Career paths you could've taken, but didn't due to stupid reasons?

Any reason really works, whether it was due to medical conditions, family problems, lack of confidence, etc.


For instance, when I was in high school, I absolutely adored playing my trumpet. I was the best in my class and I would love nothing more than to be able to play music the way I did when I was in high school. I absolutely loved band class and it was only second to my Japanese classes. I went to every band event (except marching band... I hated that crap) and enjoyed the hell out of it. Playing music was an absolute joy. However, due to my canker sores that I kept getting (and still keep getting), I couldn't play half the time... It hurt so badly to play trumpet when I had canker sores, because the vibration would enhance the pain I was already feeling by many magnitudes.

Oh, God... I would love nothing more than being in the music industry, still playing away on my trumpet. If there was a way to get rid of canker sores instantly or to completely make myself immune to these f'uckers, I'd pick my trumpet back up and start playing again.


What about you? What was your desired career path that you didn't go down because of some dumb reason?