What did you used to do that you don't do anymore?

I used to...
Hate myself.
Be crippled by social anxiety and self doubt.
Think I was going to flunk out of college.
Have a home phone line.
Lie to everyone I cared about to protect them from the truth.
Wear t-shirts three sizes too big.
Want to dye my hair blue.

Not anymore.

 

I used to work for assholes.

 

I used to think I was responsible for or could somehow direct how other people feel or act. I've since learned how to let that go.
I used to be able to fit everything I own into my little car.
I used to always cut my hair really short and sometimes shave it in the back. I kinda miss my half-hawks.
I used to not care about how much (mostly student) debt I was racking up.
I used to feel much more confined, despite looking to others like I had much more freedom.

 

I used to be a very creative painter/artist. And a teacher.
That went south after I got married. Pretty damn sad.
How does one reclaim their lost talents and goals?

 

I used to like photography, but I haven't had the time for years.
I certainly used to work out a lot more than I do now.

 

One just does it.

I'm in pretty much the same position with drawing and writing. Drawing ground pretty much to a dead halt about fifteen years ago, and I haven't written anything of substance probably in the last six years.

I can't pinpoint any specific thing holding me back from getting back into either of these two admitted passions of mine, other than the limitations of my own mind, self-criticism and self doubt. I just have to do it. It's getting to that point that's the hardest part.

 

bars used to be my second home, from Wednesday to Sunday - being a solo mortagee living alone, now i can't afford my second homes but can't say i miss the hang-overs

i used to roller-skate until my balance was shot after getting ran over by a car while crossing the road

 

I used to feel jealous of other's material goods and accomplishments.
I used to be depressed and suicidal.
I used to think I couldn't write (still can't do fiction).
I used to be a psychotherapist. The journey to become one helped heal my psychic wounds.
I used to smoke pot every day. It's been six months since I touched it and I don't want to. (not a political statement)
I lost touch with my photography, an (amatuer) passion since age 16. Now I make do with my camera phone and look at life through the lens very differently.
I used to have kids at home. As of today, I do not.

 

I used to be able to bend over...

 

I used to write- music, lyrics, poetry (those two are related, but different), and prose. The years of 50 to 60 hour work weeks have had the effect of rendering me creatively barren. The intellectual energy is just not there. Anymore, I struggle at writing bass figures for the songs that others write. It makes me feel sad and frustrated.

 

Right with you there, 'dude.

 

And we all remember those days very fondly, @ZombieSquirrel.

Sigh....sorry, just having a moment here...

 

In high school I used to stay up all night on weekends, planning and programming computer games. I haven't much of a clue how to do that now. I've looked into it recently since I once enjoyed it so much and see it has changed much the last 30 years.

 

I used to love music, mostly blues, rock and jazz. Would buy al or records and CDs, go out to clubs to hear my favorite bands, and attend the free outdoors concerts. Not anymore. I've reached the point where I just don't feel like making the effort of the long drives, dealing with the crowds, the heat, etc. A lot of it has to do with getting married (to a classically trained musician who doesn't like loud music), and when I found out that I'm very nearly tone deaf with little musical talent, music lost a lot of its appeal.

 

I used to ski and play video games. I just need a lot more free time to be able to do those things.

 

I used to be hopelessly introverted. Now I can be aggressively extroverted when I want to be!

 

I use to avoid my husband when he was feeling frisky sometimes. Now, I can't get enough, and he avoids me at times.