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Your worst moments / worst failures?
07-11-2007, 08:36 PM
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#1
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,860
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Your worst moments / worst failures?
In conjuction with CFB's inspiring http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...070-post1.html thread, how about the five worst moments or failures of your life?
1. Death of my mother (breast cancer).
2. Having to take my daughter to work. From midnight to 6 AM. When she was about nine months old.
3. Not selecting for submarine XO (although many good things eventually devolved).
4. The accumulated baggage of failing my first qualification board for [insert just about every submarine watchstanding position, both underway and inport]. Passing the re-boards was slightly less unpleasant. I turned out to be better at experiential learning.
5...178.) Learning to control my temper. Tae kwon do is helping a lot but I'm still counting.
__________________
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Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."
I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
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07-11-2007, 09:29 PM
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#2
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,924
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When I was 16: My brother died
When I was 21: I got a job in NJ
When I was 28: Dropping out of graduate school
When I was 33: my EX decided that being married was a drag
When I was 53: I was 'promoted' from programmer to manager
__________________
"Knowin' no one nowhere's gonna miss us when we're gone..."
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07-11-2007, 09:30 PM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,500
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I tried to answer, but this is too depressing!
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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07-11-2007, 11:14 PM
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#4
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,155
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Why only 5? If I were to answer, I need at least a few pages, single space.
Ditto!
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07-11-2007, 11:38 PM
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#5
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: the City of Subdued Excitement
Posts: 5,588
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Nords, I don't think this is a good thread. You and I are some of the luckiest guys in the world. Our missed promotions are nothing compared to people who lost everything once or twice (fits some of our long-time posters). Let's stop here.
Ed
__________________
I have outlived most of the people I don't like and I am working on the rest.
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07-12-2007, 06:06 AM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,677
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The scarey part of this thread is I can think if more things to put here than I can in CFBs
1966 Mom and Dad split (bad divorce using us kids as pawns)
1971 Mom died of uterine cancer at 35 (I was 17)
1980 Grandmom died of lung cancer at 66 (she took moms place in my life I was 26)
1985 I had to put down my horse (lump in the last two labs with this moment)
1997 Best friend was killed in a murder/suicide by her dh (damned husband)
__________________
Dogs aren't our whole lives, but they make our lives whole. - Roger Caras
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07-12-2007, 07:44 AM
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#7
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
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1980- divorce
1998-death of second husband
2002-death of son from food poisoning
Those are depressing memories !
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07-12-2007, 08:15 AM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,483
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1)Mom died when I was 5 from contagious hepatitis
2)Lost at the state finals in the 800 meters after having the fastest time in the state all year, and it was my SENIOR year........
3)Getting kicked out of college for bad grades
4)Being the last person to see one of my best friends alive, before he committed suicide, and having to "fill in the gaps" with his grieving familly........
5)My sister dying last year of liver cancer.........
I could go on with failures for a long time, but my attitude has kept me going........
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
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07-12-2007, 08:32 AM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed_The_Gypsy
Nords, I don't think this is a good thread. You and I are some of the luckiest guys in the world. Our missed promotions are nothing compared to people who lost everything once or twice (fits some of our long-time posters). Let's stop here.
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Re-reading this after a good night's sleep, I have to agree with you. It seemed like a good idea at the time. A few more memories were dredged up last night with spouse, too, and I'd start over.
Mods, feel free to delete or archive.
__________________
*
Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."
I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
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07-12-2007, 08:41 AM
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#10
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,483
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed_The_Gypsy
Nords, I don't think this is a good thread. You and I are some of the luckiest guys in the world. Our missed promotions are nothing compared to people who lost everything once or twice (fits some of our long-time posters). Let's stop here.
Ed
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Why kill it? If we want to share, we can. This is not a required response thread..........maybe we all can learn a thing or two about the other folks on here.
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
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07-12-2007, 08:52 AM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Losing my whump
Posts: 22,708
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It also points out a pretty good thing regarding the "5 best" evaluation. We often think on in detail about the bad parts of our lives without giving the best parts their due.
Seeing outtaheres response really reminded me of how we need to change our focus.
Theres an ER related tag here as well. Most of us stumble through our lives filled with obligations and not enough time to really evaluate who we are and what we've accomplished. In fact, most of the time the accomplishments we consider are prize wins or monetary or power gains.
I'm finding that the longer I think on this, the less that those things matter. As do the bad things.
And yeah, I'd keep the thread.
__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.
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07-12-2007, 09:17 AM
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#12
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Lake Livingston, Tx
Posts: 4,204
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I too missed a promotion in the military, however, I was reminded by an O6 that did not make Admiral, 'If you stay in the service long enough, you are going to be passed over'. It's what you do after that, that counts. I can honestly say, I am happier now.
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07-12-2007, 09:22 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,483
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cute fuzzy bunny
I'm finding that the longer I think on this, the less that those things matter. As do the bad things.
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It's NOT what happens, it's what you do AFTER the event that matters. And I think for most if not all folks on here who went through some tough times, they perservered.
No Paris Hilton types on here I would wager......
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
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07-12-2007, 09:29 AM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Losing my whump
Posts: 22,708
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Yeah, they're too busy losing all of their underpants.
__________________
Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. Just another form of "buy low, sell high" for those who have trouble with things. This rule is not universal. Do not buy a 1973 Pinto because everyone else is afraid of it.
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07-12-2007, 10:05 AM
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#15
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,895
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i see the hesitancy here but this is as valid a question.
the deaths of loved ones.
failed friendships.
times when i was just fooling myself.
drugs, booze, cigarettes and poor eating habits.
being too judgmental & unforgiving of myself and others.
__________________
"off with their heads"~~dr. joseph-ignace guillotin
"life should begin with age and its privileges and accumulations, and end with youth and its capacity to splendidly enjoy such advantages."~~mark twain - letter to edward kimmitt 1901
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07-12-2007, 10:15 AM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,677
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FinanceDude
It's NOT what happens, it's what you do AFTER the event that matters. And I think for most if not all folks on here who went through some tough times, they perservered.
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That's very true, all the moments in our lives, good or bad some how shaped us into what we are today. Moms death made me independant. Grams death pushed that independence further but she also taught me the LBYM's lifestyle that's gotten me to where I am today . My friends death showed me life's too short and enjoy every minute you have.
__________________
Dogs aren't our whole lives, but they make our lives whole. - Roger Caras
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07-12-2007, 10:23 AM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,483
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I could post so much here, use it as a cathartic event,but I have already been down that road, so I guess as I get older I get more reflective.........
__________________
Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)
This Thread is USELESS without pics.........:)
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07-12-2007, 10:38 AM
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#18
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: At The Cafe
Posts: 6,873
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Makes me realize how really well off I am despite some bad breaks and the usual life events which include all but one of those listed above.
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07-12-2007, 10:40 AM
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#19
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 859
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When I was 28: I had to put our cat (of 18 years) down after she had a stroke.
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07-12-2007, 10:59 AM
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#20
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Pacific latitude 20/49
Posts: 7,677
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1. Let Brigetta get away,
2. Turned down Doctoral Fellowship at Berkely (and went to work),
3. In one quarter: changed jobs, changed cities, wife stopped working, had first child, mortgage increased by 50%, salary cut by 50% (commission), went from award-winning engineer at the top of the heap to rookie salesman, mom died...did not take drugs.
4. Did not buy 1350 feet of beachfront operating campground.
5. Delayed divorce for 9 years ("Because of the children"/denial).
As LG keeps reminding us - Life's Good!
And it is. To be honest this list was longer than the other one. I suspect this is best known as The School of Hard Knocks. Or as Kahlil Gibran says in The Prophet (to paraphrase): You cannot truly enjoy pleasure until you feel pain.
__________________
For the fun of it...Keith
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