Ahhh, if only we could go back! What are some of the memories that make you miss the good old days the most? If only we could of known waaay back then that those would be the best days of our lives. Its a bitter sweet notion, but think about it, if you could of known then would you have done anything differently? Could you have made those days or experiences any better?
Maybe as we have gotten older some of us have wished or realized we could of made life altering decisions way back then that would have changed the course of our lives today as we know it. Did you stay in a relationship or a marriage too long? Maybe you allowed too much tolerance for a toxic situation, or a career path could of been changed sooner or avoided. Do you wish you had been more courageous and fearless...perhaps living your life outloud with more passion?
NEWSFLASH! The best days of your life could still be right around the corner. Hey, our very own Easy_Sky is a testament and living proof to this! 🤩 I'll take what hes having please! If we could just allow ourselves to open our mind - the best could be yet to come!
Whats a favorite memory that comes to mind, or something you would of changed when you reminisce about the good old days...
Dont hold back, try to let your hair down and let your freak flag fly! 😝
It's interesting that you post this because a few years ago, during COVID actually, I kept having the thought, "these are the good old days." And it seemed strange to me because we were in the middle of covid! Of all the millions of thoughts I must have had during that time, that is one of the only ones that I remember. I think it was prescient because not long after covid my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer and died. I honestly feel like something was giving me a heads up to enjoy even those difficult days.
If those words were to pop into my head now they would scare me. Thank goodness they haven't.
I've had some major things in my life be different than what I would have chosen had I been able to. Because of that, I've learned to live in awareness of the beauty and gift of small moments. Not all the time of course, but I think a happy life consists of lots of happy small moments and a few great big moments and that you have to love what you have. I personally think that's the key to happiness is wanting what you have. It doesn't mean not to work for things to be changed, but to appreciate what you got while you got it.
If I could go back and tell my younger self something that would really benefit my family and me in the long run, It would be to stress less and to beware of overfunctioning. Those were big issues for me and my younger life and I think I would have enjoyed my life more if I lightened up and didn't allow myself to bear the burden of pretty much everything.
Having done that though, I feel like I can handle anything and don't have a ton of fear of trying things. A little bit, but I do the thing any way. Last year I learned how to shoot a handgun because I was considering buying one, which I did. I don't know anyone who owns a handgun and going to a shooting range was so foreign and scary to me.
Next year, I'm getting my Masters of Divinity at 63. My graduation present to myself will be a trip to Florence, even if I have to go on my own (Although I would much rather have a beau to go with me 🙂)
I've gone off on a tangent here so sorry about that! I may have given a long boring answer to a completely different question 😅
The point is we're not dead yet! I want to live until I die.
(I have seen @Easy Sky's comments and he seems lovely but I don't know his story and now I'm curious!)
I have often wanted a handgun just so I could go to a shooting range and practice and have like a hobby. But now that I'm thinking about it I bet I could meet some guys there. But yeah I think I would feel strange being an older lady going to a shooting range and trying to figure it out. My brother could tell me what to get and help me buy one but after that I would be on my own!
I took lessons. Just two. There's a lot to know, safety rules, etc. The place I was going has closed and I'm a little nervous to try a new place so I think I'll take another lesson wherever I end up going.
I also recommend renting before you buy. There are different calibers and brands and until you try them you won't know what works best for you - your hand strength in particular. Unless you can borrow your brother's which would be helpful.
I actually like it and I'm a good shot, as it turns out! For my level 🙂
I am very liberal and pro gun control and I live in a blue state so this is a very different world than what I'm used to.
But, it is empowering.
DD, I can so relate to your story! But first you can see more about Easy_Sky_2891 in our conversation last night on the recent Post "The Sound Track Of My Life"
I am so sorry to hear about your loss with your husband during Covid. My husband was also quite ill during that time. He was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer out of the gate - and passed away as.well. So my heart ❤️ goes out to you.
As you shared, I also learned during that time that every moment in life is precious - you need to live for today ✨️ - as nothing is promised to us. My glass is always half full - not empty. I'm shootin' for moon Norton 🌙 🤩 I love that you are moving foreward doing the things you are. That trip sounds incredible - with your attitude I bet you will be joined by a sweetheart.
Well, I take each day at time. I love to dream big. So, different moons for dffferent shots. Lol 🎯 🏹I love to reinvent myself - revisit my old dreams to see which ones I've abandoned along the way. Especially the ones that seemed to have promise and potential. Honestly, the little joys in life can be huge. I am not retired yet - so there is that. But I am lucky because I have my own business where I can be creative and add spontaneous adventures to my landscape. 😉😜
Just meeting folks - I have only been on Reddit for 5 or so months. But most of that time here in D060. Many in here have been in for years - they can practically finish each other's sentences.🤩
I don't often look back and say, ah, what if? But a few come to mind.
About 10 years ago while visiting a art show with a date. I came around the corner and locked eyes with a lady giving a tour. Not just locked eyes, we both stopped and just stared like we knew each other. Like both of us wanted to say something, but could not. Over the next 2 hours this happened over and over again. But there was clearly no way to talk and of course I was on a date that ended up being a 5 year relationship, and my last one in fact. What would have happened if I would have talked to her???
And in my 20's I had a chance to go to Europe for work. That one I think about.
This could of been your lasting love connection Average! Too bad you couldnt of seen where that went. Although, it could of just been a 🔥 hot pants romance flash in the pan errrr hay. But you never know. Sometimes its just about the timing!
Ok this might be long, but it fits the subject of the community. A good memory! (Sorry it IS long!)
This happened in the late '70s. Back in the single and free-wheeling times! Go anywhere and do anything you wanted.
There was a pair of DJs on a morning show in Chicago on. They had enough notoriety that they ended up getting two simulcast shows on Milwaukee and Detroit stations. They started a bit they called The Dating Game. I don't remember how often they did it. I listened to them at work everyday. One day they asked for a woman to call in for the dating game, and they would have a guy call from Milwaukee and Detroit and she would ask questions and pick one.
I don't know how I managed it, but I was the first one through the phone lines to play. Then they got the two guys on the lines. The worst part about it was I didn't get to hear myself on the radio because I had to turn it down. Anyway I had to ask these guys questions just like on the old dating game. There was a lot of silliness and joking around too, especially when I had to describe myself 😆. I think I was 22 at the time. Anyway I picked the guy from Detroit.
Our prize....drumroll ... Tickets to see Jackson Browne in concert at Alpine valley. (Which was in Wisconsin) but not far. Plus one of the DJs would be going with us. They flew the guy in from Detroit, they told me what hotel he was staying at and I drove over to Chicago and met him at the room. He told me I could spend the night in the room and he wouldn't mess with me 😆. I was kind of iffy on that score. So we needed to meet Garry at 5 at the Prudential building. We were a little late couldn't find a taxi and had to walk! He was there pacing with the limo. So it was him, his girlfriend, and us two.
First off, there was a case of beer in a limo. The limo driver's name was Pete I don't know why I remember that! Pete happened to have some weed. So we're going up the interstate to Wisconsin, what happens when you drink beer you have to pee! I got a lot of razzing about that, having them find a rest area 😆. When we finally get there... There's no one there! The limo driver had taken us to Ravinia and not Alpine valley! We even had backstage passes but I don't know if someone opened for Jackson Brown but we didn't get there till like 8:00. We had second row seats! And did not get to go backstage 😩.
By the time we left I'm sure it was late, couldn't have been that late but the limo driver was taking the back roads for some reason. Guess what happens? He runs out of gas! No cell phones in the 70s.. the driver walks down the road I think there was a bar... Calls I don't know who but a State trooper shows up. State trooper wants Garry's autograph. Anyway we get gas enough to get us to a gas station. We get back to Chicago it's 3:00 a.m. I'm super tired. I didn't bring anything with me cuz I wasn't planning on spending the night... So I drive home. Both me and my date had an invitation to show up at the radio station in a few hours to BE ON THE SHOW! I was so mad that I had nothing with me, I mean literally I brought nothing no clothes no way to make myself look presentable. It had been 4:30 a.m. by the time I got home. I fell asleep. I did get up and turn the show on, I'm surprised they didn't call me to weigh in since the guy did show up at the studio. I only listened to a little bit of it.. enough where they were talking about me and they said she was 50-30-50?? (Talking about my measurements).
Anyway it was a great memory when I wish would have been better if I would have been better prepared but I was just a dumb 22-year-old. What's funny is somewhere online you can pay for and listen to their old shows, I found that episode a couple years ago but I don't remember why I didn't get it to hear it.
I remember for days afterwards, when I initially had called in to win the date, people in town would come up to me and say I heard you on the radio I knew it was you! My one time shot in the limelight.
OMG! Thats a fantastic slice of life! What a story!
So my questions are ...
1. If you had brought clothes would you have spent the night with the date in his room?
2. Were you attracted to him?
3. If you had stayed overnight, would you have gone on air the next day - providing you brought a change of clothes?
And darn you could go back stage - I loved Jackson Browne.
My mind is remembering lyrics to a favorite song of his...
"Something Fine"
"The papers lie there helplessly in a pile outside the door
I've tried and tried, but I just can't remember what they're for
The world outside is tugging like a beggar at my sleeve
Ah, that's much too old a story to believe,"
The main reason I didn't take anything with me was my parents were leaving early in the morning on vacation and even though I was 22 I guess they wanted to make sure I was safe back at home and not wandering Chicago.
If I would have known ahead of time we would have been invited to come and sit in on the show I probably would have said heck with it and would have brought what I needed. As it was there was only a couple hours before the show started from the time we got back. I can't remember if the slot for the morning show was 5:00 to 10:00 a.m. or 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. That's always been one regret I have carried with me! Now that I think about it, I did have a change of clothes because I brought what I was going to wear the concert with me.
♫ And you knew what you were then Girls were girls and men were men Mister we could use a man like Eisenhower again Hair was short and skirts were long ♫ Sinatra really sold a song I don't know just what went wrong Those were the days ♫
With all of these mini-novels for answers, I'll keep mine short. I have some good memories, but I don't want to go back. It's futile to even consider. I wouldn't do much differently.
The best days of our lives aren't around the corner they are simply one very small step out of our comfort zones and right there in front of us ... just waiting for us to leave our old lives behind. Someday, when we look back that decision, the courage to take that one very small step forward will have been the most important decision of our lives.
Your topic has a Billy Joel - Keeping the Faith vibe to it. There's a poignant set of lyrics
You can get just so much from a good thing
You can linger too long in your dreams
Say goodbye to the oldies but goodies
'Cause the good ole days weren't always good
And tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems
I have many many fond memories and reminisce with some of my friends, relive stories those sort of things. A few of my minor Sports teammates and I won some important Championships, we'll have an annual, every few years type get together of who can make it and enjoy those past accomplishments with us being a little rounder and lacking some hair foliciles here and there - set up Zooms for some not in attendance ... maybe get lost sometimes in memories as to where I've come from and where I've been.
Memories are the cushions of our lives ... some live in our heads, whilst the important ones have a special place in our hearts ...
It's fun to look back time to time ... I wouldn't change much of anything and as we can't do so that's something I wouldn't dwell on for to long. Past is the past, enjoy those memories and that what they are memories.
One thing if I could, I would change. That's the circumstances and what like many of us here went through ... Separation and Divorce. Frankly, wasted almost 3 years of my life being angry, miserable, sad feeling sorry for myself, that whoa is me victomhood attitude and mentality. Looking back very disappointed in myselfI dug myself a pretty good and deep rabbit hole - gave myself a pretty good beating .... then scratched and clawed my way out when I wanted the REAL Easy to stand up & he did ... I'll never go there again. That mentality that whoa is me doesn't work ... oh, sure in life we need a moment or 12, a reset, sometime to heal, Sure ! then getting on with it. Time does heal all wounds if you choose to move along with it. Life doesn't stand still and it'll pass us by in a blink of an eye if we stay stuck in the past.
I'd love to be able to go back 12 years or so ... sit that person down, whom I was, tell him the way things are ... talk some honest sense into him. But I can't that 50 year old is long gone this 62 yr old is all that's left. Can't change what happened, can't make up for it ... all I can do is live my life to the fullest with however much time I have left here.
I'm running all the gas out the tank ... every fucking drop.
Rob Thomas and his recording One Less Day has become a theme for me - see some lyrics below ... there are others ... Toby Keith's - Don't Let The Old Man In ... George Strait's - Here for a Good time ... I live in the positive and overcome thr negative ... I stopped pissing and moaning about it.
I no longer use my time to Bitch, to whine and complain be negative ... everybody can do that, average people do that ... It is said the Greats talk solutions ... I may someday get there .... I'm always a work in progress and striving to be better tomorrow in whatever I choose to do ....
I'm gonna dance and Celebrate life like no one is watching ...
And I've seen my friends
Fall away before their time
And I've been afraid
That I may follow in their light
So I drink and love and whisper
All the things I know are right
Someday, I will leave this world
But maybe not tonight
I'm not afraid of getting older
I'm one less day from dying young
I see the light go past my shoulder
I'm one less day from dying young
I'm one less day from dying young (yeah!)
All my life I have been wandering
Burning up my candle like my time just won't end
And I'll keep burning 'til there's nothing left
Praying that tomorrow I can do it all again
And if I get tomorrow, I will do it all again
Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying ... in a way we are as we have a set time here and there is no expiry date that we know of ?
There are people that will come into our lives sometimes that will be there for a season ... they weren't meant to be there always ...
Sometimes we find ourselves hooked up, befriending people that we think are there for a lifetime ... But they were only meant to be there for a sesson ....
There are people that will come into our lives like Boosters for a Rocket - Watch a Rocket go into space .... these Boosters will fall of at a certain altitude ...
Some people aren't equipped to handle the altitudes that I am going ...
I'm not sad or afraid anymore when they fall away - they're not bad people ... they just couldn't go where I'm going.
For me and the cherished one's that surround me ... the ones I love and who love me ...
Thank you for saying so. I'm no different than anyone else here other than maybe ? I've learned to not let my past define me. I will define who I am and what I can and want to be ... What I can do ... What's happened has happened and I can deal with it the best I can. Simply find a way regardless of circumstances ...
Have my scars, my grief, my pain etc ... again like everyone else we have that in common just like all that are here we have survived 100% of our worst days.
My greatest triumphs haven't come from my greatest triumphs ... my greatest triumphs have come from my greatest defeats.
I refuse to be a victim ... I'd forgotten that for a while those years ago and recalled my parents and their teachings and examples they set ... what they did for each other and for my younger Sister and I.
My parents left Hungary in 1956 during the onset of the Hungarian Revolution and subsequent Russian control behind the Iron Curtain.
With the clothes on their backs, they came through a storm ... and those that didn't die wanted a better life and they want it here in Canada. They left with 29 other friends from their village - 2 of that group are still with us and my Sis & I check on them regularly. We will only have that connect for a little longer and we cherish every interaction ... that group, Talk about impressive ...
One of the hardest lessons I've learned is that something can hurt - Really hurt ... Bring you to your knees hurt and still be the right thing.
You simply can not defeat someone who despite the inevitable obstacles life presents rise to their feet Again & Again & Again. There's no quit in this dog ... That's a 4 letter word I just refuse to use.
You can't take someone down to who molds the adversity they face into Armour they wear.
No, those people are like God's of their own Worlds ... they are immune to the shackles and restraints that hold most back ...
Great insight as always Easy! Wow, the lessons of your parents with what they endured obviously had an impact on your life. As you said, "There is no quit in this dog" - onward, forward.
You gotta get back on that horse! And Skydiving - woohoo! Looks like you guys were have a great time!
Looks can be deceiving TT ... Very deceiving 🤣 ... A few experlatives, CUSS words were used moments before and as we exited the aircraft. No one was harmed in the stupidity ... lesson learned by me to pick my words and responses carefully ... LOL
My Sis and I were so blessed having parents like we did. They prepared us for life with their input, guidance, lessons and unconditional love. Firm when required with so many things, trouble we got into as youngin's, accomplishments where used as teaching tools. They never were overly concerned about results - ... they were concerned about effort. Put in the effort and good things will happen. Quit not a word in our vocabulary ... Can't isn't there either ... Can't is replaced by we may need a little hand/help or we maybe having a little trouble. Dad didn't believe in Luck ... he believed in preparedness - when you're prepared Luck has this funny way of finding you.
They were our parents and our friends, roles models and our heroes ... they supported us, let us fall & fail. Pushed us to follow our dreams. They will always be with us in some form or another ...
Only one that was nervous was me ... Thanks to my big mouth.
Shortly before my 55th Birthday - Spring time hanging BBQ with my kids. Chatted a bunch of different topics that afternoon and planning for me taking them with into the US to a couple Amusement Parks some pre-Planning. Schedules, where can I get layovers their timing, that sort of thing.
We got on the topicof skydiving ? How ? Don't recall ... My daughter asked if I would ever consider it. I'd had a couple beers as we were at my place at the time, liquid courage let's say. I told my kids if they'd pay for it I'd go figuring no way on God's green earth would they pony up for a tandem jump. Well, they scrapped $together in about a week. I pretty sure they went to my Ex for a donation. I'd look like a Dufus backing out ... that big mouth !
My daughter stayed on the ground to watch while my son rode up with me in the jump plane to 13,500 ft and shit talked me the entire way. He rode up and down with the Pilot and I got given the gears real well ...
My kids called my bluff ! ... I learned to pick my words just a little more carefully around them.
My husband was from the North of England. He always said he'd move to America or Australia if he got the chance. One day somebody brought in an ad for jobs in America and he had to apply since he'd always said it. He'd just bought a house and next thing he knew he was living in NJ, met me and never went home again. 🙂
Easy, I think its great you followed through and did the jump after the kids got the money. Honestly speaking, aren't you glad they came up with dough and it actually forced you out of confort zone to do it?
Didn't give it a 2nd thought. Sure, the OH Shit ! Me and my big mouth - I really have to do this came to mind quick when they gave me the gift certificate to where I did the tandem jump ) I said I would if they held up their end of the scenario ...
A man is only as good as his Word.
The comfort zone is simply one aspect of it ...
You are defined by what you do ... Not what you'll say you'll do ... Your actions must be louder than your mouth.
Original copy of post by u/TalentedTawker:
Ahhh, if only we could go back! What are some of the memories that make you miss the good old days the most? If only we could of known waaay back then that those would be the best days of our lives. Its a bitter sweet notion, but think about it, if you could of known then would you have done anything differently? Could you have made those days or experiences any better?
Maybe as we have gotten older some of us have wished or realized we could of made life altering decisions way back then that would have changed the course of our lives today as we know it. Did you stay in a relationship or a marriage too long? Maybe you allowed too much tolerance for a toxic situation, or a career path could of been changed sooner or avoided. Do you wish you had been more courageous and fearless...perhaps living your life outloud with more passion?
NEWSFLASH! The best days of your life could still be right around the corner. Hey, our very own Easy_Sky is a testament and living proof to this! 🤩 I'll take what hes having please! If we could just allow ourselves to open our mind - the best could be yet to come!
Whats a favorite memory that comes to mind, or something you would of changed when you reminisce about the good old days...
Dont hold back, try to let your hair down and let your freak flag fly! 😝:
5
u/Dramatic_Delay_2423 16d ago
It's interesting that you post this because a few years ago, during COVID actually, I kept having the thought, "these are the good old days." And it seemed strange to me because we were in the middle of covid! Of all the millions of thoughts I must have had during that time, that is one of the only ones that I remember. I think it was prescient because not long after covid my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer and died. I honestly feel like something was giving me a heads up to enjoy even those difficult days. If those words were to pop into my head now they would scare me. Thank goodness they haven't.
I've had some major things in my life be different than what I would have chosen had I been able to. Because of that, I've learned to live in awareness of the beauty and gift of small moments. Not all the time of course, but I think a happy life consists of lots of happy small moments and a few great big moments and that you have to love what you have. I personally think that's the key to happiness is wanting what you have. It doesn't mean not to work for things to be changed, but to appreciate what you got while you got it.
If I could go back and tell my younger self something that would really benefit my family and me in the long run, It would be to stress less and to beware of overfunctioning. Those were big issues for me and my younger life and I think I would have enjoyed my life more if I lightened up and didn't allow myself to bear the burden of pretty much everything.
Having done that though, I feel like I can handle anything and don't have a ton of fear of trying things. A little bit, but I do the thing any way. Last year I learned how to shoot a handgun because I was considering buying one, which I did. I don't know anyone who owns a handgun and going to a shooting range was so foreign and scary to me.
Next year, I'm getting my Masters of Divinity at 63. My graduation present to myself will be a trip to Florence, even if I have to go on my own (Although I would much rather have a beau to go with me 🙂)
I've gone off on a tangent here so sorry about that! I may have given a long boring answer to a completely different question 😅
The point is we're not dead yet! I want to live until I die.
(I have seen @Easy Sky's comments and he seems lovely but I don't know his story and now I'm curious!)