If you died tomorrow, what would have been your proudest achievement?

Just a straight-up question..., and possibly the window to your souls.

Umm, let's see. I didn't find a cure for cancer. I didn't save many people from a burning building. I'm not married, nor had any kids(that I know of) that will grow up to do anything that would make mankind proud, as well as myself.

I guess I would have to say, that I wasn't a total douchebag.

I know there are some here than can appreciate my sense of humor and what I'm saying, knowing me, as well as most in my civvie life that would laugh at this statement.

Let me put it this way. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

I've seen a lot of shit. Some of it keeps me up at night. Or, until I drink it away. That's me.

But when I go, whether it's tomorrow, or next year, or 50 years from now. I want it to be said, 'Taking the boys for a walk'.

It's simple, it's me, and those who know can appreciate what that means.

Peace.

things that come to mind.. okay remember im only 21..
1. Being a great parent.
2. All the times that I've helped a stranger. Its so rewarding just knowing you've put a smile on their face, that somebody cared enough about them. Knowing what a profound effect the sincere smile, or thank you has on a stranger.
3. Receiving my acceptance letter to nursing school
4. When my first letter to the editor was published when I was 13 lol
5. Graduating high school a year and a half early

-- Modified on 8/4/2010 4:22:59 AM

Maybe not an achievement but I'm in the Illinois Bassketball Coaches Hall of Fame..Directed a X-mas boys basketball tourney for over 20 yrs..

My service in the U.S. Navy. Best 23 years of my life.

Not saying this for accolades so back off everybody.


The charity work that I do/have done is the most satisfying effect on my conscience. Bar none. The 'little things' that have followed in my footsteps prove that the decision to engage ther-in was "priceless".

I saved a 3 yr olds life!

I was at a public pool with my kids and this little guy saw my son jump into the pool, at the 5 ft mark
and he just jumped in, too, well I just reacted and snatched him out, as he went down like a rock,
his mother thanked me over and over! as he indeed , didnt know how to swim at all

who knows, he might grow up to be a future president?

Most presidents do jump in way over their head.



Thank you
2010 = 28

My absolute proudest and most important achievement is undoubtedly my offspring.

Others? (*shrug*) It seems, looking back now, (not that I am very old or anything), that I have had a lot of achievements that many would find very worthwhile and amazing.

But I'm not especially proud of most of them. Maybe I was at the time, in a very temporary sort of way. It just seems that whatever I have already done pales into insignificance when compared to what I am currently doing or planning to do.

All my past achievements are just the self-training needed to set the stage for the capacities needed to achieve more important goals.

Cattle* die and kinsmen die, but I know one thing that will never die: the fame of a dead man's deeds. -- Odin in the Havamal

* In the pre-Christian Northern European culture, cattle were portable wealth. So "Cattle" in this quote means "money" in modern parlance.

That's an achievement!!! and a cool one at that!

That is a incredible story!!!! and I think I would owe my life to anyone who did that for my kids!

my work, but when asked about my family, it's them I take pride in, though I don't feel like my kids and grandkids are accomplishments per se.

It is not just having kids makes it an accomplishment. (in my opinion) It is the type of person your kids become that is the results of their upbringing and the way you raised them that should be considered an accomplishment!

13 year old the traditional way.

Nothing else even comes close.

It was a windy day at the beach.Very few swimmers in the water.Rip tide warnings.Off season. No lifeguards .Surf was up .Eight to Ten foot waves.I was by myself, having a great time. I noticed a group of police ,far down the beach, looking out at sea. I looked and saw nothing.I looked again and saw what looked like two children past the breakers, struggling to survive.
I hurried as fast as I could struggling to reach them. Three times a wave knocked me off my board. When I was within a 100 yards, a wave knocked me off my board aqain. I took my leash off my foot, left my board, and swam as hard as I could. When I finally was almost within reach,maybe ten feet way, one had just gone under, and I had to dive to find him.
I struggled with every ounce of energy I had, to barely hold  them above water. When I finally made it in the breakers the undertow was holding me back.At times I was so exhausted, I thought I would end up drowning myself. It was extremely difficult,beyone description, and the hardest thing I ever had to do,to try and hold  both of their little heads above the water.
I had to swim down current with only my feet, since my hands were holding the children,  for what seemed like eternity, to find my way past the rip tide. The child who was conscious had the strength to help me swim with one arm and his feet, or I would have lost them both.
When I was almost to the beach a large rogue wave caught us,and carried us almost to the shore, slamming the children violently on the sand.
The police ran out to the waist deep water and grabbed the children.
Rescue squad  workers were there, and they immediately started CPR on the child who went under. The childrens mothers were crying.
I left and went back to the campground ,because there was nothing I could do. I was extremely angry, and  thoroughly disgusted no one came out to help.
I was so exhausted I slept for 16 hours.
When I awoke, I was hoping it was only a dream.
That morning a  article in the paper said 'Police save drowning child at Oceanfront"
The other one died.
So the best, and the worst thing I have ever done, I did in one day.
I panicked, left my board, and a child drowned because of it.
That eats me up,every time I think about it.
If I seem insensitive sometimes, its because I only cry about things that matter.
I try not to think about that day.

I would guess that would be somehow managing to earn and keep the love and respect of my friends and family.

They are all such great people that I sometimes wonder what they see in me.  I try not to look a gift horse in the mouth though, so I gladly accept it and give quiet thanks.

That, and winning a world championship in my favorite sport with a great group of teammates.

I have achieved things like medals for swimming which I loved and struggled to get. AN alternate on an Olympic swim team..I gave birth to the most wonderful child, and held him in my arms when he took his last breath at the age of ten to a drunk driver. I struggled for 9 years to have him using all the modern technology out there and his life ended so quickly.

I survived an abusive husband for 20 years and walked away..alive.and now I am happy just being me..now, I help others in the boat I jumped from..

.I learned to survive with respect & love in a racing community that few females survive in..

I guess those moments in my life are the proudest..

Recently I had the occasion to witness the results of my father's life.  In the tradition of my parents religion, we spent 3 days waking him, with friends and relatives stopping by to pay their respects.

I've not lived in the same city as them for 25+ years, and while we've always been close, a lot of day to day events have transpired.  I was amazed at the sheer number of people whose lives he touched.  There were people of all ages, each with their own story of some wonderful thing he'd done for them.  I knew of a lot of the stories, having witnessed them in my youth, but there were countless others.

My dad wasn't rich, nor famous, but I'd be happy to be half the man he was.

My mother became terminally ill when she was only 11 and I was given the tall task of taking care of them both in my early twenties.  Yes my dad was in the picture however he did not do much if anything at all of the day to day stuff.  

She is married and now has a beautiful child of her own and I could not be more proud of how she turned out.

Was born without ears, her family had no money, and last Christmas my family picked up the $100K tab for it.

When the insurance pays them back, they take half and set up a college fund for their two daughters, and the other half must be used for children in similar circumstances.

Alias used because I don't want the community here to think I'm chest-thumping.

"It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you; it's what you leave behind you when you're gone."

Knowing my kids will have the best education money can buy.

I love my babies so much they're the window to my soul!

"My heartbreakers till the very end"

And... everything I live for every single day of my life.

I'd have to say finally having the strength and courage to say "Enough" and walking away from an abusive husband of 7 yrs, and my 2 children, who are still young, but so good at heart to be the age that they are

I'd say you have every right to do a little chest-thumping.  It's nice to know there are people like you out there!

Making my cats happy

awwweeee