What would you have done differently in your life? 3 generations tell

3 generations tell
Looking back: What would I have done differently in my life?

Our series “3 generations tell stories”

In the editorial team we regularly discuss topics that concern us – love, education, jobs, beauty, aging or the meaning of life. It is always striking how different the different generations tick.

That’s why we launched the series “3 generations tell” in which women from the extended BRIGITTE cosmos have their say. It’s worth checking out again and again!

Today we asked: “What would you have done differently in your life?”

Melanie (23) would like to give something to her younger self
If I could go back in time, I would have liked to do what I really wanted to do a lot more often instead of what I thought I should want. I’ve always followed conventions a lot: be nice, don’t say or wear anything controversial, don’t drink too much alcohol or party. I have always wallowed in thousands of thoughts about how others perceive me and what people think about me. Now I no longer see myself from other people’s perspective, but from my own: What is good for me? What do I enjoy? What do I want to stand for? Even though I still find it nice to be liked, it no longer defines me. I wish I could pass on this confidence to my younger self.

Lisa, 32 – Go through the world with more self-confidence
As a child I was very happy and laughed a lot. Unfortunately, I somehow increasingly lost this lightness and joy, especially along with my self-confidence, in my teenage and early adult years. Never completely, but still noticeable.

If I could, I would go back ten years and try to strengthen my trust in myself, not only in others, but above all in myself, and believe in myself. And thus rebuild my self-confidence little by little. To follow my voice and less that of others.

Sabine (58) would take more time when choosing a career
My parents were unable to complete high school due to the war and at least my father regretted throughout his life that he was unable to study because of this. They were proud that their two girls made it to high school. The Abitur was required from the 5th grade onwards and then studies beckoned. I never questioned this during school.

My grades were good, not good enough for medicine or law, and it was also clear that I wouldn’t study Latin to become a teacher. Otherwise everything was open. No special talents and no real idea of ​​what I wanted to be. The question was on my mind: What are you going to study? And time was running out. Not studying was not an option. This was literally unthinkable for me.

So I enrolled in a horticulture course quite randomly. During the preliminary internship it became clear that unfortunately this wasn’t the right thing for me. I was only allowed to cancel if I could offer an alternative. Again pressed for time, again without sufficient information, I decided to study library science. In the second semester I knew that wasn’t it either. Too late, I had to go through with it.

I can’t complain, my professional career has been very kind to me and has always allowed me to explore new and interesting paths, but if I were faced with the choice again today with a high school diploma in my pocket, I would take the time to do it To get to know life and the different opportunities and careers better. And then consciously decide on a path.

Bridget