So What have you given up to get where you are?

RedbeAR15

RedbeAR15

Platinum Plucker
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Back in my college days I was flying high with a Buck 110 a Gerber boot knife, a set of brass knucks, and a Sterling silver St. Christopher. Well I went to work in Miami for the summer and lost everything thanks to some scumbag that broke into my apartment while I was at work. I was devastated, but only for awhile. It took me 20-30 years to recoup only because I got married and had a couple of kids, but I'm BACK - I'M WAY BACK:thumbup: I focused on the future more so than the past. Oh yea, I wanted a piece of that azz, but if the cops couldn't find them... So I looked ahead, once again

What about you? Have you let the past get in your way?

And then there was Busse, when I was ready
 
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I'm not sure I understand the question. I gave up booze, drugs, tobacco, the single life. Got family, God, guns, Busse, business, friendships, and all kinds of good things.

And forums like.this where we can talk about almost anything
 
tomthebaker said:
I'm not sure I understand the question. I gave up booze, drugs, tobacco, the single life. Got family, God, guns, Busse, business, friendships, and all kinds of good things.

And forums like.this where we can talk about almost anything
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I'm not sure I get the question either but I love your answer, don't know if you can beat that!
 
I have given up nothing.

I was lucky enough that I grew up in a poor family with uneducated parents (due to the great depression.) They loved my sister and me enough to kick our butts
when we even hinted at slacking off on our education. These two cotton mill hands raised two valedictorians. Dad was as indulgent with me as he could be under the circumstances, and I roamed the woods freely at a very young age, being turned loose with a fixed blade knife at four years old and a 12 gauge single shot Iver Johnson at eight. Worked my way through engineering school at Auburn University. Met my dream girl and have been married to her for 40 years. Just fortunate enough in retirement to be able to buy whatever Busse or firearm I want, but not wealthly enough to become jaded. Two wonderful grandchildren, a great daughter and a fine son who thinks enough of me to call me almost every day. The greatest disappointment I have had in life is losing a planned upon Air Force career because of back surgery at age 22, but because of consequently being in the right place to meet the wife and adopt the kids even that has turned into a blessing.
God has blessed me richly. Truly, no regrets.
 
I gave up a career in law enforcement to be a single father. I am now proudly driving a garbage truck.
 
Folders....a lot of folders.....I only keep one that I use and rest are fixed INFI.
 
MikeH said:
I have given up nothing.

I was lucky enough that I grew up in a poor family with uneducated parents (due to the great depression.) They loved my sister and me enough to kick our butts
when we even hinted at slacking off on our education. These two cotton mill hands raised two valedictorians. Dad was as indulgent with me as he could be under the circumstances, and I roamed the woods freely at a very young age, being turned loose with a fixed blade knife at four years old and a 12 gauge single shot Iver Johnson at eight. Worked my way through engineering school at Auburn University. Met my dream girl and have been married to her for 40 years. Just fortunate enough in retirement to be able to buy whatever Busse or firearm I want, but not wealthly enough to become jaded. Two wonderful grandchildren, a great daughter and a fine son who thinks enough of me to call me almost every day. The greatest disappointment I have had in life is losing a planned upon Air Force career because of back surgery at age 22, but because of consequently being in the right place to meet the wife and adopt the kids even that has turned into a blessing.
God has blessed me richly. Truly, no regrets.
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I lover your story! It's Beautiful.
 
my path was laid out by a much higher
power.
i just follow along and enjoy the tour.
 
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The past is who you are and will always get in the way of what you feel you need to do. Just remember the grass is not greener on the other side, just different. Accept who you Are and know that your no better or worst off then anyone else. When the End comes just remember No Regrets.
 
The question's too serious for a flippant answer.

What have I given up?

Honestly, two things:

1. A quiet career poking about in the guts of reality, trying to understand and bring back something new. There is a deep and very personal satisfaction to this, but I was only allowed to touch the surface of those deep waters.

2. My peace of mind. A life of public service leads one to some very odd places; unexpected places where unanticipated lessons are learned. I learned to my surprise that there is no turning back.

Hmm. Sounds rather bitter, but isn't meant that way. I don't regret what had to be. It is what it is.:)
 
Nothing really. For the most part I have done the things my way. It has had both positive and negative results in where I am now.
 
I think if you live long enough you learn that no regrets has a much higher meaning. Simply, it means doing everything to the "INFI-nite degree" so that there are no regrets. That is difficult and takes a lot of practice, patient, and prudence. I havent perfected any, but I do try-Hard.:cool:
 
:confused:I don't know if I understand what is being asked. What did I give up? Well, I "gave up" wasting my time in drunken parties, or rallies protesting for the "American Imperialism" or whatever was the topic at the time (think 1972-1979, Panamá, The Panamá Canal Treaty -we know it as the Torrijos-Carter Treaty-). As a Medicine student I didn't have the time to waste, and as my Dad said to all of us: you only have one chance to do it right, on my money!! (We flunked it and it was up to us to find how to finish college, on OUR money). So, I finished my Medical Career, married, did my ENT residency training, and now, well, three kids (two engineers, Industrial and Electronics), and the last one, going through college (freshman), looking to retirement 5 years from now, married to the same fine lady for 31 years. No I don't think I "gave up" anything.
 
I like this thread and what I've read.

Just about the only thing I've given up is my first career as a successful broker here on wall st. I was making gobs of money keeping the rich people rich and sort of lost myself in the process - I hated the person I became. Excess is a pretty nasty and evil thing... Sounds cliche, but it's the absolute truth.

I was fortunate enough to wake up, quit my job, earned a masters in education and now teach high school history to at-risk kids in a public school in west harlem. I'm on the bus to work now and wake up every morning looking forward to teaching and my students. It feeds my soul and I love it.

Life has fallen into place ever since and now in about 2.5 months I'll be married...

Life is good.
 
I gave up my country for a comfortable life with a lot less stress and a whole lot more money, big mistake. . the couple times I have been back its just too hard to relate to anybody its as if they all speak a different language I just cant relate to most . But I found the girl of my dreams and have a beautiful four year old boy who is the pride of my life.
 
TrailWolf said:
I like this thread and what I've read.

Just about the only thing I've given up is my first career as a successful broker here on wall st. I was making gobs of money keeping the rich people rich and sort of lost myself in the process - I hated the person I became. Excess is a pretty nasty and evil thing... Sounds cliche, but it's the absolute truth.

I was fortunate enough to wake up, quit my job, earned a masters in education and now teach high school history to at-risk kids in a public school in west harlem. I'm on the bus to work now and wake up every morning looking forward to teaching and my students. It feeds my soul and I love it.

Life has fallen into place ever since and now in about 2.5 months I'll be married...

Life is good.
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Congratulations.:D

A life of service is not a bad thing.;)

We will all end up at precisely the same place. So, what matters? Maybe it's the journey. So, think twice ... or even three times ... before you take that first step.

Wishing you all the best.:thumbup:
 
TrailWolf said:
I like this thread and what I've read.

Just about the only thing I've given up is my first career as a successful broker here on wall st. I was making gobs of money keeping the rich people rich and sort of lost myself in the process - I hated the person I became. Excess is a pretty nasty and evil thing... Sounds cliche, but it's the absolute truth.

I was fortunate enough to wake up, quit my job, earned a masters in education and now teach high school history to at-risk kids in a public school in west harlem. I'm on the bus to work now and wake up every morning looking forward to teaching and my students. It feeds my soul and I love it.

Life has fallen into place ever since and now in about 2.5 months I'll be married...

Life is good.
Click to expand...

This is Awesome! Thanks for sharing. I needed it this morning.
 
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