April 25, 2023

Tell Me Something Tuesday: If You Could Go Back and Change One Thing About Your Life, What Would It Be?


Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme created by Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings in order to discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging (and some slightly more personal matters throw in for good measure). After Heidi stopped blogging (apparently for good), five of us took over as hosts while providing new questions. The current team is composed of Berls at Because Reading Is Better Than Real LifeJen at That's What I'm Talking AboutKaren at For What It's WorthLinda at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Roberta at Offbeat YA. This week's question is...

IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

It's no secret that I've made a number of bad choices in my life...or more like, non-choices - letting myself be lulled by the waves and waiting to see if they would transport me to a better place, because I didn't know how (and where) to swim. One of the worst (rare) decisions I've ever made was knock on the local radio stations' doors (two of them - the first one shut up shop after a few months, the second left me unemployed after 20 years). Once I entered those doors, my life freeze-framed. When I realised that there wasn't enough money and recognition to be had, ever (I said recognition, not fame - like from my boss, for instance ๐Ÿ˜ฌ), I was already too old, too tired and too unskilled in everything else to look for a different job. So I didn't leave the place...until the place left me.
But as bitter as I am about my radio stunt, my very first/biggest mistake predated it - even, for all purposes, was responsible for my trading a hobby for a (dead-end) job - and that's the one thing I really, really wish I could go back and undo (where are you Doctor? ๐Ÿ˜ญ): my choice of schools.


Since I used to hate scientific disciplines, I enrolled into Classical High School (where the main subjects were Greek and Latin). The problem is, even back then, I didn't intend to do anything in life that would require for me to specialise in dead languages. As usual, I only knew what I DIDN'T WANT to do. Teen me dreamed of doing something "creative" (possibly something language-related) and hated the idea of office jobs and the like with a passion - to me they equated death of the soul, no less. (I used to abstractly hate computers too...go figure). Then I chose the Foreign Languages and Literatures faculty because...duh, I loved English, and it came easily to me. Also, I knew it was likely to open a lot of doors...except I didn't have a clue what doors I ACTUALLY wanted to open (I toyed with the idea of becoming a book translator for a while, but I didn't know how to make it happen - keep in mind we were still a few years away from the internet-for-everyone era...). So, TL;DR: I've never studied anything that would be expendable in the job market (except English, but that alone didn't suffice, and then again, I've become more proficient in it thanks to books and online interactions than I had via five years of academic courses...).
So, to answer this week's question: knowing what I know now, when enrolling in high school, I would choose a technical institute - which would probably make me miserable for five years, but it's not like the school I chose didn't, and at least a technical education would be more useful. Then I would take advantage of the emergent computer science courses and become one of the first computer-literate people in my corner of the woods. And then I would actually aim for one of those office jobs I used to hate, because now I know that sometimes the best way to be creative is by way of a hobby. So I would stay away from radio stations and start blogging ten years in advance instead and become an internet sensation ๐Ÿ˜‚ (joking about the last part LOL) and carve my creative outlet in that niche. Where's a TARDIS when you need to have a talk with past you about her future mistakes.


Well, that's it for now. Did you enjoy this post? Would you like to participate in the meme on a regular or semi-regular basis, and get emailed the prompt list? Just head over here and fill in Jen's form! (Of course, you can jump in anytime you like - you are under no obligation to actually do all the posts, or even most of them, just because you signed up, and you can remove yourself from the list at any time). And if you're interested in participating in a more casual manner, or only in commenting, here is the TMST prompt list for the month of May:

  • May 2nd: Have you looked at Twitter alternatives after it changed hands? Are you using any? (a question I submitted)
  • May 9th: Do you prefer to read a series as the books come out? Or do you prefer to wait until the series is finished?
  • May 16th: Which book/series would make a great movie/tv series?
  • May 23rd: Which tropes do you enjoy the most?
  • May 30th: Which books are you looking forward to reading this Summer? (June-August)

I'll be back for the meme on May 2nd, and I'm very much looking forward to your answers, because I'd like to be able to leave Twitter behind...though I guess it's wistful thinking for now, given that all the authors and publishers are on there...

Now tell me something...is there a thing about your past that you would like to be able to change?

27 comments:

  1. I wasn't really into computers either in my teens so it's ironic now how muh time I spend on one-and that my big hobby is so dependent on it.lol

    I agree though, I think I would definitely pick a different field. I don't feel like I made the best choices there...

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    1. Ha! Ironic for sure! I've even messed with codes and whatnot on occasion - both on the blog and on previous projects...(I mean, other people's codes - I'm not a programmer LOL).

      You would too? What would you like to do?

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    2. I'm not sure. See? Still ha. I would probably start writing sooner... I mean, I always wrote, but didn't DO it enough, you know? And I always loved history, but hard to make a living there, which is why... I didn't lol. I agree with Emily though- I've always loved ancient history and mythology, maybe I should have went into that to teach or whatever...

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    3. Quite different from benefit admin (which your Twitter profile says you are, but I'm not sure if it's still current...).

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    4. Very different! And I enjoy iy it, but... not sure it's my life calling :)

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    5. You're still lucky not to have regrets...or you've been good at not making bad choices ๐Ÿ‘.

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    6. Oh I have ha ha :):)

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  2. On the topic of fields of study, the one thing I would change in my life is majoring in archaeology/classics as opposed to English. I don't share this with everyone as I am now dedicating my academic career to English, lol. I enjoy English very much. However, my passion does lie in mythology and ancient history, and I could see myself flourish in that field.

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    1. You're still young, so maybe one day you'll get the chance to take a second major...but I understand that, when one has started a certain career, it's hard to find the time to study and reinvent oneself. Then again, at least you ARE doing a thing that you love, even if a little less. And that means everything!

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  3. Funny, I went to engineering school and worked in IT, but if I could go back, I would like to do something outdoors - crazy, right?

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    1. LOL, why? I mean, sometimes you discover your passion(s) later in life. Or maybe it's precisely because you've done a certain thing for a long time that you would want to do the opposite - to experience a change of pace. In my case, it would be a matter of starting anew and living my life again instead, avoiding what didn't work the first time around...

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  4. I don't know if I would change anything I did. If I could go back and change things others did I might do that.

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  5. I didn't get to pick any school, not high school, you go to the one nearest your house and frankly, there weren't choices like you had. I guess that comes from being in the US. The only option is public school unless you can afford private school or special school. I don't think I had a good education, I mean, I still don't know how to write properly. Greek and Latin - what is that? haha, we barely able to speak and write English to think about learning Greek and Latin.

    A book translator sounds good. I think you could still do that. Books need translating. Are you talking about translating from English into Italian or some other languages?

    What wouldn't I change? I really would like to go back to art school and enjoy it more because all I did through that time was worry and panic because there are just so many things you had to do and yet, so little time. I think I might also need to relive my entire youth because I don't think I had enjoy it much.

    Have a lovely day.

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    1. Most high schools are public in Italy - the ones I mentioned all are. I think I still don't know how high school in the US works...not really.

      I would have liked to translate from English into Italian...but one of the things I didn't know at the time was that translating is a freelance job, which is so not my thing. Anyhow, I wouldn't have the time and strength to start such a journey at 56...

      I'm sorry you didn't enjoy school (much) the first time around, and I so hear you about reliving your youth for the same reason. In my case, it was a matter of not wanting the same things that my peers wanted and holing up at home with my records and my writing. But personally I'm afraid that, if I should go back, I wouldn't be able to change that part, and I wonder if anyone would, even with hindsight...

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  6. I was such a weird kid. VERY shy and afraid to try anything. I'm not sure I would have wanted to go out more, or be more popular if I could go back but I do wish I took more chances with things I was interested in.
    Not even as a career or anything (that was another thing - I always went against the traditional educational path of doing things. I volunteered with animals and worked my up instead of getting certified - which would have gotten me more money and job options.
    I mean more trying artistic options - writing, painting etc It's not even that I'm great at it (or even decent) but I enjoy so many things now that I was afraid to try then. Just as a hobby or escape.
    Otherwise, I wouldn't make any different choices though. I met my guy and my dogs through that path. lol

    Karen @For What It's Worth

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    1. "I was such a weird kid. VERY shy and afraid to try anything. I'm not sure I would have wanted to go out more, or be more popular if I could go back but I do wish I took more chances with things I was interested in."
      I hear you so much ๐Ÿ˜ญ. And hey! "I always went against the traditional educational path of doing things" -> you mean even back then you...rebeled? ๐Ÿคฃ

      I hear you about doing artistic things as a hobby - or, well, for a selected audience of internet friends LOL.

      "Otherwise, I wouldn't make any different choices though. I met my guy and my dogs through that path. lol"
      It's great that at least you found the things that matter more to you and make you happy to this day through that path. That's a totally valid reason for feeling contented with your life. I wish it was the same for me...

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  7. And ahem...blurb writer lol I say half jokingly. But you should seriously do something in publishing - editing. You are very detailed oriented and good at it.

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    1. Haha, to be honest, I do take pride in my blurbs. But...even if I could go back, I could never do a freelance job - I'm not cut out for that. And I've learned it the hard way that the things you love are often best left alone when you're looking for a job, and enjoyed as a hobby instead...or you risk falling out of love with them.

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    2. Ooh boy do I concur with that sentiment!!! I've ruined two hobbies with that. Animals and reading - luckily, I've been able to step back and create enough distance to be able toe enjoy them again, but never as much, or int he way, I did before.

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    3. I know - I was thinking of your experience as well when I replied to your comment.

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  8. What a heavy question lol. I will pass on answering. But yeah, where is time travel when you need it?

    That's interesting that you had a choice of high schools and so much specialization, unless you mean something different by high school than what it is here. Because most people in the US don't get a choice, it's just general school, unless you go out of your way to get into a specialized sorta school.

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    1. After all these years, I still don't understand how high school works in the US LOL. With high school, I mean the one you go to after middle school (BTW, high school lasts 5 years for us). We have always had a range of choices (all within public school) that have somehow changed through the years, but basically...when I was young there were Classical High School (with Greek and Latin as main subjects), Scientific High School (more geared towards math, sciences etc.), and a bunch of others that gave you more practical competences (Commercial Technical Institute, vocational schools), plus a few private institutes where you could learn languages, arts or hospitality training. After that there's university, with different faculties geared to different specialisations.

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  9. Dr Who films around here a lot - I'll see what I can do for you about that Tardis ;) Lol. Wales' main export is TV drama, I swear. I actually went to school with people who now work in effects - one of them is involved in a certain blue telephone box show, so if I ever come across a working version, you'll be the first to know! ;)

    There are so many things that I'd change - but then, the butterfly effect would happen and lord knows where we'd end up.

    I think one big thing that I think about a lot would be going back to a particular day in the girls' toilets at my school (so romantic,) and ignoring the school bell, ignoring the (abusive) friend waiting for me, ignoring my fears and anxieties and 'does she even like me? nah, she couldn't's, and just **kissing the girl.**

    ...I like to think that there's a parallel universe out there somewhere where I did, where one of us was brave enough. And I like to think they're happy, despite how hard things would have been for them.

    ...All of that sounded way more dramatic than I was aiming for! Lol.

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    1. "Dr Who films around here a lot - I'll see what I can do for you about that Tardis ;)"
      Argh! I'm not even envious LOL. It must be cool to know someone who works in effects, too...Backstage stuff fascinates me - I'd love to see how one of my favourite shows is made. And I'd especially love to meet David Tennant of course...๐Ÿ˜‰ ๐Ÿงก

      I loved your little story! It doesn't sound dramatic, to be honest - just a tad melancholic, and yet poetical...I'm sure that parallel universe exists, and they're happy there, but I'm also sure that a different happiness is waiting for you in this one ๐Ÿ™‚.

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