Things that you wish you had done in your 40s and 50s.

Left my husband

Paperbackbutterfly - also wish I’d gone to Glastonbury when I was younger. Would be too much for us now at 63 and 69. However, we do go each year to the Green Man festival in the Brecon Beacons. Downside is it’s usually wet at times but this year weather was very good indeed. Loos are on the whole fine, hot showers, very reasonable food, friendly clientele and modern tents are easy to put up. We like space so have a 6 person tent for 2. Love it.

I was considered a late starter in the marriage/family scene in those days and can honestly those years were very warm, content and happy. Main challenge was financial but we weathered that with tolerable pain. We were fortunate enough to have done much of the travel/commercial fun stuff before settling down to marital bliss so didn't feel at all deprived in that arena. Consider myself decidedly blessed in general over that time span.

Kathsue, ditto!

I wish I’d run like the wind when I met ex husband number 2 !

I wish I had been able to finish the interior design course I started. Age hasn't stopped me following another dream I had in my early 50s though. Last year at 66 I bought a narrow boat to live on.

My 40's were probably the best years of my life. I had already lived in Holland for 10 years, learnt Dutch, was bringing up 2 children, bought our second house in Holland as we still had one in London, went camping for 3 weeks in France every year - life couldn't be better. When I was 50 we moved back to UK which was a shock to the system as so much had changed in the 18 years we had been away and I was very lonely. Our children came with us but of course were almost adults then and went away to study. When I became 60 life almost began again - I had made good friends over here and enjoyed being in the home country. Now I am in my 70's I have 2 beautiful grandchildren and although my DH has health problems I cannot complain as we get to do most of the things we want to.

I regret not going on Concorde. It was hugely expensive, but I could have (just) afforded it, but didn't feel I could justify the spending on myself.

In my 40,s and 50,s my children were grown up doing what they wanted I became 'me'. Not just 'me' but DH that were able to pick and chose what we did, where, and when. They became the best years of my life and yes there were ups and downs but would I do it all again given the chance? No question about that.

No regrets, I had divorced my husband and lived in my own house with the kids to do as I wanted and loved it. Had some wonderful friends and a good social life. Married after being on my own for 10 years to a wonderful man.

Wish I'd ended my marriage sooner in my 40s I would just agree to anything for a quiet life it would have saved me and my children a lot of heartache however I did eventually .I'm happy and feel at peace with myself now just wish I'd stood up for myself more

I wish I hadn't been so sensible all the time.

Some women of my age, used to tell me about donning their new short skirts, bardot tops, ruby red lipstick, stick-on eyelashes and having the time of their lives, laughing, drinking, dancing, flirting, spending the rent money.

NOT ME. Bed at 10ish every night (week days I had work next morning, weekends housework). The mortgage had to be paid on time, together with all the other bills. No ruby red lipstick for this Miss Goody Two Shoes. Sad or what?????

I got to 60 and decided to learn to ski. Going on my third ski-ing holiday next year and loving it! I wish I'd started in my 40's.....

I wish I'd made a bit more time for myself in my 40's to learn new skills OTHER than those which would increase my earning capacity -in my then full time working life with two teenage children. Especially, to learn to dance while I was still fit, supple, active and with energy for anything and everything!
Now I have arthritis.....and am a carer. But I still enjoy learning new things.

My husband died when i was in my 40s so life wasn't planned.... I just went with my feelings and survived. My husband used to make all the decisions so I had to learn to use my own mind. Very enlightening as I actually managed to do everything myself!

Wish I’d gone to Peru with dear friends when invited
I was dubious about putting cost onto my Visa card

I'm 76 and it was actually in my 50's I did do something and everyone thought I was mad. I just packed up my home and went to live in Egypt, I stayed there for 13 years, only returning when health issues made it more sensible to return to UK.

I wish I had gone to Glastonbury. I would have loved it but the opportunity never arose. Now the thought of mucky loos, sleeping in a tent, crowds, poor food and the inclement weather defeat me as my arthritis and other ailments make it impossible.

When I look back on some of the dumb things I have done the only answer appears to be "it seemed like a good idea at the time". I didn't travel when I was young as I was pretty busy having studied at university, got married and had 3 children by my mid twenties. I am very glad I then did lots of travelling in my 40s and 50s as a single woman and finally scratched those itchy feet while I could still reach them. Still love to travel now but a bit more comfortably and sedately. No more 30 bed bunk rooms in youth hostels and lugging around a backpack.

I was juggling a job as well as looking after DC and elderly parents so there was not much time.

I wish I'd travelled much more in my 20s and got married a bit later.

My dad died weeks before my 40th birthday so I spent the next almost 13 years caring for my mother .I dont regret it or anything else though.I did everything I could to make sure she had a good life even though my son was just 5 when dad died ,and I had a teenager too.
I dont have regrets about anything to be honest ,its just life isn't it? You do what you have to and get on with it as best you can .I have a happy marriage, two great kids ,4 fab GC ,so whats to regret /

I wish I had the courage to tell my DM and step-father, ”enough is enough”. If I had walked away then I would have saved myself another 30 years of aggravation and heartbreak.

My 40s and 50s were not the 'best days of my life'. I was working full time to fund both DDs through University and missing them a lot. We could not visit them (or take other holidays because I was also 'caring' for My DM, MIL, FIL Aunt and Aunt IL who were in and out of hospital over several years until they all died within a year of each other and coping with my own health problems - an endless menopause with severe bleeding, restless leg syndrome and clinical depression.

I did manage to complete the 2 year Counselling diploma but 2 years later was made redundant at 52 when the local Council slashed our funding. I managed to get a couple of low paid clerical jobs to keep us solvent until I reached retirement age.

But my 60s were a wonderful decade. Free of caring responsibilities, I completed 3 modules at Uni (just for fun and to prove I could do it, crossed Canada on a shoe string with DH and elder DD, enjoyed a Mediterranean cruise for our Ruby Wedding and other wonderful holidays abroad, welcomed both DDs when they moved back to live near us and soon presented us with 1, 2, 3 DGC in rapid succession, leading to a busy new life of childminding, voluntary work and political activity.

All change again in my 70s with DH's illness which means a very quiet but stressful life mainly at home. No point in having regrets, it is just the way the cookie crumbles and we have to make the best we can of each phase and seize whatever chances for happiness that come along.

No regrets. I thoroughly enjoyed those decades. ?

Echoing those who have said they would have divorced a decade (or two) before they did, and with self esteem still functioning.

It seems to be something of a common issue.