Rewind 5 years ago

ImZara

Rewind 5 years ago and are you now, where you thought you would be in your life..?
how has it all panned out for you?

I must say life in the last 5 years has taken me on a totally different direction than I had planned, I guess that's life huh. :rolleyes:

I understand this is kind of a personal question , so basically I'm asking:

Did you have a plan - Did it work?
Did you have a plan - Did it fall through?
Did you just go with the flow?

Nymeria

Actaully, I was just thinking about this the other day - I'm certainly in a different place than I was a few years ago, and not where I had imagined I would be - but I'm so glad that I am here.

About 5 years ago I was in a pretty serious relationship, working in a job with good people but that was really unfulfilling, and was planning to travel with my boyfriend. We did travel together for a while, then I found out he was cheating (lots) and ended up on my own in a strange place. Ended up having a great time, made lots of new friends, had a blast.
I came back after a year or two hoping to get my old job back but obviously things had changed massively in the financial sector where I worked, so I decided to go back to University and do something completely different; Psychology, which I'm doing now and I love.

I've been single for a while, but not unhappy about it. Have lots of ideas for the future, but I change my mind all the time. I'm 28 but don't want to settle down yet, maybe never will.

No big commitments, so I can hopefully travel again, or maybe do a masters when I finish my degree, or work abroad, whatever I want I suppose .

I really like not knowing exactly where I will be 5 years from now.

CathyMoran

Did you have a plan - Did it work?I hoped that I would still be alive, I am a 6 year cancer survivor at this stage and I have seen things that people should never have to see. I really wanted to be still here and to be a parent - have a 3 year old son and a girl that is less than 2.

Did you have a plan - Did it fall through? We had so many miscarriages on our way to becoming parents as well as health scares - at my 18 month scan they though that it might have been in my liver which would have meant that i had weeks to live - after that scare we decided to try for a baby.

Did you just go with the flow? I am determined when I put my mind down to it, and also being deeply in love helps. I really wanted to and want to be here.

vitani

5 years ago, I was at my lowest. I was suffering from depression and just trying to get through every day. Thinking about the future was unimaginable - I couldn't even deal with the present.

Fast forward five years and I have a beautiful daughter, a completed BA degree, a Masters degree and a permanent job in an area I've always been interested in.

I'm a single mum so not quite where I want to be and I've a long way to go in my career but I'm lightyears away from where I was five years ago. I only wish I'd known back then that I would be ok.

Toast4532

Five years ago I was in a very different place to where I am now and never would have imagined that I would be where I am now.

Five years ago I had just left school and was going through depression (though I didn't know at the time) eventually I got myself the help I needed and went back to college and have a wonderful boyfriend.

I never would have thought five years ago that I'd be in a long-term relationship and would have the education that I'd dreamed of.

I've come a long way and am proud of that, the next step now is to get a job and hopefully in a few years I can further my education.

The Big Red Button

This time five years ago, at the age of 22, I was heading into final year of college, I was engaged, and my five-year plan would have been to qualify as an accountant, build a house, get married.

I'm still not qualified, but I'm getting there, and I've a few years of good and varied experience under my belt. And I'm currently in a job I love.

I have no intentions of either building or buying a house any time soon.

And I'm no longer in that relationship. If I knew five years ago it wasn't going to work out, I'd have been devastated - and I was devastated when it ended. Also, at the time, I was fully convinced I'd be single forever - and I was OK with that. I'm in a different relationship now though, and recently moved in with my boyfriend, and I honestly could not be happier.

Nothing has worked out as planned in the last five years, but I think that it's all been for the best - even when it didn't seem that way at the time. There's very little I'd change about my life right now.

pampootie

Great idea for a thread!

I'm kinda exactly where I thought I'd be 5 years ago! April 2008 I was heading into the final few weeks of my degree and planning on moving to a new county to be with my boyfriend after years of long distance, and starting my career.

5 years on I still live here, still with my lovely boyfriend, career has gone more or less how I planned so far although I don't enjoy it as much as I thought I would and am considering a change. The only plan I had that didn't work out was travelling, had always wanted a year out to see the world but finances and my boyfriends career path got in the way. Very happy and thankful for the past 5 years, they've been happy ones!

Lola92

Five years ago I was in a very very different place in my life. I had just had my first heartbreak and then gotten over it. I began to enjoy the single life after a fairly dark period of depression. I had plans to go on to study medicine or physiotherapy after school. I wanted to progress further at my sport, I had lost some weight and started to build my fitness a little.

Less than a year later I met a guy that I never ever would have put myself with, but somehow it happened and I fell for him big time. Another year later I was pregnant, moved in and had my daughter at 18. I finally got back into education and I'm halfway through my degree in a completely different area, but one that I really enjoy. I'm still crazy about him and we are very happy with our little alternative family!

Rosy Posy

I'm doing pretty much the same thing that I was five years ago, with a bigger house and more kids. But I feel that I have changed and grown a lot in my self and in my relationships.

beks101

Not really much of a planner, I've always kind of flown by the the seat of my pants.

In the last five years I've started into an exciting career I never could have predicted for myself, made some life changing friendships & lost some ones that I thought would last forever, learned to drive, cried about things that I'd kept secret for years, had some stupid flings & mad sexual experiences, fallen in love & had my heartbroken, jumped out of a plane, travelled, gained weight, lost weight, given it all up for a life on the other side of the world, spent a ridiculous week in New York with my best friend, a surreal week in Vegas with a camera crew, struggled with my identity as the 'Irish girl' in a big unfamiliar city, learned to speak 'Canadian', taken up hot yoga, procrastinated, made some bad decisions & struggled with my self esteem, disappointed people & been disappointed, had a few long hot summers & memorable trips out to Toronto Island, struggled with my body image, been promoted, demoted, promoted again & sacrificed literally everything to establish a career in Canada for myself, ran a marathon, become closer to some estranged cousins & discovered who my best friends are.

I'd say the next five years will be full of more drama & chaos, and hopefully a bit of settling down too as I (hopefully) figure out what country to live in, what career is truly the best fit for me & maybe make a few pennies too. And a decent man would be useful too thanks

KKkitty

This time 5 years ago I had lost my dad and never thought I'd be happy again. Met my now fiance who I knew years previously but we lost contact with each other. 13 months after I lost my dad my mam passed away. I had another son almost 9 months later. I also had an ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage last year so I'm definitely not where I thought I'd be.

ash23

5 Years ago I was still going through the aftermath of a bad breakup.

5 years later I am currently in the aftermath of another breakup

Oh and now I have MS too.

The years in between were fun though.......... I changed jobs, did a good job as a mother, made a lot of new friends, reconnected with some old ones, kissed some frogs, drank and danced a lot, made a lot of memories. But I suppose my life hasn't really progressed in any meaningful way.
Sometimes I feel like life is fighting against me and I'm losing.

Mrs Garth Brooks

Five years ago, I was 25. I was stuck in a job that I hated and made me miserable. I was bullied and sexually harassed in that job. I knew I had to leave but I had some debt. I wanted to follow my dream and go back to college. It wasnt the best idea to leave a job, and start college with debt. Also I had to move away for the course, so I had to save for living expenses also.

I started my plan 6 years ago. I wasnt in a position to leave. I worked on myself and lost 5 stone in weight. So I would look good when I got out.
I learnt how to swim also. It was something I wanted while losing weight and to prove my mother wrong. Growing up, l had a sexist mother, she never believed swimming was for girls. We had swimming lessons in school and she never allowed myself or my sister to take up swimming. Had 3 brothers and they were allowed. That always stuck with me, why stop the girls when we had the opportunity. I proved her wrong.

I payed my loans and saved. Realised, I wasnt happy with my 20s and I wanted to complete the course before I turn 30. I did and it was the best thing I ever did. It was a two year course and I loved every minute of it.

I was 30 seven months ago. I thought I would have work by now but that hasnt happened yet.

I still have savings left from college and I am considering travelling in a few months time. I think now is my chance. If I land myself a job now, I think its easier not to go travelling. Im booking my working holiday visa to australia during the week. And hoping to go in august. Im absolutly terrified.

rainbow kirby

5 years ago I didn't have many plans beyond surviving the year in the ****ty technical support job I was in and getting back to college to finish my degree. I also had a sorta-distant goal of losing my extra weight, I was close to 15 stone at that stage.

Since then... I've finished that degree, picked up a masters too, am 9 months in a job that I'm pretty happy in after nearly 2 years in one I wasn't so fond of, took up running to lose said weight - lost 4.5 stone and ran 3 marathons, and for the last 15 months I've been in a really good relationship. Everything's coming up milhouse?

This exact time 5 years ago I was having dreadful time my then teenage daughter looking back I think it was the worst time in my life even worse that the brake up of my marrige....moveing forward its all great she grew up and is now a perfectly normal happy young woman and we are close again

I met someone and got married again I sold my house and we brought a house some where I always wanted to live it over looks the sea. My husband is a wonderful man the only thing is that he has to work in London during the week and come home at weekends, I am living on my own during the week and the house can be very quite thats something I am not use to as I grown up in a large family and had had children very young.

Overall I would say the last five years have been some of the best years of my life so far:)

Legs.Eleven

I like these threads cos I'm nosy. Some amazing stories here which are great for a bit of perspective.


I can't believe 5 years ago was 5 years ago!! This month 5 years ago I set off for South America for 1 year on my own and I was absolutely terrified. I'd come into a bit of money that had been owed to me and I'd also a good bit of savings. Turned out to be the best year of my life and something I'm so grateful for in hindsight. Besides from all the great memories, that year gave me the ability to be alone without feeling lonely and learn to love my own company. I'd also not expected to return home to Ireland but as my Spanish was basic back then still, I couldn't get a job (I'd tried).

So I came back home, economy was dire but still managed to get a temp job in a place I'd worked previously in Dublin with the intention of moving to Spain that year, which I did and my ability to be alone and do things independently made it easy. It'd always been something I wanted to do and I felt that if I couldn't stay in South America, then Spain was the next best option without being a million miles from home. I had an idea of how things would work out here but it hasn't been the case.

It has been tough financially to get by on the salary I earn teaching English in a country whose economy is in tatters, I've managed to acrue one broken heart while here but a few months later, I met the man who I hope to spend the rest of my life with. I've made some good friends and many acquaintances, none of which are Spanish (except my boyfriend). I had two "good" Spanish friends who basically disappeared off the radar and I'm still trying to figure out what happened there. Maybe I smell?

I managed to get to a decent level of the language despite speaking English all day and only coming here with the basics, which I am proud of. However, I still feel like an outsider here, even more than I felt in a supposedly unfriendly city like London. I didn't expect that to be the case.

This Summer I'm leaving Spain finally. I probably would've left earlier had I not met my fella. It wasn't what I expected it to be (I think the idea I had in my head was too idealistic) although I've had a great 3 and half years here overall and I've learned a huge amount about myself but I took a gamble (I'd never been to the country before until I arrived in Madrid airport with my bags) and it worked out well but I think I'm perhaps better suited somewhere else. Too many things frustrate me here and I think it's time to move on.

Myself and the fella are doing the long distance thing (he's doing a masters here) while I teach in South Korea for 8 months to save money to go back to uni then (fingers crossed) moving somewhere together within Europe.

I'd made no plans on how I wanted my life to work out but I'm damn proud of myself that I took chances, went with my gut instinct, had adventures and never chickened out. I'm a better person for it. Hopefully this is not the end of the adventure!

pinkheels88

A lot changes in 5 years... Probably especially given I was in my early twenties for it.
5 years ago I was just turning 20. I was in my second year in UCC and living with my then boyfriend, a horrible couple and a really nice nerdy world of warcraft enthusiast.
I had been with my boyfriend since I was 17 so of course I imagined we would always be together and that he was the love of my life. In retrospect, I was in a very dull relationship which lasted almost another 2 years before I had the self-respect to end it. At that stage he had taken me completely for granted and became nothing short of a lunatic after I broke up with him.
In 2008, I was nowhere near as confident and independent as I am now. I've grown up a lot. I studied my MA in literature in 2010 and had one of the most fun years of my life living with one of my best friends and a house full of girls.
22 was a fun age for me. I lived the single life and rarely turned down the opportunity for a night out with friends. I met some real frogs during that time too but all on the quest to find my Prince Charming...
After I graduated, I was determined to start my PhD. I was accepted to begin my research in 2011 but first I thought I would go teach English somewhere abroad for 6 months to give myself a break in between serious academic stuff. So I applied for a teaching job with an international school and was offered a post in Oman starting in January 2011. I knew nothing of the country and absolutely nobody there but I was up for the experience.
I had my suitcases packed and was just waiting impatiently to hear when they would sort out my visa and book my flights when I got a very unexpected phonecall from a school in Abu Dhabi. They offered me a job on the spot with better salary and what sounded like a much better location. They had booked my flight before I had even emailed the other school to say I had changed my mind! Now I can say that this was the single best decision I have ever made!
3 days later I was on a plane to Abu Dhabi where I quickly made friends and settled in. 3 months later I met my now husband at a concert in Dubai. I fell head over heels in love.
I ended up not getting funding I needed for my PhD so I stayed on teaching in Abu Dhabi. I travelled to amazing places I never imagined I would see like Thailand and Palestine. I became more aware of my spiritual side. I learned to drive (finally!). I learned how to read and write in Arabic (still am ongoing process!)
And although of course there have been some hard times, I love the way things have turned out. I never in my wildest dreams would have pictured myself in this position at 25. Now I'm happily married to someone I absolutely adore and who adores me back and any day now we are expecting the arrival of our first son

Lollipops23

5 years ago I was in the beginning of what would be a 3 and a half year relationship with someone who was all wrong for me, I was in 2nd year of college studying journalism and pissing of Scientoligists by writing about them, winning awards for the college newspaper, wearing clothes that didn't suit me, going on holidays I couldn't afford, living off junk food and working/partying hard.

It's been a fun few years

loalae

5 years ago I didn't really have any plan about what I wanted to do.

I had a degree that I didn't feel was worth the paper it was written on and I had just been offered a job teaching abroad which I decided to take to see if I'd like teaching. (I didn't).

I was still getting over someone who I'd been with the year before and my confidence was at 0.

Now I'm studying something I'm really passionate about and I'm very excited about being nearly qualified. My self-confidence is a lot higher now but it's something I'm probably always going to have to work on. I'm still single and I've been single for nearly all of the last 5 years and it's something I'd really like to change in the near future but I'm happy to wait until I meet someone I click with.

Daisies

Wow five years ago I was in my final semester of college and my main concern was my professional exams in July and the holiday I would go on after. I was single for about 3 years and was wondering where my life would lead. Would I like work? Would I travel? Would I meet that someone special? I was always worried about where my life would take me.

Fast forward 5 years and I've worked in Ireland, Australia and Malawi, I've seen the sunrise over Machu Picchu, jumped out of a plane, got my scuba cert and visited the Amazon. Now I am living in Africa, something I'd never have imagined before and am in a happy relationship for the past 6 months. Where I'll be in 5 months, I'm not even sure, never mind 5 years, and, you know what, it doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Life sure is strange

Ginny

5 years ago I was slowly recovering after a disastrous relationship. The last 5 years have been the busiest most amazing years of my life. I bought a house, met someone new, moved in together, got engaged, got married and had a baby who will be 1 in the summer. We've travelled to Greece, the canaries, San Fran, Vegas, Mexico and New York. We've also been to 3 Heineken cup finals, one at 7 months pregnant. We've had an exciting 5 years filled with fun, laughter and great times and I've shared it all with my best friend.

ImZara

Thanks to everyone for being so honest with your replies.
Serious respect xx

lilmissprincess

Five years ago, I split up with my first proper-in-love boyfriend (at sixteen), but remained best friends with him. I was in fifth year in school and planning to do Psychology in college, with an emphasis on child psychology. I was a bit of a headcase but as I was to learn, things were to get worse before they got better.

In the last five years; I've loved and lost, I've had the death of a best friend eventually have me confront my depression and get diagnosed. I went to college to study drama, hated it and changed to a degree in Economics and Celtic Studies, things I never thought would (a) have gone together and (b) that I would have liked. I wound up getting to do an FYP on Fionn MacCumhaills sex life - 16 year old me would have giggled at the thought.
I've been through the wringer with stress disorders and while I'm not in the best place right now, I have a boyfriend who loves me, friends who know and understand and I have the knowledge that its not always going to be like this. I've got a job which while it stresses me out I love, and I have a feeling it can only get better from here.

kat.mac

Five years ago feels like a century ago to me. I had just started a Masters for the complete lack of knowing what else to do. I was in a pleasant but ultimately unfulfilling long-term relationship, which was to come to an amicable end within the next year. I had gained a lot of weight during final year of my degree but hadn't really realised it; looking back at photos now is uncomfortable but I didn't really clock it at the time, for some reason.

I didn't really have a plan, but I know that where I am now is not where I thought I'd be. I can't really say that anything is wrong with my life; I'm generally quite content and day-to-day life is happy. But I just can't shake the feeling that I could and should have done more with the last five years. Sometimes I wonder if I wasted that time - but that seems a harsh way of looking at it. I definitely wasted two of those years with an absolute scoundrel of a "man"... I wish I could get that time back alright!

Now, at 27, my feelings of uncertainty about what I'm supposed to be doing with my life are even deeper than they were at 22. That doesn't feel like progress, despite many good times and great achievements in the meantime. Quarter (and a bit) life crisis, much?!

Fiona

Did you have a plan - Did it work?
5 years ago I was very happy and planning my wedding to my husband.

Did you have a plan - Did it fall through?
Today, I am separated 1 year from said husband. I am now in a very happy relationship with a fantastic guy

I was 24 getting married, if I only I could have seen back then how wrong he was for me, he was good for somethings but he was older than me and had done all his growing up, I changed beyond recognition for him in the years following our marriage.

I found myself and who I really was and it wasn't what he wanted.

Did you just go with the flow?
I have always had a plan but have not had one for the last year and everything seems to be going just fine.

kylith

I'm not where I thought I'd be five years ago, but I think it's better than I imagined it would be. I got out of a relationship that I wasn't happy in, and am now in one that does make me happy. I'm not quite where I want to be, but that's down more to my own procrastination than anything else.

The Cool

Five years ago jaysis I was only a wee sprog! Was finishing my first year of college in Galway, embracing my independence, both from my family and from my ex boyfriend who'd weighed me down for a while. I was living one big party, not going to classes, going out all the time, just wandering wherever the wind took me.
Now I have my degree and a Masters behind me, I spent a year and a half living abroad, I put in 6 months working hard unpaid to get myself where I am now - a comfortable, decently-paid management office job in the exact field I did my MA in, which I'm very proud of. I've got a lovely boyfriend that I now live with and have come to realise that home is not a place, but a person. This is pretty much exactly where I would have hoped to have been, but better.
Here's to finding more happiness and achievements in the next 5 years!

mollybird

God when i think back to five years ago i was in the middle of doing my degree that i loved and fig i would get a job no worries. While busy keeping a long distance relationship going.

Ya i guess my five year plan kinda worked out. I'm still with the same guy and planning our wedding for this summer. Work wise that didn't quite fall into place. finding work in my field has been very difficult. i'm doing agency work at the min and it comes in either a feast or famine which isn't good when your trying to pay for a wedding.

Bubblefett

5 years ago I'd just dropped out of college and was looking for a full time job. I'd no plan for what I wanted to do, just completely went with the flow.

Ended up working for 4 years, getting some really amazing work experience, met some brilliant people, traveled to Australia (and discovered I hate travelling :pac:), moved out and lived by myself for a few years before my boyfriend moved in, became qualified as a drama teacher, had my own radio show, ran a market stall for a year and lots of other unexpected experiences I could never have planned

Now I'm back in college and 3 weeks away from a degree... so I'm more or less where I'd left off but I got to have fun in between

Lia_lia

Hmm 5 years ago I started college...now I am almost finished college :P

Not much has changed really.

Guess I've grown up a bit.

squeakyduck

Five years ago I was 20 and falling in love. I had no plans to leave Ireland until I caught the travel bug at 22. I left Ireland at 23 because...

1) I didn't want to resent myself for not going and more importantly I didn't want to resent the boy I was with because I felt I had to stay...so we broke up.

2) I needed to get out of Ireland because it was slowly destroying me and I needed a change of perspective and lifestyle.

5 years later I'm currently in South Korea teaching English (never thought I would make a teacher) and I love it. I'm leaving in June to come back to Ireland and hang out with family and friends and sort some visas for further travel. Travel is the new love of my life.

We have a pretty sweet relationship. :pac:

OakeyDokey

5 Years ago...

I was nearly 17 in a leaving cert program that I despised and getting serious with a boy I was having issues with. I had no confidence and had so much things on my list of goals that I never thought I'd be able to. I had trouble at home and had been in a car crash that made me afraid to be in a car!

Presently...

- I'm 21 moved out and doing a course where my confidence has bloomed and will give me entry into my degree. That boy has become a huge part of my life and has been amazing the past few years.
- I have a successful website that's allowed me to work with amazing companies and go to events all over Ireland. I have worked on photo shoots doing makeup for models and also worked first hand with photographers to improve my own photography
- I've traveled outside Ireland and already have a trips outside Ireland planned for the coming year as well as next year.
- I'm getting a car soon and should be on the road in the next few weeks.

There's many other things that's happened to me that I still can't believe and I'd never change what's happened because I'd be afraid it would ruin what I have now :D:D

Although what's happened to me isn't as glamorous as others I'm so proud of myself for what I've accomplished in 5 years

Esoteric_

5 years ago, I was too mentally unwell to work. I was unable to get over something awful that happened to me nearly 7 years ago. I was refusing medical treatment and destroyed my body with drink, prescription drugs and er, razors.

I had dropped out of college due to my health, had quit my job, had absolutely no prospects, despite achieving fantastic results in my Leaving Cert two years previously (540 or so points).

5 years ago, I thought I'd be dead at this point.


Now -

I'm in college.
I'm working.
I'm 100% mentally healthy.
I'm happy.
I've moved past what happened to me.
I get along with my family.
I have plans for the future.
I'm seeing someone and he's lovely.


All in all, nothing worked out how I expected it to, and I couldn't be happier!

ivytwine

What a fantastic idea for a thread

Five years ago:

I had just been dumped by the guy I just knew was the love of my life, I was driving my friends away by moping about him, I was coming into my first year exams.

I hated my course at that point and hated Elizabethan English (I still do )

Five years on, I have a MA and a BA, I got to spend a semester abroad in a wonderful, sunny, beautiful country (and to think I would have gone to Sunderland if I'd stayed with the ex!!) I've made some wonderful friends, got to reappreciate the old ones even more, and shed some not so nice people along the way.

I've lost some dear relatives, and a friend from school in a road crash. And my plan to have the job, the car, and the boyfriend has not quite worked out. I'm back home, just started an internship, still keeping an eye on TEFL jobs abroad, and stubbornly single. And I still haven't passed my test!

However, I know exactly with a clearmindness that I couldn't have had five years ago at 19, what I do NOT want, especially when it comes to relationships. I've gone through hell with a few guys and now I know myself, and my own mind. All in all, could be better, could be a hell of a lot worse!

SurferRosa

5 years ago, I was 6 months pregnant on my first child. I had only been with my boyfriend 13 months when I discovered our little surprise!
I had my little boy, and now looking back I realised I suffered from depression at least the first 5 months after his birth.
I was difficult to live with, and it really put our relationship to the test.
Now, at 30, I have 2 more kids, and am married to same guy.
I came to the realisation last year that I suffer from depression, and probably have done for many years - I guess the stress of childcare seems to have exacerbated the issue.
I'm now at the stage where I'm determined to sort myself out, may go for counselling in the next while, and I've some highly recommended self help books.
Hopefully in another 5 years, I will have learned to deal with my moods and be happier in myself, which of course should have an overall positive impact on my family

Chara1001

This is fantastic idea for a thread...

5 years ago:
i was living abroad and had been a few years by that point. I was very happy.
I was finishing my MA in a specialist subject and was starting to get worried about the sudden disappearance of jobs, but i had secured a temporary position (in the field) for a year before finishing my studies. I was outgoing, funny, carefree, well traveled, in a very new relationship with someone I had known a long time and generally contented with my lot.

In between then and now:
the 'new relationship' slowly turned into a weird and hellish one, very abusive. i had lost many friends and was in a bad situation, however career wise, i finally made got a permanent position in the field i studied for.

Now:
I am back in dublin with a very young baby (who i'm besotted by:)) as a single mum. Unfortunately i had to leave the job, but my ex is now my ex (my doing, and he is the baby's father)! I am seeing a counsellor who is helping me loads. I am currently on maternity and doing my first love- painting (when the baby lets me:)). my first degree is in art, i did commissions while abroad but now i've thrown myself back into it and i'm meeting with a dealer tomorrow...ulp... to (hopefully) sell a series of paintings.

I'm angry yes, but on my way to being happy again:)

NeonCookies

Hmmm 5 years ago.....I was 18, in the middle of the final run up to the dreaded Leaving Cert. I didn't really have a plan, apart from getting into college. I was in a relationship that could barely even be called a relationship - never saw the guy, didn't particularly like him. He was my first "boyfriend" and I didn't know what to expect from a relationship, and wouldn't have had the confidence to change anything anyway. The last 5 years have changed that completely.

The summer after the leaving cert I went to work in a summer camp in another area of Ireland. I gained so much confidence in a few short weeks. When I came back I broke up with the boyfriend and started having the time of my life. I got 550 points, and got the course I wanted. I made lots of new friends and had two relationships in college, one of which is still ongoing with someone who I was just getting to know 5 years ago. We've just come back from a great year traveling in a country neither of us had ever been to, couldn't even speak the language!

In the last 5 years I've grown in confidence, I've gotten to know myself, and decided on a direction in life. I know what career I want, and I'm moving to Spain this year to work towards achieving it! Hopefully 5 years into the future, I'll be fully qualified and still as happy as I am now

Catkins407

5 years ago I was where I am now . I haven't moved in any way outside of myself. Well my divorce was finalised but that was just a formality and I didn't think about it much. I am actually thrilled to still be where I am now . Happy settled and ten years ago that seemed impossible. Inside me I have made leaps in getting to know myself and liking myself. Maintaining this is my goal and I am content with that.

inlikeflynn86

5 years ago....
I was 21 and still living at home, had a good job and planning to go back to college part time. I was out every weekend with friends and bf, learning how to drive, bought a car, went on 2 holidays a year, saving to buy a house.... I took everything for granted...

Today....
If someone said to me then, in 5 years time you'll own a house and be unemployed I would have laughed in their face.... Yet here i am....
I have learned to appreciate things more in life.
My bf has been amazing all these years and supporting us while i go from job to job. I appreciate my family more as they have been very good to us...
The most amazing thing is im pregnant with our first, and its the first time in 3 years i can see light at the end of the tunnel....

5 years ago...

I was 23 and living in Dublin. I was in a relationship with someone pretty horrible, although I didn't know the extent of it at the time. I'd just left the job I'd had for the previous 6 months because of the low pay and was temping in different places around Dublin to try to save up for my Master's. I'd just been given a place on a Master's in London for a September 2008 start, but knew I'd never be able to save that much in such a short time. I remember feeling a bit frustrated, unhappy with my relationship, sick of living in Dublin and really having the desire to try something new. So between now and then:

- I got very badly treated at one of my jobs and realised I most likely would never be happy in an office environment.
- I decided to bite the bullet and do a TEFL course - I'd always liked the idea of teaching English. Handed in my notice at the horrible job.
- Found out my boyfriend had been cheating on me and dumped him immediately.
- Very shortly afterwards, started a fling with a friend of mine. Didn't want anything serious, especially as he was going abroad. The guy went abroad, but realised he loved me and wanted to try long-distance and I felt the same. Messy and awkward, but we decided to give it a go.
- Realised it was time to leave Dublin and move to France. Spur of the moment decision - literally booked my flight a week in advance and left. Although it was hard at first, I got loads of work and made loads of friends in new city, went over to visit my BF in Asia several times.
- Got the surprising and amazing news that I'd been awarded a scholarship for a Master's course in London and would be starting in September 2009.
- Did my Master's, really enjoyed it, especially because my boyfriend joined me in London, although had a few serious(ish) health problems and got very, very down and anxious about them which kind of spoiled my Master's a bit.
- Went to Brussels for an internship at a European institution - interesting but my anxiety once again spoiled things a bit.
- Returned to London and moved in with BF, started working at a language school. Enjoyed it, but after a year or so, started to get itchy feet and wanted to move somewhere new. The idea was Latin America, but the visas were too much hassle, so we decided on Spain.
- Now in Spain having a great time and really working on my depression and anxiety issues. Have restarted the piano, taken up yoga and running and go to the beach every day. Feel happier than I have in a very long time. Relationship a bit on the rocky side, but either it works out or it doesn't, I'm not going to get myself down over it. Unfortunately can't stay here (for various reasons), trying to think of what to do and where to go next!

So I suppose I've done a lot - when I started the post, I was going to say it felt like I hadn't done much at all! This time 5 years ago, I never would have imagined I'd have a different bf I hadn't even met back then, have got funding for my Master's, have moved to London, have lived in 3 European countries, visited Asia several times, made whole new groups of friends, gone through several health scares, learned so much about myself.

dory

5 Years ago I was doing a 6 week pottery course in Malaysia, which I did as part of a 15 month backpacking trip. I had no idea what awaited me when I returned to Ireland and all I was hearing about was a recession. My plan was to come back to Ireland, get an MA and work in that area.

5 years later - Returned to Ireland, did an MA that I loved, but got a job out of it that I hated. Ended up losing my eyesight for a while (got a parasite) and that made me see things a bit more clearly... (I'll get my coat).
After that I decided to quit the job I hated and train as a teacher. Love my job now. Although in another 5 years I hope to be living somewhere warm and sunny.

ImZara

Blown away with how honest people are :-0
Great read

How so Joe

Five years ago I was in sixth year, and just about to sit my leaving cert.
I was depressed, although I didn't know it yet, I was self-harming and I was pure miserable.
I had a lot of friends in school but nobody to confide in.
I had a boyfriend, but I couldn't talk to him, and we broke up shortly after.

Over the course of the next five years I went to college and did a bachelors and a masters, made some amazing friends and met my boyfriend.
I stopped self-harming, got diagnosed with depression and got treatment, and became far happier. I moved to France and back again, and grew up a hell of a lot.
As for a plan, well, I wanted to be a barrister. Now I'm studying intellectual property and publishing. Not quite the same thing.

I'm living in London, four months into a phd, three years with my boyfriend who I can talk to and I have a bunch of supportive friends who are there for me if and when I need them.
The last five years haven't exactly been a bunch of roses - there's been some incredibly tough times in there, but I'm ten times stronger than I was then.
I'm a lot happier too.

herisson

5 years ago, i was in 5th year in secondary school, i was so much heavier back then, i wanted to be a nurse, i was just after coming out of a horrible relationship with a guy who treated me like dirt. I was suffering from depression but i didnt realise it, even though i was abusing myself, mentally, physically and emotionally. I thought it was normal to be like this. It wasnt at all. All i wanted to do was move away from home. The plan was to go to college and pretty much never come home.


Fast forward 5 years and im back living at home. I did an Arts degree, thinking i wanted to be a teacher, i was sorely mistaken. I moved to a different country in that time, pretty much stopped abusing myself, lost a tonne of weight and slowly but surely i defeated depression. Now im working and saving for college, for a masters that i am actually interested in. I cant wait!

I couldnt be happier right now.

How so Joe

Pixie-Fairy wrote: »

5 years ago, i was in 5th year in secondary school, i was so much heavier back then, i wanted to be a nurse, i was just after coming out of a horrible relationship with a guy who treated me like dirt. I was suffering from depression but i didnt realise it, even though i was abusing myself, mentally, physically and emotionally. I thought it was normal to be like this. It wasnt at all. All i wanted to do was move away from home. The plan was to go to college and pretty much never come home.


Fast forward 5 years and im back living at home. I did an Arts degree, thinking i wanted to be a teacher, i was sorely mistaken. I moved to a different country in that time, pretty much stopped abusing myself, lost a tonne of weight and slowly but surely i defeated depression. Now im working and saving for college, for a masters that i am actually interested in. I cant wait!

I couldnt be happier right now.

Sounds like we have a lot in common!

Fizzlesque

The last five years have been the calmest I've ever had. I partied myself silly during my twenties, and for most of my thirties. I was trying to party my pain away, and it worked, for a long time. The time to stop partying came, and then went - without me. Many times it came, and it always had to leave without me. I continued to party, holding down jobs here and there, but drifting mostly.

Good fortune eventually led me to a free counseling service. About five years ago now. Over the years I'd paid for counseling sessions, here and there, mostly one-off, but the occasional three or four sessions too. However, consistency was lacking; noticeably so. It may have been a combination of me being ready, and the opportunity to spend six months talking to someone every Monday morning for one hour, but whatever it was, it all started in earnest about five years ago. I began to heal, at long bloody last.

I'm not a Zen garden, yet, but I'm no longer frayed at the edges, afraid to stop spinning in case it'll all look even worse in the steady light.

Hersheys

It's strange that I came across this thread because just the other day I found an old hard drive and was looking through old computer documents from 5 years ago!!

Did I have a plan?
Yes, I had a plan. To finish my degree and do a phd in the field.

Did it work?
So far it's working out, yeah. Am close to submitting my thesis and will hopefully be doctor Hersheys in a few months time.

Has much changed?
Physically? A little. I've had a lot of illness.
Mentally? Absolutely nothing. And that's what is killing me. I've gone through essentially 5 years of therapy and anti anxiety/depression medication for my mental health issues. I wrote last week of how I'm feeling now, before finding that hard drive, and I've just been reading some of my old writing and it's the same issues time again. It's frustrating that I've worked hard at therapy and absolutely nothing has changed or improved.

princess-lala

5 years ago I had a dream that one day I'd open my own salon. Be happy and healthy and in love!! My boyfriend had just died and I thought I'd never love again!

So here we are 5 years later, I have had my salon for 4&1/2 years. I'm closing it a the end of the month to go travelling.

I'm a bit old at 28 to only start travelling but I don't care!! I'm not in love but I now know I don't need to be in love to be happy!

I'm Happier than I've ever been

Wompa1

Did you have a plan - Did it work?

5 years ago I was madly in love with a girl who was doing a PhD. I wanted to move abroad for work but passed it up and decided to put her career first, so would wait until she was finished and go where ever she want.

No, we broke up. I threw myself into my own career. Now I'm in the middle of the plan I had before I met her. I moved to America and got a job that pays insanely well, living in a sunny climate and seem to be well respected globally in my specific field of work by some f'ked up chance.

Tough journey to this point, wasn't always too happy with myself but It has worked out for the best

Cailleachdubh

Did you have a plan?
5 years ago I had just started what I thought at the time was my dream job.
Did it work?
Well it worked for 9 months. Then the recession hit and the company started laying people off. The week of my 29th birthday, I lost my job. Everything was up in the air. For the next few years, I kept trying to make it work in that field, but spent more time on the dole than actually working. I was feeling pretty desperate and bitter. But I thought the recession would blow over in a year or two and I could get back to where I was before.
Did it fall through?
After a few years of frustrating on-again off-again work and a post-grad diploma along the way, I decided to take the biggest chance of my life and applied to study medicine at graduate entry level.
In the meantime, I ended one relationship that was going nowhere. Went through about 2 months of 'finding myself' and then met my now fiancé.

I'm half way through my medical degree and getting married next month.

If I hadn't taken a huge leap of faith due to the circumstances that I was in 5 years ago, I would never be on my way to becomming a doctor and might never have ended up getting together with my husband to be...

50SofG

five years ago i almost ended it all. how life can change but it can still get dark,even darker than dark some time.

but life goes on.