 Jan 10
I used to regret a lot of decisions I made in my life, but now that I have come through everything and dealt with a lot of problems, if I had to go back and do it all again, I would do it the same, because my past experiences, good and bad, have brought me to where I am today and taught me a lot. Now it all that exists, the past is gone and will never return and that is what I have learned. - Derek
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
6 Jan 10
I like to think that if I could live my life over, I would make better choices. However, I am afraid that with the same level of maturity I had at the time, I'd probably make the same baaaaad choices.
@hagirl (1295)
• United States
6 Jan 10
I wish I had not suffered the abuse I did with my ex husband but unfortunate your past is what makes you who you are today... If I had not went through those traumatic times my life may be different today and I have a wonderful husband now.....
@cinang (28)
• Philippines
6 Jan 10
I would rather not change, although I also suffered mishaps and problems, but I considered it as challenges. I did not live a life in luxury but yet, I'm already satisfied with it. I know God gave me that kind of life and I am thankful. I have my family and friends and I am happy with them. They are blessings to me.
@laurenban (194)
• Philippines
6 Jan 10
There are things in my life that aren't going well and there are things that are just perfect for me. I have made lots of awful things and i regret those things i did, but in general i love my life and i just make those mistakes i did in the past as a lesson for me, and i am happy i experience those things because it made me a better person today.