Q02

Is there something that you wish you had done differently this past year? How would you have done it differently? And how can you learn from it to improve how things turn out in the future?

Stressed less, procrastinated less, left things to the last minute less. Worried about what people think of me less. Basically chilled out more. Realized that in the time that I am stressed and worked out, I am doing nothing for no one.

I wish I had been a better friend to people. I hate that I lose my temper as much as I do and I hope that I can improve it.

Twice I disappeared after a few dates with guys--dates that had gone well, but I knew I wasn't interested in dating more than just casually. But instead of being upfront about my feelings, I just disappeared.

I wish I traveled more. I wish I spend more time with my family. I wish I was nicer to people. I wish I did more volunteer work. I wish I made a difference in people's lives.

I began very large new career projects before finishing past ones. As a result I am drowning in stress and commitments. Rather than make choices, I just said yes to everything. My head is spinning.

I wish I didn't have the wedding I thought I should have had to please other people. I wish I just did what would have pleased me and the other half and not done things I thought would make others happy (especially as it turns out they couldn't care less and, what I thought, were ungrateful).

I kind of wish I would have figured out what I want to do in my art more. And really taken advantage of sculpture to create projects for my senior exhibit. I didn't do as poorly in sculpture as the first time around, but I still feel like I could have done better.

I wish I would have been more open: a less judgmental friend, a more honest and patient son, a more nurturing and committed godfather, and more independent and honest socially.

I wish I could've let my guard down more often and built stronger relationships with my co-workers and supervisors at my placements.

I wish I wasn’t so stagnant during the summer. I’ve never been at a low point like that ever in my life where I was so unmotivated, unproductive, standing in my own way. Although I was confused about a lot of things, I couldn’t even try things just to get the ball rolling. There are so many opportunities, events, people, places, etc, etc that I realized that it was such a waste of time.

I probably would have been more outgoing and active in being involved with my friends and community. I go through phases and this was a down-year for those things.

I wish I had been more disciplined. I also am fully engaged--a reluctant prisoner--in the processing of fear. It's been a tyrannical presence throughout my entire life until this year. As I sit with it and give it a little play and a lot of space, it's mostly smoke and mirrors. I am embracing that things fall apart, people disappoint, life happens differently than my expectations and things are still okay--sometimes better without my ‘help.’

I wish I could have relaxed. My anxiety takes control of my life mentally and physically. I would have taken more time to breath.

A year ago, I was in a bad situation. But from that point on things went uphill. Of course, I did stumble back down a few times, but the past year has been overwhelmingly better than any of the others in my life. Certainly, I can improve on things.

I wish I would have gone about the sale of my house differently. I wish I would have put in the work that needed to be done and not felt so much pressure to sell. I wish I would have asked for more from the buyer. I feel like I gave in too easily to the buyer's demands.

I wish that I had avoided getting into debt again. This is something that I'm ashamed of and that I will have to deal with for some time.

I wish I had taken a longer vacation, a bigger journey, rather than simply just the one week I went to Nicaragua with my friend Teresa. It was a very valuable week, a recharging week, a week to read and think and meditate on my goals.

I need to treat my children with more respect. I need to sometimes not be so short with them. I need to pay more attention to my husband. Maybe I wouldn’t have gotten so angry at how I was treated at our old synagogue and just stayed there. But I was humiliated. I have no clue how I could have handled that differently.

I wish I'd been more organized in my approach to the play this summer; I feel like our life fell a little bit off the track and I could have done better at keeping it ON the rails even though we were inordinately busy.

I wish I had been easier on myself. All the things I lay awake at night worrying about almost never happened. I wish I had let go of bad people instead of holding onto bad memories. I wish I had more fun and invested more of my time in my friends.

I got fed up with my job and I made a change. In retrospect, I should have thought it thru more, perhaps gone to my employer with my concerns and seen whether or not I could effect some change from inside.

Wish I had not been so stupid about my leg injury. I would have treated the gash to avoid infection.

I wish I had more fun. I wish there was less stress due to money. I wish I felt that I could independently do what I want, when I want, without feeling guilty about enjoying myself.

I want to start fewer projects that I don't finish.

I muffed a job interview. I had to project an image of dead seriousness, never mind that I'm more light-hearted than that. So, I at least have to pretend to be dead serious unless the interviewer shows signs of loosening up.

Less sex, more drugs and rock & roll.

I wish I had seen my former friend's absence for what it was instead of making excuses and casting about for explanations. If I could, I wouldn't have let myself be spun up to the point of medicating away the opportunity to say goodbye. Going forward, knowing I can't help but give people the benefit of the doubt, I must resolve to also recognize that some people will no longer want me as I am. I need to be comfortable with that.