Defining moments

[astasinim]

Whats the most defining moment/s in your life, that has made you who you are today?
Seeing as we have so many different people from various social and economic backgrounds, I thought it might be interesting to find out if you would be where you are today had these things not happened to you.

For me it was joining the army in early 1990. During my time in the army we had Gulf war 1, and the Bosnia situation. I remember the CO telling us to pack our bags, as we were on 24hrs notice to go out to the gulf, Oh and by the way, if this thing goes tits up we expect to lose two thirds of the regiment. That made me grow up in an instant, looking around and thinking shit, I might lose most of my mates here, and then, fok, maybe I wont make it. The army experience gave me a can do attitude, and dogged determination to see things through to the end ( to my detriment sometimes). I hate to think what i`d be doing if I hadnt joined. I was going no where pretty fast before.

My other moment was last year, with the birth of my son. It has certainly made me see thing very differently now. I find myself taking a far more laid back approach to life than I did before.

So what about you?

[Norton]

About the same a generation earlier. 1964 a friend and I decided to enlist in the Navy to see the world. Probably learned more about people and the world during my 10 years in the Navy than could ever have learned in any other environment. My eldest son about your age also was in Gulf War 1 and 4 years ago made me a grand parent. Granddaughter was much more effective at giving me a laid back attitude than my son.

[kingwilly]

dozens of moments define us. hard to say which ones exactly had the biggest impact.

moving overseas was certainly a big one for me.

[astasinim]

dozens of moments define us. hard to say which ones exactly had the biggest impact.

moving overseas was certainly a big one for me.

Hows moving over seas altered you then? Ive considered it my self, but have been too chicken to do so. Leaving family behind etc etc. I guess maybe I have become too much of a "steady Eddie", and have a decentish life (and pension building up) where I am.

Just interested

[Dalton]

I think the same as KW, I feel like I have defining moments every day, I simply can't pick one out...Maybe my the death of my father when I was 14, lots of things change in that time.

[Marmite the Dog]

Similar to Dalts; losing my father when I was 10. I had to look after my sister & mum, which looking back I did pretty badly. It might've been partly responsible to me not fulfilling my dream of becoming an architect, which still saddens me.

Going to India and then Thailand made a big impact, especially as I've been here for over 6 years now. But, the biggest defining moment is probably the imminence of my 40th in about 18 months time.

[sabang]

Yeh, many. Hard to pick the 'Definitive' ones.

- My family uprooting and moving to Australia when I was nine. Big change of environment there.

- An educational experience when i was around 7 or 8. A gang of a few older bullies were giving me a hard time, I'd had some sort of argument with the 'leaders' younger brother (it was a council house area, pretty rough). They spotted and surrounded me again, I knew what I was in for- bike tyres let down, some pushing around, a few blows. I'd had enough, I dismounted my bike and punched the 'leader' (he was about 12 or 13) full in the nose. He went down, blood gushing- the rest were stunned. I got on my bike again and rode off, full pelt. Came across them again, about a week later. I clenched myself (in fear actually) and kept walking. They crossed the road to avoid me. A great lesson in life- Bullies are Cowards. Stood me in good stead that one.

- Got into the Oz Naval College at age 15- highly competitive and all that. Paid to go thru' university, did things I would never otherwise have done. And left Home, before 16th birthday. But one hell of an indoctrination, certainly a growing experience, and a hard lesson in standing on your own two feet. Thats got to have been good experience, and a nice thing to have on your Resume' to boot.

-Backpacking thru' Asia, 1982 & 84. Loved it. I had the travel bug. Realised my life so far meant I could uproot and relocate at will. My life has pretty much revolved around Asia ever since.

A few more come to mind, but this ain't my Autobiography. I think a common theme was conquering fear.

[kingwilly]

Hows moving over seas altered you then? Ive considered it my self, but have been too chicken to do so. Leaving family behind etc etc. I guess maybe I have become too much of a "steady Eddie", and have a decentish life (and pension building up) where I am. Just interested

Matured me. given me many experiences and proffessional opportunities that I may not have got at home,

widen my outlook on life and the world stage. (IMO many australians are quite insular at home)

Was worried about leaving family behind, but have realised they all travel and I see them reasonably regularly anyway.

I still have a decent lifestyle as well as a pension plan building up.

[astasinim]

^
Sounds like you got it sussed.

[MeMock]

But, the biggest defining moment is probably the imminence of my 40th in about 18 months time.

Your kidding me? I never thought you were that old!

Time to grow up

[daveboy]

the imminence of my 40th in about 18 months time.

Don't get yourself in a pickle over that its just a number.

[MeMock]

Many different things I guess. In no particular order....

My parents deciding to up stumps and move the 3rd generation farming family from a very small community to the wild west up north.

Getting involved in running a business at a young age.

My first trip to Asia.

Marrying a Thai woman.

Becoming a Christian

Selling my business.

[daveboy]

Getting locked up at 17 gave me the kick up the arse that I needed.

[El Gibbon]

Two that still hold true

"If your still in town on Tuesday, your going to the pen". I was to enlist in the AF on Monday and had got caught stealing beer for the third time in small town New England. Needless to say I spent 20 working for Uncle Sam and grew up A LOT!

The day my wife died and left me as a single parent for a 12 year old daughter and a 7 year old son.

E. G.

[baldrick]

Got into the Oz Naval College at age 15

Creswell ?

[DaveRobin]

Working in an office and being sacked for not showing any enthusiasm for my job. I realised I would never be able to show any enthusiasm for office jobs working with people who discuss Eastenders, bitch about the person they just had a 'nice' chat with, think stamping bits of paper is the real world, and all just happily drift in to old age and a nice retirement.

It pushed me to buy my first Lonely Planet and life as I knew it was never the same again.

[nedwalk]

realiseing that people need to pay money to live in anything, the happy heady days of being a slum lord! then gleamed its just like monopoly you just work your way around the board to get the better properties, thats what i aspire to be, the stinky old mower man, that nobody suspects he,s picking up their rent checks

[kingwilly]

Getting locked up at 17 gave me the kick up the arse that I needed.

I didnt get locked up, but i was damn close, same age. same effect.

(plus 50 hours community service or something like that)

[Texpat]

The day my mother died in 2003 -- Thanksgiving. She was very young (60) and was just settling into her golden years. I vowed I would not be similarly cheated and retired three years later.

[Looper]

But, the biggest defining moment is probably the imminence of my 40th in about 18 months time.

Your kidding me? I never thought you were that old!

Time to grow up

Fok that

[meow]

Staying for long periods (1-2 years at a time) in SE Asia definitely changed me. It has been great in the sense that I have a different outlook, but bad as I now can't stand life in the west where I am currently trapped.

In the end it will be cool I'm sure (hope) !

[Rattanaburi]

I don't think I have been defined yet.

[November Rain]

The last seven years.

In that time, my marriage has broken down.

Mum got breast cancer & I nursed her through it (she stayed with me in HK)

Moved to Thailand.

The family (my parents & I) had money problems.

Dad committed suicide.

Mum got (& beat - touch wood) breast cancer again. I nursed her through it again.

My BF died & left me with his son.

Mum moved away (though we're still in very close contact).

All of those moments changed me. I'm a totally different person from the superficial, money orientated person I used to be.

[kingwilly]

wow - that's full on NR.

Thanks for sharing.

[barbaro]

Whats the most defining moment/s in your life, that has made you who you are today?

Going overseas played a part.

Other than that, I dunno.