Thread: The Wisdom Thread: Regrets and Appreciation

We get a lot of threads here from younger mags asking for advice from the older sages here on every topic from women to college to jobs to dogs to legal advice.

I figured that I'd try to start a thread where you can share choices that you regret, moves you appreciate, mistakes and unsmart things done (on a life scale). I know that I often wonder if my direction is really the right one, and I know there are things that I am glad I did.

We'll call it the wisdom thread, I guess. Could turn out to be a pretty interesting read, given the incredible people on htis board. Contribute what you want and take what you need!

Under no circumstances should you ever, EVER, stick your penis in a toaster.

Seriously.

If you're happy now, you should never regret anything. Easy to say, hard to do, I know, but the bottom line is that no matter what mistakes you may think you made, they contributed to bringing you to where you are. And if that's a fine place, well, no need to beat yourself up. I'm not going to regret tripping on the sidewalk if it prevented me from being creamed by a bus.

Sick and ashamed and happy (and not at all wise, but often pretending to be),
d.

Even if she looks, and insists she's 18 (US) or 16 (Australia/Europe), make sure to ask for a government-issued photo identification before you show her your O face.

If you have ever dreamed of throwing it all away and starting over - do it!!! I kept bitching and whining about doing for 4 or 5 years (1994 - 1999) and finally pulled the trigger summer of 99. Best move I have ever made. I have had so many cool experinces and met the best people. I'm a better person for it. My bank account may not be the better for it but even that is turning around. My version of starting over was quiting a great paying but very boring job in Dallas and moving to the Mtns, working in a shop, skiing almost everyday for three years. Super fun, had to make a compromise in 2001 and move to Boulder BUT it was a compromise that I was willing to make and still happy!

Avoid teen pregancy.




Put it in her butt.

Be greatful for who you are.

Laugh at yourself.

Listen to the voices, if you think it...DO IT!

Never lie because the truth is more entertaining.

Love is a stream that will find it's course - Bob Marley

If your down, wait paintently for your turn. Your time will come.

When I'm alone in my car, I clap and cheer to the heavens for all that is great. (Reggae induced)

When I'm dick deep in Mother Natures Finest, I praise her for the glory we share on earth as it is in heaven. (we're lucky to have that revieled to us through skiing)

If all that glitter is gold (powder) then half the story has never been told - Bob again saying there is always more

Originally posted by DJSapp
Avoid teen pregancy.




Put it in her butt.

Then give her a facial.

When you graduate from college and receive a big check in the mail from unused student loan money, DON'T spend it! I made the mistake of cashing in that $2,600 check and bought a bunch of things within several months. I don't know what the hell I was thinking at the time, but now I regret it. Big mistake on my part.

Take a course or a seminar on investing. You will be happy years down the road you did.

Travel, travel, travel. Make the move you have always wanted to make and don't look back. The experiences and people you meet along the way will change you forever.

When and if you go to college, if you have the opportunity to at all, take a job that has nothing to do with your major and which includes some kind of practical life skill.

I worked all through college (5yrs) in the Univ's auto shop and learned easily as much as at class. Now, I can't fix everything on my vehicles and truthfully don't enjoy working on my own too horribly much (I have been ruined by the availability of lifts and impact tools) but I can fix a lot of stuff and don't ever feel ripped off when I do have to go to a shop.

And, I'll share the single piece of info gained at that job that I value above all others as a way to live a long, happy and healthy life:

Just because it isn't glowing red, doesn't mean it isn't hot. Learn it, live it.

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Jobs and careers are how you make money to finance doing the things you want to do.

Don't ever put more into it than you put into the rest of your life.

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While I'm not religious at all, I do try my best to live life by a simple creed:

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

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There is no "but" in sorry. If you are sorry then you don't need to make excuses.

My bank account may not be the better for it but even that is turning around. My version of starting over was quiting a great paying but very boring job in Dallas and moving to the Mtns, working in a shop, skiing almost everyday for three years. Super fun, had to make a compromise in 2001 and move to Boulder BUT it was a compromise that I was willing to make and still happy!

P-Tex your name isn't Brian is it?

Two words: compound interest

And, off course, things don't mean a thing (including ski gear). What's important is family, freindship, and experience.

When you meet the love of your life, don't let the popular culture pursuade you to waste your own or your parent's money on a fancy wedding or big diamond engagement ring.

After recently attending what can only be described as practically a "coronation" in scale...I am all the more convinced of how stupid it is to do this.

Take the money and go traveling (which would include skiing of course) w/ your honey instead!

Sprite

"Prenup"

If you're going to bother to do something, take the time to do it right. You're never going to appreciate anything that you half assed. School, job, relationship, spring break, etc.

4 wheeling while hammered will cost you money. Usually more than you've got in the bank at the time.

Don't buy a flashy car the first time you get your hands on some "real money".

If you do need a lawyer, find the best farking one.

Date a bunch of different women. You might be surprised who you pick.

You'll create more wealth through real estate than you will through stocks or bonds.

Follow the golden rule, and you will be happy.

Stop renting and buy real estate.

Eye contact, eye contact, eye contact.

Smile when you talk on the phone for business.

Rotate your tires every 10k.

Buy new wiper blades every year.

Check your oil every time you get gas.

Never pay full price.

Don't smoke butts.

Originally posted by monster dump.

4 wheeling while hammered will cost you money. Usually more than you've got in the bank at the time.

Jesus, isn't that the truth.

As a corollary, do not take your 8-day-old truck illegallly 4-wheeling in a national park while hammered. Very bad juju.

Even in the most wrenching aches of want, tread lightly. He who kisses the joy as it flies, lives on to fuck again in the sunrise.

Trust your intuition to lead you to the facts.

Reciprocate love, tease hate.

Take chances: leave security if it's not what makes you happy.

Avoid ruts, repetition and monotony in philosophy, politics, people and food.

When working on hard problems, take time to dream.

Never reach for something at the base of a roughsawn wood wall when drunk.

Avoid clowns with fireworks duct taped to them.

When the kaleidescope is madly spinning and there's a cop in your face, fix him with a beady glare and deny everything. It works.

Don't drive with a Marx brothers nose and glasses.

at least once in your life you should buy a round of drinks for the whole bar, it feels good

the more intelligent a girl is...the better she will be in bed (in most cases)

don't take people too seriously

Originally posted by Buster Highmen

Avoid clowns with fireworks duct taped to them.

HA!!!

Originally posted by Tap
Dare to do and dare to be. Trust yourself.

This is exactly what I was doing when I wrecked my 8-day-old truck while illegally 4-wheeling in a national park while hammered.

Originally posted by A-wreck


the more intelligent a girl is...the better she will be in bed (in most cases)

If the opposite is true, I fucked Einsteins sister

Originally posted by TheDingleberry
Then give her a facial.

Better yet ATM

Take the other road once in a while, you never know what you'll find.

And Lemon Boys "Do unto others...." - Always good advice.

Some good ones in here already.

Always be truthful in relationships, never cheat, if you want out, tell the other, have a spine.

Help the people around you, it comes back ten-fold.

Be yourself. You'll be amazed to find the person inside.

If you can't laugh at yourself, you certainly shouldn't at others.

Be the first one to try something new or volunteer to do something.

Tip like you were the waiter.

Never stop learning.

Don't prejudge.

Tell the people in your life, that they are important to you. Repeatedly.

Edit:

Be spontaneous, it's always more fun.


Have adventures, bring friends.



You cannot stay awake for 4 days in Vegas, 3 is possible, but you will crash on the roulette wheel and they will ask you to leave.

Originally posted by iceman
This is exactly what I was doing when I wrecked my 8-day-old truck while illegally 4-wheeling in a national park while hammered.

Law 1: 4 wheeling while hammered will cost you money. Usually more than you've got in the bank at the time. Don't do it.

Law 2: Dare to do and dare to be. Trust yourself, except when doing so will violate Law 1.