If I had known the history of alcoholism in my family, and my predisposition to it, I probably would have never taken that first drink. I wasted a lot of time and money on that stuff. The thing I regret most, though, is the way I hurt everyone in my life. It's not that I feel bad for me. I acted like an idiot and got everything I deserved. I feel bad for them, because they did nothing to deserve what they got.
Some alcoholics keep private the fact that they are alcoholics, and that's fine. I don't. It doesn't define me, it's just part of who I am. I don't beat people over the head with it.
However, I probably wouldn't be as appreciative of what I have now if I had never traveled that road. I wake up every day, happy, centered, and I kiss my wife and kids while they're still asleep before I leave for work. I'm the luckiest guy out there, and I know it. I laugh everyday.
So some good did come from it. Still in all, if I could go back, I'd have never started.