Best decisions of your life

[Phrossack]

So what's the best decisions you've made so far? Something you don't regret, something that really benefited you in the long run or left lasting and happy memories.

For me, inasmuch as I've done anything, I'm glad of some of my decisions in high school. I took a fair amount of AP (Advanced Placement, not Armor Piercing) classes and tests, and I signed up for some dual credit courses which counted towards both high school and a nearish state college. Thanks to all that, plus decent grades, I started college with basically a year's worth of credits, a lot of courses moved out of the way, and enough scholarships to (briefly) make my parents a little money from my going to college. It's still taken a big bite out of tuition and housing.

I'm also glad I competed in the History Bowl and History Bee as soon as they were introduced to my high school in my junior year. Our team won the state the first time, got second the second time, and both times qualified for Nationals. Although, in all fairness, most teams did. At the time, I felt utterly compelled to win Nationals and felt lousy when we didn't, but looking back, DC was really nice, and I enjoyed going on a trip with a teacher and some friends. We did that twice, plus another time for a different competition, most expenses paid, in which we competed part of the time in the Saudi and UAE embassies and visited the Chinese embassy.

And I signed up for a school trip to Germany. Had a great time there with my host family, and I can't wait to go back.

 

[Kyriakos]

Going to the director's department of the central library (2 months ago) to ask if i could help with their programs seems to have been a very positive decision, in the long run.

A more crucial one was to start writing short stories, when i was around 17. I recall that first night and my first story, which i finished at 6 AM (was writing for 3 hours ). It led to choosing (half a year later) Phil/Literature as a double uni degree, and applying for it.

 

[The_J]

To apply to the job I'm currently working in (which includes going to the Netherlands).
I before never wanted to make a PhD, and never wanted to leave Germany.
While there were some problems, I have to say that life is good, and that it dramatically changed from what I've had before. I wouldn't have liked to continue with my prior life, so yeah...this here is good, and I'm happy about it .

EDIT: To say it more broader: It was a good decision to get out of my comfort zone.

 

[Kennigit]

Most likely my apartment.

For the time being, it's working great with respect to commute, privacy, space, cost, and location.

Living alone is the fracking greatest. Though I'm still in the honeymoon period of being able to do so.

 

[Borachio]

I bought a greenhouse 30 years ago. I've done no maintenance on it, apart from 3 or 4 panes of glass, in that time. And it's fine.

 

[gangleri2001]

Studying anything that comes across my hands.
Languages? Great!
Maths? Great!
Finance? Great!
And so on.

 

[salty mud]

Said no to my ex-girlfriend trying to get back together with me.

Talk about being let off with life after being sentenced to death.

 

[onejayhawk]

Proposing marriage after six days. I may be crazy, but not indeccisive.

J

 

[warpus]

Probably to respond with "Why not, I'm in!" when my friend asked me if I want to accompany her on a trip to southern Patagonia 6 years ago. Ever since that I've been travelling wherever I can, in some ways attempting to recreate that experience. I had no idea what I was signing up for, and I wasn't ready for a lot of it at all (physically, mentally), but in the end I came out of the experience as a better person, learning a lot about myself in the process, as well as about the world. It opened my eyes in many ways and set me on a new path in life. I have on idea what my life would be like if I had responded to that question with a "No". I can't see how I would not have turned out as a completely different person, with different ambitions, and even likes and dislikes.

I am also incredibly glad that I ended up jumping off that cliff in New Zealand. It sends shivers down my spine whenever I think back to that experience, and how amazing it ended up being. When I was booking it, I asked the girl behind the counter would would happen if I wanted to back out.. "You wouldn't get your money back".. and then "Just do it, you'll thank yourself later. It will be an experience you will never forget.".. She was right in more ways than I thought possible.

I'm also happy I bought the house back in 2008, during the financial crisis. The value has never gone down and has been going up.. It's been a solid investment and has saved me money overall, as well as teaching me many things about DIY projects, house maintenance, responsibilities, etc.

Other than that I've for the most part made bad decisions in my life.

 

[salty mud]

I agree that travelling can create so many experiences and memories and teach you so much. Different cultures and places often show us just how isolated we are when we're in a community that we belong to.

 

[Borachio]

On the other hand, I know a lot of people who travel all around the world and seem to learn nothing at all.

Which is nice for me, as I like to stop at home, feeling smug.

 

[Tee Kay]

Probably getting treatment for depression?

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Adopting the various stray and feral cats I've had over my life. Those weeks I spent trying to save Gussy from freezing/starving as a tiny kitten were repaid an infinityfold later, in love and companionship, and taught me to be a much more patient person.

 

[illram]

Getting married to my wonderful wife & having our wonderful children....

Although check back in with me on that one in 16 years.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Co-op course led to a work term that has been the best 7 months of my life so far.

 

[Smellincoffee]

After being put on blood pressure medication by my doctor, I decided to start exercising regularly and limited my diet to fresh foods, minimizing my salt intake. I went from 400 to 200 lbs in half a year, saw my medication reduced 90%, and am now strong-legged and at a healthy weight.

 

[Quackers]

You lost 200 pounds in six months? You lost 1.30 Quackers in that time.
That is incredible, congratulations.

 

[Kyriakos]

After being put on blood pressure medication by my doctor, I decided to start exercising regularly and limited my diet to fresh foods, minimizing my salt intake. I went from 400 to 200 lbs in half a year, saw my medication reduced 90%, and am now strong-legged and at a healthy weight.

Utterly excellent work, well done

 

[Pegasus_77]

I am too young to pick a legitimate best decision of my life. The fact is I barely made big decisions.

 

[HannibalBarka]

All the decisions I made were good ;-)
Now honestly, the following list made my life nice to be lived so far:
1. studying hard to move from Tunisia to France
2. attending that party in the city 400 km away from where I was and meet my future wife
3. marrying her
4. expatriating 3 years to NYC,
5. changing my career orientation when I came back from NYC
6. "making" my kids
7. moving to another company 4 years ago