Best Decisions We’ve Ever Made

We hem, we haw, we convince ourselves not to, but sometimes we debate and then pounce and buy something that turns out to be either a reckless impulse purchase—oops!--or extra-special wonderful such as long hoped-for trip, 100 scratch-off lottery tickets with one a winner or pricy season tickets to the opera where we can chill and block out what’s going on in the world around us.  

Despite the angst we might experience in making a bad decision, a good decision is a gift. Here is our list of the “best decisions we’ve made.” What’s yours? 
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Barbara
Purchase of Jeni’s ice cream, even though an outrageous $12 or more a pint, it’s delicious when one of us tasted the first flavor, a great peppermint stick, followed by mint chip, lemon, strawberry and many others.

Two great sweaters from a now shuttered women’s shop in Cambridge, Mass. Even though a friend said, “I can’t believe you would pay so much,” I did and still use them with great pleasure 10 years later! Quality lasts.

To move to a small walkable farming village where the shopkeepers became my first and best friends and I discovered life outside a big city can be wonderful. However, 14 years later it appealed less so I moved again at age 75 to a larger “pond” to be closer to family and better hospitals and specialists. Don’t stay stuck is the lesson; you can move again.
Continuing to stay in touch with a friend who didn’t respond and finally did and shared her serious illness as the reason; others would have given up. I am glad I was so persistent. And with two other friends I also persisted with one wanting to let the friendship die. The best lesson…don’t make assumptions, keep trying and let others make their own decisions.

Trying Internet dating after an acrimonious divorce represented lots of ups and downs but gave me a good inside view on what type of people appealed and didn’t. 
Getting rid of gray hair, dying it and twice a year adding highlights and loving the look, despite one childhood acquaintance saying, “When did you go so light?”

Remembering good friends’ and family members’ birthdays with good cards I carefully select and doing so by having a little “birthday” book to track the dates. For some friends, I still send gifts and not thinking tit-for-tat is a healthy mindset.

To become a freelance writer after loving being on staff at a magazine, newspaper and association. Being on my own offered lots of varied writing experiences, different topics and working with different editors and the best writing partner ever. 

To follow my heart in how I spend my free time outside my work—painting first, Pilates second and always some baking.
 
Learning how to make a great cup of coffee with frothy milk in a wonderful coffee maker, so I don’t have to go out for an expensive $4.95 or more cup. Pour it into a great mug, read the New York Times, in print or online, and what could be a better way to start the morning.

Margaret
Having children, especially now that we’re in our senior years. They have our back and can help us with certain decisions re: money and technology. Their love is reciprocal, and I can’t imagine what it would be like without my three children, whom I adore. They have my back, can be good listeners or shout orders when they’re concerned about me. Ironically, that used to be our job. They make us feel pride and love that transcends any of the uncomfortable issues that can arise.
 
Moving to New York City from St. Louis where I spent most of my life. With two sisters and a son in NYC and after losing my husband, I woke up one morning and thought, What am I still doing in St. Louis? I need my family around me as I age. Also, it’s closer to another son who lives in Montreal. And other than the expense, what could be bad about living in the city that never sleeps.
 
After one year of marriage, buying our first home rather than continuing to rent. It meant taking out two loans to buy an adorable home in a nice area, but we built up equity quickly. When transferred to Chicago for my late husband’s job, our home sold quickly and for a nice profit after less than two years living there. We took that equity and after renting in the city of Chicago for two years, we bought a home in a northern suburb with the equity we had accrued from our first home. Each time we sold a home, we made a profit and were able to buy a nicer and larger house.

Although my husband and I were public school advocates and lived in a good school system, our daughter needed small classrooms. We put her in a small private high school where she thrived and went on to a good college and successful career.

Partnering with Barabara to write books and articles. We were introduced and immediately hit it off. While writing our first book together, which was a test to see if we could work together, we knew we were a match. Almost 38 years later, we’re still together and an integral part of each other’s lives. 

Singing again. I sang for almost 11 years with the Bach Society of St. Louis when I was in my late 30s and early 40s. Then I stopped singing. After moving to NYC and being asked to sing at Lincoln Center in a curated program, I pulled out my musical chops to hone them, vocalized and took the plunge. This has led to more signing gigs, an introduction to different communities of musicians and some wonderful new friends from all over the city.

Moving from my rental in NYC which was exorbitant and buying a co-op in a wonderful area that will hold its value. It was expensive and anxiety-producing having to go through the complicated and intrusive co-op process, but worth the results. I love my new neighborhood, the building, the staff and my very cute apartment.  My two sisters helped me with the move and the decorating. Couldn’t have done it without them. I’m so glad I decided to move to NYC and stay. 
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Making any decision is a risk that can go south, be so so or the smartest move you’ve ever made. And remember the conventional wisdom: you learn from your mistakes so you can build on that to make a better choice next time and then make some of the best decisions ever. It’s worked for us. Hope it does for you!