What's your greatest accomplishment thus far?

For me, I'd definitely have to say it's the bonds I've made with other people. I'm only 18 so I don't have the experience of marriage or kids yet, but I do have friendships that I'm really proud of. I take pride in being a compassionate person, and if I can make a difference to even one person's life, then my life here was worth it.

So come on guys, share your great moments!

Be assured that in your 18 rich years, you have already figured out one of life's easiest, yet too often elusive, keys to fulfillment - friends.

I have taken pride in that same accomplishment most of my life, and it still trumps just about all others.

I would like to think my greatest accomplishments await. Never be complacent or sit still. As long as we keep learning and evolving, we will get there.

More coffee? :hangover:

In the past two posts, you've said what's in my brain but what I can't put into words. Thanks, btw. The whole greatest accomplishments still to come, beautiful. And yes, more coffee please.

Is to help you articulate the inarticu...unsosayable.. intractabillable... ya know, whatsmacallit, like, really?

Yes ----> :donut:

built deep and lasting friendships from almost all my failed love affairs.

To have forged genuinely caring relationships with my family. (And believe me, my brothers were no easy feat).

I've done some good works for the Shoalwater of which I'm quite proud.

I've written some really beautiful things.

I've learned to love and trust again in spite of profound hurts.

:loveya: and :donut:, and take THIS too: :hug:

yada yada. :loveya:

Pot calling the coffee black! :D

*wipes away a tear*
Great, great answer!

Your Mountain Dew must be a mess. ;-)

Plus I've spit it at the computer screen too after reading a few posts tonight. Sheesh, rough night.

:hug:

It is a privelege to watch these incredible people grow up.

Congrats :)

This is a toughie, I am hoping my greatest accomplishment has yet to come, if it hasn't I am in terrible shape. A couple, I finished high school and I managed to find someone I truly cared about and she really cared about me. Perfect is not a good enough word to describe her. It was wierd, I didn't care if she didn't go out me. I just wanted her to be happy and I would've done anything for her. I managed to mess that up, it's a looooong story so I'll give you the one minute version. I started to get into a little trouble here about 3 years ago so I moved to Flagstaff with my grandparents. I met her at the high school over there, well my grandparents were staunch conservatives(freeper types) and it was hell living with them. So I moved back down here after half a year and realized it was a huge mistake. Oh well, I still have many years ahead of me(hopefully) so who knows? I am 17 btw.

And WOW. That's a lot for you to deal with at 17. I've been in sort of the same boat. It's sad, these days we grow up WAY earlier than we're supposed to. At least you're coming out of it. Hang in there!

We're going on twenty years.

How did you propose?

now 19 and 22 years old.

Sticking it out with their father is also one of my greatest feats until now.....:-)

Next comes my taking up University studies again 2 years ago.

DemEx

raising my three wonderful intelligent children.

They are 20, 22, and 24.

They are the best!

Oh, yeah, I got my masters degree last summer, and I found out that I am not stupid after all.

was getting two of my exes to get sterilized.

This could get long. But I won't do that.

I have been homeless and hungry so many time in the last six years. Dumpster food from McD gets old fast. And don't dumpster dive from McD's if you don't have a McD's bathroom close to you. :) Payback is a bitch..

But the one thing I have had is friends that will split the last packet of Ramen with me. Even if they have only known me for a few hours. The kindness of people you would expect to push you away is astounding.

I could go on but I am so tired..

My two kids...
less obvious...learning to play guitar...

The way I have raised them so far (and at times having to sacrifice much and stand my ground to do a good job) has lead to some very intelligent, warm people being added amongst this cold, hard world.

I think also managing to somehow retain much of my own hope, spirit and strength in the face of little support or encouragement from anyone in this world.

Trust me, it would be much easier to be an asshole to everyone.

I feel my greatest accomplishment is yet to come, however.

.....through my 2nd story window.

How I managed to hold in my anger is beyond words!

;-)

My 4 year old. Sorry for the treacle, but it's true. He is the most adorable little man, grinning and asking me if whatever we're about to do (buy a hammer at Lowes, for instance) is "gonna be big big fun?" Curling up between me and the Ms. in the morning and whispering "Can I watch cartoons?" Mischieviously blurting out to his mommy "Mommy, you pretty!" with my prompting, blowing kisses to shopgirls, awkwardly parroting "may I have some Buzz Lightyear treats pleeeease?"

He is my pride and joy, my life, my best friend, and the best boy ever.

He's a great kid. Mind you, he's found trouble here and there, but he's still a great kid, and I think that someday some person will be lucky to get him as a life partner (I'm pretty sure he's straight, but if he's not, I don't care).

Parenthood was the toughest job I ever had, and I loved every minute of it.

I have thrown five 300 games in bowling, had a cup of coffee in the major leagues and (for you darters out there) have had two nine-dart 501 games.

Nothing beats my kids, though.

One was easy because I was young and didn't know any better. Sure I went to the doctor, but I didn't really listen to him. I ate bad stuff, I smoked cigarettes...I gained too much weight. Still, a perfect little girl came out. After 14 years, she has yet to show any ill effects from her mother's stupidity.

One was hard...so very hard. Late term losses of babies that shouldn't have been lost. Following doctor's advice to a tee, only to lose time and again. Then I gave up. Too much heartbreak. Only to find out I was expecting again. With the help of the medical community, one wonderful and caring doctor, the support of my husband, and a whole lot of hope, a beautiful boy was born. After 5 years I have yet to look at him and not realize how very damned lucky I am for an improbability. :hi:

my daughter, was arrested for draft evasion once, and once for disrupting the Democratic Convention on the streets of Chicgao in Aug. '68, wrote books long and short (bibliography and poetry--strange bedfellows), and most recently was there for my father though his terrible death.

On edit: In 23 years of college teaching, I have helped a few students discover greater possibilities in themselves as in the written art of the past and present, and how to express themselves more effectively. (One former student is one of the best young poets in San Francisco right now.) I can't really call these accomplishments, however, because the students have SO much to do with it. (As my dad used to say: You don't teach students. Students learn.)

(Or, if I didn't take the question quite so seriously: I CAPTION in DU's Lounge all I can.)

after screwing around too long.

2. Finding the love of my life at last.

3. Volunteering for Dean and doing things I would never have had the courage to do because of it (traveling to Iowa twice and leading a meetup group). I made so many great friends when I was despairing of ever finding like minds here.

and earn a degree. :toast:

:hi: Laura

but I absolutely LOATHE the woman who chairs the tech writing department at North Texas. I may just settle for basic English, or maybe creative writing as a specialty this time round.

And I always wanted to be one of those people who has degrees on their wall from all these different far-away sounding universities. Someday maybe I'll get to U-Dub in Seattle or somewhere else.

Two degrees from a Texas university in the mtroplex seems like a copout to me.

:hi: