Rewind 5 years ago

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....

IzzyWizzy

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.