Hey, if any of you were 25 again...

...how would you make the most of it?

Signed, a 25-year-old guy who's worried he's not making the most of it.

or not?

...like one of those body-switching comedies from the 80's.

I'd date a lot of different women, develop my hobbies and interests outside work. I'd realize that whatever I'm doing doesn't mean I'm locked into that forever. Most importantly, I'd have faith in myself and my intuition to find the right way for me.

Whatever "it" is, stop wondering what might happen and GO FOR IT.

Believe me, I've done some things that are much more "regrettable"
than most folks ever have, or ever will...

But the older I get, the more I realize that the cliché is true-
it's the things I DIDN'T do that I still regret most.

It's a "cliché" because it's so universally true. It happens to
everyone; it happened to me, and it WILL happen to you.

You WANTED to do something this week, but you didn't.
20 years from now, you won't remember a damn thing you did
this week...but that one thing you DIDN'T do will be on your
mind a lot.

As it turned out, I burned up another 5 years of my life after 25 before I got the treatment that I needed.

I would have gotten involved with the political process. It wouldn't be until March 2003 before that happened and I am 34 now.

I would have never gone into business for myself and bought a semi. I would have remained a company driver.

I would not have bought the house that was too expensive for me. That one is important. Live within your means. Don't acquire more debt than your house mortgage. You will thank yourself for it later. I'm still paying on debt that I acquired when I was in my 20s. That is largely due to buying too much house.

You should be getting cheaper insurance now and hopefully some credit offers.

I would get out from under my family's wing sooner
I would get into therapy sooner

Been a while since I've seen you around. How is it going?

probably nothing. You've got to enjoy what you can in this life, within reason, but enjoyed nonetheless.

started my career there. Instead, I stayed in the state where I currently live because of a relationship. I still have the relationship, but I still regret not making a bolder move to better myself. :)

I wish I had. My coworkers wonder why I am still there since they feel I have potenial to succeed beyond what I am doing now. It makes me sad when I think about it.

Or schooling in the field I wanted to be in (graphic design).

Still, I've no qualms about the past. As a generalization of course, we all know I could find things to have nightmares and complain about but I need to think of the future as well and let go of the past as best I can.

...seems like that's not really the question.

For the record, I wouldn't change anything about what I did at 25 - it brought me here, and I'm happy with my life.

The question is what will YOU do to make the most of YOUR 25th year, because you're the only one that matters. If you feel you're neglecting your love life, get out there and date. If you feel like you're neglecting your career and education, work on that.

Whatever it is that you feel is getting the short shrift, then give it that extra attention it deserves. There is no right way to live your life. Do what fulfills you most, and when it stops being fulfilling, move on to the next thing. Change is good.

I would not have married then... saving myself nine years of heartache. I would have instead concentrated on further my career passions and finding more compatible company.

Biggest mistake of my life, resulting in years of misery. Funny thing is, I mostly thought I was happy.

a few Dr who conventions around the country..I loved 25.

Are you having a good time or measuring yourself against what the media says you should be doing at 25?

At that age you have most of your options still open and lots of time to pursue your goals. I'd love to be 25 again, knowing what I know now.

Like have more fun. When I was 25, I was too focused on career and acquiring materiel stuff. It was the 80's and we were expected to be ambitious, greedy, and have lots of status symbols. In retrospect, it was nothing more than a silly competition with friends and colleagues. I should have just dropped out and been more hedonistic. I'd be poorer today, but likely alot happier.

Q

:thumbsup:

Of course, hedonism is not that much different to greed, depending on one's point of view. :D

And I wouldn't change a thing.

If I knew biomechanics to an advanced degree, I'd rewire myself in the womb so I wouldn't be stuck with Asperger's Syndrome all my life. ;)

and I would LIVE MORE . Go out and HAVE FUN ! Don't be serious all the time ... seriously.

Have fun , go dance , travel , and have better control over your finances and save your money. And if there is something in your life that you want to do , DO IT.

Take this from a 26 soon to be 27 year old.

and, told my father to take his business and shove it up his male chauvinist assx(

i wasted 15 years of my adult life for that man and his business. BIG MISTAKE.

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your hometown
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way


You're the only one who can figure out what "making the most of it" is for you. But if you're worrying about it, you're not doing it. Figure out what you want to do. Then do it. Simple as that.

And that's what I've learned in my 46 years - it's not as complicated as it seems. You really can make up your mind to do something and then just do it.

not have partied so much
and not have been so complacent

learn new sports, travel, sightsee, hike...there is so much to see and do on this precious planet..
plus party :party: :toast:

I highly recommend that course to all 25-year olds!

I have no regrets. Was I dumber than I am now? Of course.

But I lived then, as I live now, deeply appreciative of the moment, knowing it will be gone soon.

or guys, or whatever you're into. :)

I probably would have delayed marriage and children.

I would have gone to college earlier than I did.

But, alas, here I am!

Three great kids and I managed to go to college.

What do YOU want to do that you aren't doing?

Make a list! ;)

Different lives totally, I dropped out and partied and moved 13 times, but the same point. If I could go back and talk to the 21/24 year-old me I'd say think more about everything I do because it will mean a lot for the next FIFTY or SEVENTY years.

(Edited to say, sorry if that sounds depressing.. yah, do have fun, don't be boring :) )

kids and a marriage. OMG!! We were really young and dumb! :P You know though,
back then, I wouldn't have listened and neither would you, probably! ;)

this is what maturity does.. gives me regret.
You rock for finishing school though!

now that my youngest is a HS graduate.

I need a new something to do!! A new career!

I'm getting ready to fly! ;) (again!) lol!

about anything because, fuck it, I was only 25.

I'd recommend you do the same because, well, you're only 25.

Redstone

Considering I was raising a child, working fulltime, and going to school fulltime.

If I were 25 again and single/childless, I would travel more. Even if I had to live in a studio apartment and drive an old, old car, I'd use my resources to travel.

I would see a lot more concerts. That's all that comes to mind right now.

-- signed, a 37-year-old (damn near 38-year-old) white guy

I'm only 25 myself. Lots of great info in this thread though, thanks for posting it.

zigged on a few zags, jumped more fences, learned to dance, drank/drugged less, and thought about tomorrow more.

Other than that it would be a repeat. hehe

Signed, 38 year old who knows he better make the most of it soon.

:hi:

maybe not date a particular guy I dated at 25.

Now, 27 is another story completely. What wouldn't I change?

I have no reason to lie to youl.

But seriously, what do you do now?
Just know that mid-twenties is when you finally realize you know shit and THEN start to figure shit out while prefacing it with the knowledgte you're a dumbass.

I was extraordinarily unsuccessful with women throughout my 20s. I was so shy that I'd get too worked up over every woman that would look in my general direction that I'd never do anything with them.

I finally loosened up when I hit my 30s, but then I got married, divorced and then remarried.

So, I potentially missed out on a lot.

that would have been the single life changing event for me. I wouldn't have had kids, an ex-wife, a current wife who right now I can't afford and I would have taken time for me.

Twenty three years later, I regret that decision more than ever (mainly because I had the shittiest Fathers Day in my life).

also, when I meet my ex-wife later that year, I would run away, quickly...

RL

what anyone else feels like they could have done better isn't necessarily better for you... pursue the things you enjoy, don't be too serious but don't be too carefree either, live up to your own expectations and don't worry about others.

take it for what it's worth, I'm only 22 :)

and it was only 11 years ago. Does that mean I must have been doing something right or wrong? Maybe.

My advice:

- don't be afraid to live your own life, but at the same time, don't be too selfish either.
- if you don't know yet, figure out who you are, but don't stress over the details, as those can and do change
- enjoy the good times and the bad ones, as both are what make you who you are
- don't be afraid to try new things. if you don't like it, no loss

I was kind of an ass at 25 (yes, I know some are saying, "how's that any different?"), but I would not change it. Before that I had been kind of wishy washy and I needed to experiment with sticking up for myself and being more aggressive for about a year. Now I think I am at a happy medium.

and yes, I fucked a lot, but it kind of went along with being a jerk, sadly. Eventually I realized that I did not need to be a jerk to get what I want and/or to accept when I didn't get what I want.

When I was 25 I worried about everything. I worried that one day I would not have anything to worry about. I was wasting time. Make a Nike commercial, just do whatever it is you want to do. I recall an old book "Your Erroneous Zones" By Don (or Dan) Dyer. Its at least 30 years old but it tackled the problem of worrying. One of my favorite quotes is 104 years old from Henry Ford. Words to live by:

"Whether you think you can or you can't you're right." Go on Bicoastal, make that Nike Commercial.

1) If you have any unhealthy lifestyle choices, stop them or slow down on them...smoking, heavy drinking, etc.

2) Have as much safe sex as your body can handle. Try for 3 times a day, everyday. I'm serious.

3) Work out regularly, but don't be a maniac about it. Your goal is to continue it the rest of your life.

4) Cultivate your mind. Read as much as you can.

5) Do something to help someone everyday. people will start referring to you as "that nice young man"...and that is a good thing to be.

Seriously. If you invest as little as 25 dollars a month, in 20 years you'll have a lot of money.

I could have invested in Starbucks and Microsoft back in the day. And I sure wish I had.

In those dangerous rapids the odds are not good I'd do as well a second time.

Maybe I should have spent more time skinny-dipping... except I now realize I spent way too much time in the sun, and it's no fun these days having spooky things cut off my skin and sent out for biopsy.

At 25 I was a total mess, but I was starting to move forward. I can't imagine how I might have changed any of that without changing who I became; I learned too much from my misadventures to regret them, stuff I'd never have learned simply avoiding trouble.

I dunno, throw yourself into situations with enthusiasm, and hope you don't get killed or maimed. Years later it's sorta fun to show off your scars and remember splashing around naked with friends on the beach.

I'm still trying to do that move but it's much harder when you have a career and a mortgage and a spouse.

We do travel a lot, but it's still much harder when you only get a few vacation days and you're too old and picky to want to sleep in hostels and train stations.

That's my advice. Your body will begin to go downhill rapidly if you don't stop it now. I'm only 31, but even if I exercised 5 times a week I still would not have my 25 yr old body back.

seriously. Good advice at ANY age....and I'm 43 now! :hi:

i did all the other stuff you're supposed to do while young but i now realize it would have been better just to get the $$$ while the getting is good because you never know if your skill or degree will worth anything in a few years after you graduate, entire skill sets just seemed to disappear and never be worth anything again because of declining employment opportunities and the computerization that allows companies to get by with fewer engineers, draftsmen, etc.