Is life what you expected?

LegacyUser

Hey, I was sitting at home with the folks the other night, watching some random "expert helps family become normal" type show, and I realised I was completely, utterly bored.
Not just bored with the show, but bored with EVERYTHING!
As a child, I imagined that by the time I hit my 20's I would have my own house, nice car, a high flying media career and a non stop party lifestyle.
I was totally 'anti 9-5', and 'anti office' and swore that I would never indulge in the mundane.

Now, of course, I realise how unrealistic I was.

I work 9-5, in an office, media seems to be but a distant memory, I don't have my own house, I live with my parents, I have a 95 suzuki swift, and as for a non stop party life style, ha, if once a week trip into Q bar, or the likes, counts as a non stop party lifestyle, then woohoo, my life is party central.

Now with all that said, I still have a fun existence, I have plenty of friends, and I happen to really like the people who I work with.

I am also aware that only I have the power to change my lifestyle, but my point is, how far removed the reality is from the childhood fantasies.

So what about you guys? Did you dream of being a space man, only to wind up a sales man?

Did you girls dream of being pampered in the finest beauty salons, only to end up working in them?

If you are in a similar position to myself, would you have the balls to pack it all in and chase that dream?

I am a pessimist. I am never disappointed

azezil

Depends what age I refer too as my view changed over time. When I was very young I wanted to be a doctor, but that fantasy faded by secondary school.

In secondary school I seen myself working in IT, and I am... I thought I'd have a car by now, that hasn't happened yet, no real need but the events of my life over the passed... 6 years, were most unexpected, but have kept me entertained

blahblah06

personally im happy the way mine has turned out bar a few mistake that will haunt me. im 20 have my own house and my own 06 car and a decent enough job. overall id say im happy

connundrum

I know that life didn't turn out to be what I expected but at the mo I'm pretty happy to put the head down and grind out an existance. I've worked in so many ****ty jobs that I am delighted with what I have now, and I can only see things getting better.

Still wanna be a Premiership Footballer though

I never really expected anything from my adult life anyway. I decided a while back that I wanted to go into physics, and I'm doing a postgrad in it, so that's a start. Want to do research in it.
Apart from a university office, I'm anti office as well. Not because I have something against the image of working in an office, but because it would just kill me. As something temporary that would be fine, on a year off maybe, but not if I knew or couldnt see any way out of it.

Pretty sick of life a lot as well, though.

LegacyUser

blahblah06 wrote:

personally im happy the way mine has turned out bar a few mistake that will haunt me. im 20 have my own house and my own 06 car and a decent enough job. overall id say im happy

I'd say you are happy, only 20 with your own house and a new car, how did you manage that?

blahblah06

sillysausage wrote:

I'd say you are happy, only 20 with your own house and a new car, how did you manage that?

Well i just saved hard when i was 16 i knew what i wanted and any job ive had i saved most of my wages. dont get me wrong i did have a great child hood. (used to race off road bikes). i just knew what i wanted and finally got it. you dont have to have the best job to buy yourself a house or anything. seriously sausage if i can do it anyone can

Karl Hungus

Yeah, life is pretty much what I expected. Except, I'm not an astronaut. Yet.

Beruthiel

sillysausage wrote:

but bored with EVERYTHING!

what a terrible, terrible waste of your youth, do something quick before you find yourself on your death bed regretting!

BoozyBabe

I'd have to say I'm pretty happy with my life.
Yes, we all have our days where we couldn't be bothered getting up for work, there's nothing on the telly, we've nothing to do, feel sorry for ourselves, etc, but overall I'm happy.

I'm 25, got myself good qualifications, done a good bit of travelling, in a good, well paid job where I'm appreciated & respected, own my own house, have 2 cars (just haven't managed to sell one, but can afford to have both of them), no bills at all, besides mortgage which is paid for me (tenants), a nice little lumpsum saved for my future, after years of wanting, I now have the man I hope to spend the rest of my life with (& he feels the same), I'm healthy, my friends & family are healthy, I have a great family life, we all get on really well, lots of friends, so all in all, life has been good to me so far.
I'm happy

One thing:- I must find myself some hobbies to keep the boredom feelings at bay

LegacyUser

BoozyBabe wrote:

I'm 25, got myself good qualifications, done a good bit of travelling, in a good, well paid job where I'm appreciated & respected, own my own house, have 2 cars (just haven't managed to sell one, but can afford to have both of them), no bills at all, besides mortgage which is paid for me (tenants), a nice little lumpsum saved for my future, after years of wanting, I now have the man I hope to spend the rest of my life with (& he feels the same), I'm healthy, my friends & family are healthy, I have a great family life, we all get on really well, lots of friends, so all in all, life has been good to me so far.
I'm happy

One thing:- I must find myself some hobbies to keep the boredom feelings at bay

Do you know what? I think you deserve some congratulations. Seriously, you have done really well for yourself.

I have the education, boyfriend and travelling bits under my belt.
Got no savings and No house though. (spent 5 years in college so saving wasn't really an option until now)


I just want to clarify though, I am not UNhappy, I am not depressed, or anything of the kind.
I do realise I have the power to change things for myself, and when the time comes, I guess I will know it, and things WILL change.
I am generally an optimistic person!

IvaBigWun

Ireland has 83% house ownership, thats either the highest in Europe or the world - I forget which I read, although there's a huge difference. We seem to be put under tremendous pressure to be house owners in this country - its this decades "why arent you smoking?" and Ive a pain in my hole listening to it to be honest.

To answer your question: Im in a job Im happy with and pays well, friends that I have a laugh with and a semi girlfriend who'll do for now. Am I happy? I suppose but I'll always want more, thats just me. Its not the worst way to be I think.

You're 23 Silly Sausage if I remember right, if you're having itchy feet now God knows what you'll be like at 25 or 30. Have you done much travelling? I got a bit out of my system when I was younger and try to do as much as I can every year.

When I was a kid I wanted to be a singer on Top of The Pops but we cant have it all

fischerspooner

you know you should really stop living with your parents at your age for christ's sake! No wonder you're concerned about your life!

LegacyUser

IvaBigWun wrote:

Have you done much travelling? I got a bit out of my system when I was younger and try to do as much as I can every year.

When I was a kid I wanted to be a singer on Top of The Pops but we cant have it all

Ha ha ha, I wanted to be on Top of the Pops, I was so sure I was gonna be a star... X Factor here I come

This year I am going to Liverpool (wow), Lanzorote and the states, and if its possible, maybe Dubai!
I have been to spain, portugal, london, bulgaria, greece, cyprus...... oh, france... possibly more, it will come to me.

Ah I don't have itchy feet, not really, its probably just because this is my first job since graduating college, and the move from college life, to 'normal' life has been a bit of a bumpy ride

Kersh

Im happy enough. Never wanted a house, which i dont have...:) .
But i always wanted a Porsche 911 , which i got 3 years ago,(and still love) and i have pretty much bought (and sold) all the cars on my dream list. I currently have 3 road cars and 3 race cars (new one in my sig), and I have won 2 championships at racing, inc one in which i topped the list of every single circuit driver in Ireland. But i worked very hard for everything. Im now setting up a company with my father, so millionairedom shouldnt be far away. I have a lovely gf to boot, who is super...:)
I did want to be a fighter pilot.... but needed US citizenship for that.

The 1 thing I will say is that for some reason, I walkied out of terminator 3 saying that my life isnt exciting enough... dont know why.

damnyanks

Eh, I made my goals when I was younger. So far so good... next step world domination.

Kersh

World Domination was on my list too.... all i have is cars, but no house yet...:rolleyes:

brown*eyed*girl

God my life is so different to how I imagined it would be but its different in a good way and I wouldn't change one single thing about anything that's happened because I wouldn't be who and where I am today, which is very happy with my lot.
I remember when myself and my best friend (still is too) were 13 years old back in good old 1989 (one of the best years of our lives) and standing at the jute box listening to Bryan Adams "Summer of 69" which we used to sing as Summer of 89. Well I remember we were saying imagine in the year 2000 and we will be 24/25 and wondering what we would be doing etc. We imagined so many different scenarios and none of them actually happened. But at the time we thought it would never really be the year 2000. Innocence is a wonderful thing LOL. Anyways back to 2006 and I'm 30 years old, bought my own house when I was 24 and recently re-mortgaged to do some renovations, house is worth €60,000+ more than the re-mortgage, I have a good job, nice employer, good friends, brilliant family and feel the best is yet to come.
I’ve two kids which I have to say are the bestest things that happened to me. They really are the meaning of life and I love being a Mother so much. Hard work but so rewarding. Gonna make a lot of you younger ones puke but watching you’re little one sleeping or my eldest girl singing can be the greatest little moments sometimes.
I was engaged once and nearly married. I’m single now though and loving it (most of the time).
I’ve learnt sooo much over the last 3 decades and I still am learning in this crazy world but the way I see it life is a book and each day I start off on a clean page. Feck yesterday and sure I can’t predict the future so try an live for today. Enjoy the small things in life too. Remember when you feel pissed off or fed up there are so many beautiful things outside. Corny I know but get up get out and even if its just going outside and listening to the birds singing enjoy some of the simple things we have.
Sillysausage you have the potential to do almost anything so get out there girl. Try most things once and if you fail try again.
OK seems old age is making me ramble on so I’ll stop.:o

IvaBigWun

Great post Brown Eyed Girl

Lump

sillysausage wrote:

Hey, I was sitting at home with the folks the other night, watching some random "expert helps family become normal" type show, and I realised I was completely, utterly bored.
Not just bored with the show, but bored with EVERYTHING!
As a child, I imagined that by the time I hit my 20's I would have my own house, nice car, a high flying media career and a non stop party lifestyle.
I was totally 'anti 9-5', and 'anti office' and swore that I would never indulge in the mundane.

Trust me, having a Media job isn;t all it's cracked up to be. However, I'm pretty much where I wanted to be by the time I was finished college. I want to have a million in the bank by the time I'm 30..... not looking good at the moment, but I'll try. Also I want to be working in the states in 5 years, so I'm gonna get that ball rolling soon. I think anything is achievable.

John

Tony Danza

blahblah06 wrote:

Well i just saved hard when i was 16 i knew what i wanted and any job ive had i saved most of my wages. dont get me wrong i did have a great child hood. (used to race off road bikes). i just knew what i wanted and finally got it. you dont have to have the best job to buy yourself a house or anything. seriously sausage if i can do it anyone can

The parents are loaded, yeah?

CelticChick

In one way I've more than I expected. I'm 25, a homeowner and I have 2 cars so in financial terms I'm doing better than I had ever hoped or thought I would. But my personal life is non existent, can't remember the last time I went out or even had fun so on that side of things no definitely not what I expected. But can't really complain thats something that I can change and totally within my control.

jrey1981

I was naive enough to think I would have a million by I was 25, but I am 25 today and have a very small percentage of that in the bank!

Thought I would make it as a business high-flyer or begin a good media career when I left uni...

But, still living at home, doing nixers workwise, but trying to get a book published and with a view to perhaps researching and writing a second one if I can figure it all out.

It is all a bit random at the moment at the start of this new year, as I know quite a few people my age who have bought or are buying houses. Another friend seems to be on the verge of a big business deal which I may be involved with in a small capacity.

simu

When I was a teenager, I thought I'd be alone and miserable all my life and everyone would hate me so, things have turned out quite a bit better than that!

Pessimism has its place!

dundalk cailin

well i reckon at (almost) 20, the fact that im on my erasmus year in france, ive two successful years in college under my belt, i am stiill in the process of setting myself up..i think by this time next year i should be in the final year of my degree, have myself a little car, and a part time job to get me thru college. i am lucky in that i still lived at home in year 1 & 2 of college, but this year has been a real eye opener..i see what its like to fend for yourself in a foreign country, and get yourself outta bed every morningg for college, even if you feel like ducking under the cover cos you feel like a dunce that cant speak the language. i intend to make the most of the remainder of this year abroad. i think that up to now i was stuck in a bit of a rut, but doing this erasmus year has made me spread my wings a bit. i can be a negative person at times, but ive learnt to be more optimistic and open minded. ive faced some challenges, and overcame them so i hope to continue. maybe we should reopen this thread in a year or two to see if people did what they said they wanted

Lady_Macbeth

I'm still in college: I still have an idealistic, rosey view of the world and my future. I can't see myself working towards anything else but what I've always wanted (to work in journalism). It may take me a long time to get there (and it will take a long time) but I'm prepared to put it in because life's too short to sit back and accept things 'just because' it's easy to accept them. I might be offered a nice job with a nice salary working nice hours...but I don't want 'nice.' I want to get up out of bed every day with enthusiasm and I want to work not to make money so that at least my extra-working hours are enjoyable, but so that my working hours are enjoyable. I want to do something worthwhile, if not for anyone else, then at least for myself. I can't say when my life's going to end, but at least I'd be able to say I died trying.


- Lady

Canis Lupus

simu wrote:

When I was a teenager, I thought I'd be alone and miserable all my life and everyone would hate me so, things have turned out quite a bit better than that!

Are you suuuuuure?

As for me, Karl has already stolen the astronaut line. I personally wanted to work in the IT industry, then I joked my way through college and failed out but now I find myself in London which is a change from rural Kerry. Wasn't how I expected things to be as a kid but all things considered I wouldn't change a single thing in my life cos it's been fun....mostly

smurfbaby

I have to say Im pretty happy with life at the moment. Im 23 with a pretty good job in the media, a nice car, the best boyfriend in the world (sorry everyone else!) and we've just got mortgage approval for a new house.

I know this sounds cheesy but really you get out of life what you put in, there's no point in sitting back hoping that stuff will happen for you. And the reality is that you have to work really hard to make things happen. It really winds me up when my friends say things like 'I wish I had a car' or 'You're so lucky, your job sounds really interesting'. Its not so much about luck but about me deciding I want to do something and then going out there and doin it. Plus it can be really hard work! And what people forget is that you can't get everything all at once-owning a car or a home often means that you cant go out as much as your friends or buy all the nice things you'd like

MorningStar

I will say people died that I didn't expect.

Success has a new meaning but still not all the way there yet.

I really expected there to be less stupid people when I got out of education but am horrified at how stupid they are.

I am in Ireland and I never expected to be able to live and work here as htere were simply no jobs.

Things are neither better or worse than I expected just different.

joe_chicken

I think once my astronaut dream had been shot down, I havent really thought about it too much...

life has kinda kicked along at a below average pace, people would come up to me and go:
"do you wanna do this/that/other?"
and I'd say:
"sure, yeah, may aswell"

no car, house, kids, bills... and consequently no hassles

I like to think I'm a product of my circumstances... that sits well with me

um7y1h83ge06nx

sillysausage wrote:

Ah I don't have itchy feet, not really, its probably just because this is my first job since graduating college, and the move from college life, to 'normal' life has been a bit of a bumpy ride

That sounds like me! 22 and I finished college last May. The transition is a bit strange indeed, especially considering I enjoyed college to the max. Saying that I still kinda do. I go out most student nights and have a laugh with friends still in college

Eventually though i'll have to grow up and be a bit more sensible!

Demetrius

Things havent turned out the way I expected at all. Im in a course I hate and yet cant think of anything I would like to do. I used to have such high expectations of what life would be like when I was "grown up". Life hasnt become any better or any worse. But I suppose it comes down to what sort of person you are.

daiixi

Life isn't what I expected at all. I thought by 25 I'd be earning heaps of money, own my own house, probably married etc etc. I thought I'd be way more together than I am!!!

However I left school and spent a year at uni doing a course I hated so I quit and spent two years bumming around and partying way too much. (had a lot of fun though!)

I then packed in the party 24/7 life and I've spent the past (almost) four years travelling and living in foreign countries and I've never had to ask my family to help me out of a sticky situation along the way. **touch wood**

I have picked myself up a decent "career" along the way and by the time I get home I hope that I'll have enough money for a house deposit and will have travelled over most of the world.

So while life isn't what I expected, I'm pretty happy with where I am and where life is going.

jaggeh

if life was what you expected what would be the point in living other than fulfilling prophecy.

blahblah06

Tony Danza wrote:

The parents are loaded, yeah?

i wish mate. did it all myself.

Kojak

ronoc wrote:

I am a pessimist. I am never disappointed

Me too.

slightlycrazy

Nah i never get my hopes up about nething always leads to disappointment and trouble...

Seems to be the trend so far neway..

ST*

I'm actually more of an optimist. I believe you can make things happen if you are determined enough- within reason.

I'm getting to do something now, that I wanted to do years ago - but life threw a couple of obstacles in the way.

It makes you a stronger person if you can fight off anything that gets in your way IMO.

toffeapple

sillysausage wrote:

Hey, I was sitting at home with the folks the other night, watching some random "expert helps family become normal" type show, and I realised I was completely, utterly bored.
Not just bored with the show, but bored with EVERYTHING!
As a child, I imagined that by the time I hit my 20's I would have my own house, nice car, a high flying media career and a non stop party lifestyle.
I was totally 'anti 9-5', and 'anti office' and swore that I would never indulge in the mundane.

Now, of course, I realise how unrealistic I was.

I work 9-5, in an office, media seems to be but a distant memory, I don't have my own house, I live with my parents, I have a 95 suzuki swift, and as for a non stop party life style, ha, if once a week trip into Q bar, or the likes, counts as a non stop party lifestyle, then woohoo, my life is party central.

Now with all that said, I still have a fun existence, I have plenty of friends, and I happen to really like the people who I work with.

I am also aware that only I have the power to change my lifestyle, but my point is, how far removed the reality is from the childhood fantasies.

So what about you guys? Did you dream of being a space man, only to wind up a sales man?

Did you girls dream of being pampered in the finest beauty salons, only to end up working in them?

If you are in a similar position to myself, would you have the balls to pack it all in and chase that dream?

f**k that you can do what ever you want at any age you just need something to go after....you should head off to OZ or south america get in adventures n sh*t...will open your eyes and give you goals

toffeapple

blahblah06 wrote:

personally im happy the way mine has turned out bar a few mistake that will haunt me. im 20 have my own house and my own 06 car and a decent enough job. overall id say im happy

so f*king what!! these things can be got anytime...your youth is for adventure and discovery not be wasted counting material goods...i cant believe your 20 years old and "happy with how your life turned out" what life you havent even started living yet your probably only 1/4 way through

sobriquet

sillysausage wrote:

If you are in a similar position to myself, would you have the balls to pack it all in and chase that dream?

Yep, in the process of doing so. Handed in my notice last week. I'm a programmer by trade, and I love coding, but I can't stand working behind a desk for all the poxy day. My favourite parts of the day are the morning and evening commute on my bike, and the gym at lunch.

No idea what I'm going to do though. Only plan is to travel for a few months from about march. After that, haven't a notion. Open question then: I have no ties to location and no debt, and I've saved a bit. What would ye do in this position?

Mind you, I'm amazed at the number of people around my age (23, 24, 25) who've gotten mortgages and cars. Only thing I would want either for is a car to go travelling - a van might be handy to carry my bikes. Each to their own I suppose.

toffeapple

A good programmer will get work anywhere in the world..the world is your oyster...australia is a good place to start as its not to different apart from the weather which is savage needless to say speak same language and there is work there...i was in a postion to buy a house when i was 24...but i said f**k it and i legged to austraila had a blast( i had spent 2 years travvelling around germany and holland when i was younger so i knew how to look after myself) there is so much to see in the world ireland is only a dot

jrey1981

toffeapple wrote:

your youth is for adventure and discovery not be wasted counting material goods...i cant believe your 20 years old and "happy with how your life turned out" what life you havent even started living yet your probably only 1/4 way through

I think you have a point.

And it does take balls to go travelling or whatever, but then again some people would say it takes a certain amount of courage to commit to a mortgage and to have to be at work every day to pay it all off...

toffeapple

yeah it takes a certain amount of discipline but the OP was bored with life ...hardly think a mortage is gonna set her knickers on fire

BoozyBabe

Yea, but maybe her own place which the mortgage would allow her to have will give her bf the chance to set her knickers on fire!!!!

LegacyUser

BoozyBabe wrote:

Yea, but maybe her own place which the mortgage would allow her to have will give her bf the chance to set her knickers on fire!!!!

Are you trying to get me sacked? I just spat my water out all over my desk! Ha ha ha, actually laughed out loud!:D

sobriquet

toffeapple wrote:

A good programmer will get work anywhere [...]

Sounds promising, Oz and all that, but I'm taking the 'pack it in' gig a little further - I'm giving up computers too. Try a few different things, see what sticks. No idea what I'll end up doing tbh.

Dunno how practical this idea is, but that's the plan. Fúck it, can't hurt to try.

BoozyBabe

sillysausage wrote:

Are you trying to get me sacked? I just spat my water out all over my desk! Ha ha ha, actually laughed out loud!:D

Cool!

I couldn't resist, it was itching to be said!!

toffeapple

BoozyBabe wrote:

Yea, but maybe her own place which the mortgage would allow her to have will give her bf the chance to set her knickers on fire!!!! [/QUOTE

Her boyfriend could travell with her and set her knickers on fire in a different location evry week...exotic waterfalls...sunsets on empty beachs...the list goes on

toffeapple

sobriquet wrote:

Sounds promising, Oz and all that, but I'm taking the 'pack it in' gig a little further - I'm giving up computers too. Try a few different things, see what sticks. No idea what I'll end up doing tbh.

Dunno how practical this idea is, but that's the plan. Fúck it, can't hurt to try.

thats the spirit!!! life is for living..people didnt have the oppertunities we have years ago we should be taking them...Irish people are welcomed all over the world (apart from bondi where they seem to make pigs of themselfs)