The best thing you ever did?

Going to University after 4 years of working after leaving school. I got a grant without need for my parents to contribute because of this (those were the days when students got grants!). The best thing I ever did, in retrospect, was not going to university straight after school. When I left school I wasn’t ready to go on to more study - I didn’t enjoy school and wanted to earn some money. However, when I did decide to go to uni I was very motivated so did well. My course was vocational so when I finished my degree I started in a professional job (although admittedly not well paid) but worked my way up to a reasonable salary so have a decent pension. Thanks heavens for that now. And I met my husband when I was at uni!

Living on my own, happily. Having had a career in homelessness. Being useful to other people. Being in control of my own remote control!

Well, the best thing l ever did was divorcing my husband. I would never have had the career l did, or achieved what l have with that ball and chain around my neck

Save two lives in one week over the phone (I worked in ambulance control many many years ago).

What a lovely thread. We celebrated 52 years of marriage in June this year. The best thing I have done is to have our two sons. And now two Grandsons and one grandaughter.

I got married in 1974 in London and my husband wanted me to give up work. I wanted to continue with my career and thank god I did because he walked out in 1988 and I would have been living in penury now instead of having a decent pension and state pension. Like others, I am happy living on my own.

Marry my wonderful husband in 1970 wouldn't swop him for all the money in the world

Having my children. What wonderful moments with them to remember, becoming a Mother is the best thing that I ever did.

Estranging my mother

I know that sounds a bit off because I'm happily married, I have children and I went back into education later in life and got my dream job.

But estranging made me the happiest and healthiest I have ever been and made everything I had before and everything I achieved after so much.... better

I suppose the best thing I did was marrying my husband because almost all my best things would never have happened if I hadn't married him. Whether it was having the children, going to the Monaco Grand Prix, dancing on stage when we went to see Hair, seeing the spot where St. Francis died, or a hundred other things it all came back to doing things with him.

Oops! I mistakenly hit “post” above. ?‍?

The only good thing that came from marriage was my wonderful children and financial security. I’m living my best life now, living alone. It was meant to be.

henetha

Apart from the obvious wonderfulness of having my children, the best thing I ever did was ending up living alone. It may sometimes be hard, it may sometimes be lonely, but it feels right for me. I belong alone, that is my natural default setting.

Are we sisters?! This is me, exactly. The only good things

Hi Dee1012,
Your post was uplifting . Thank you for sharing.

Marrying my late husband over 55 years ago and having 3 wonderful children with him.

Best thing I’ve done? Surviving to the age I am.

We celebrated our golden wedding anniversary last weekend. Best thing I ever did

Janiepops

Couldn’t stop having babies! Had six! No words can describe my happiness and pleasure with them all,and my 12 3/4 grandchildren. 7 little boys, and in Sept, the sixth little girl! They mesmerise me! I’ve got a William,Catherine, Henry, Mary, Harriet, Ralph, Zachary, Arthur, Mabel,Olive, Freddie, Charlie, ( think the next one is Elodie) pics of some of them!

I love that these old names are coming back. My grandparents were Arthur and Elsie - bang back in fashion!

. My best thing was going to live in London when I was 21. My father, who thought I was frail, had managed to keep me at home until then. I went to my local university. When my tutor suggested I took up a postgraduate scholarship in London, I was quite shocked at first. I’m so glad I did it! Life in London in the early 1960s was so exciting. I met wonderful friends from several countries, saw the very best of theatre, ballet and opera, and generally extended my view of the world.

Being fortunate enough, almost at the end of my nursing career, to work in end-of-life care. To see the strength of people and their families in this situation is humbling.

Yes, marrying my husband was the best decision I’ve ever made….and I put it in his anniversary card every year. Of course I regularly tell him what a lucky man he is!!

Definitely DH job swapping for a few months with a Tasmanian teacher, giving our girls the experience of a private school, then taking them up the east coast of the mainland, living in a tent all the while, for the next seven months. We educated them in a totally fun way, plus they explored aboriginal art, met so many different sorts of people and were able to remain little girls for a year longer; the experience was life changing for us all. The day after we got back they wanted packets of Spice Girl cards, never having even heard of them in Oz. They both got all As at A level, went on to top unis, so it did their formal education no harm at all. I wish people would appreciate the value of life experiences in combination with formal education.

Beautiful wedding photos on here. So lovely to see enduring and true romance! Best thing for me in this order, having my kids and doing an OU degree in later life. Both things have shown me in different ways what I am capable of.

For me it was also marrying my husband. Since he died thirty four years ago I have not been with another man.

So many good things in my life - but two stand out: One for me - doing 1 year on VSO in Africa when I was 18. I grew up and it made all the difference when I was applying for jobs. Two, for someone else - I met a very disabled 40 year old man and got him a job where I worked in a big American computer company. We were all in our 20s but he mixed in - and he achieved his greatest ambition to earn enough so his older sister, who looked after him, would not have to work.

henetha

Apart from the obvious wonderfulness of having my children, the best thing I ever did was ending up living alone. It may sometimes be hard, it may sometimes be lonely, but it feels right for me. I belong alone, that is my natural default setting.

I love living alone, it's definitely the best way for me.