How much have you changed in the last 5 years?

maguic24

I was reading back through my very first posts on boards today. Why, I don't know, just decided to have a creep on myself for a change...

Anyway, as I was reading them I was having a serious cringe! I joined boards 2 years ago, only 2 years ago and from what I read, I have changed soo much as a person in them 2 years. Then I had a think about how much I have changed in the last 5 years.

I'm a lot more open minded and not as uptight and prudish as I was 5 years ago. I also don't panic as much as I used to, sure it'll be grand.

So, has your outlook and attitude changed drastically in the last 5 years?

Talib Fiasco

I grew my first pubic hair in the last five years

Penny Tration

5 years ago, I was in a bad relationship, was morbidly obese, had severe mental health issues that prevented me from working, didn't get on wwith my family, and was self harming.

Now, I'm mentally healthy and happy, in a great relationship, have a great relationship with my family, am not obese, have a job, and haven't self harmed in near enough to 5 years. I'm also a lot more confident and assertive and have a good level of self respect and love for myself.

maguic24

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

I grew my first pubic hair in the last five years

Congratulations, what an acheivement. Keep it up, you might have another 5 in the next 5 years!

umop.episdn

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

I grew my first pubic hair in the last five years

5 more years & you'll ger your second!

kneemos

Went from Magnolia to Fuchsia.

Wacker The Attacker

No. I'm still a bollocks

maguic24

green_screen wrote: »

5 years ago, I was in a bad relationship, was morbidly obese, had severe mental health issues that prevented me from working, didn't get on wwith my family, and was self harming.

Now, I'm mentally healthy and happy, in a great relationship, have a great relationship with my family, am not obese, have a job, and haven't self harmed in near enough to 5 years. I'm also a lot more confident and assertive and have a good level of self respect and love for myself.

That's really good to hear Green_screen.

FreshKnickers

I had a mustache.

I also used to really like a certain type of cheese but now I'm fairly ambivalent about it.

I used to owe €220k off my mortgage but after 5 years of diligent repayments, no holidays, no days out, DIY haircuts for meself, herself and the kids, thats gone down now to €225k.

Celly Smunt

FreshKnickers wrote: »

I used to owe €220k off my mortgage but after 5 years of diligent repayments, no holidays, no days out, DIY haircuts for meself, herself and the kids, thats gone down now to €225k.

Ah yes, Ireland is a special place where you sacrifice your bollox and still end up owing more.

I had a million in the bank, and was on the verge of a working breakdown.Now im still financially comfortable but happier than ever on a salary.

Birneybau

I'm 5 years older.

Legs.Eleven

There was a Ted Talk there recently about how we never stop changing, although we do most of our changing in our teens to mid twenties, which I find really reassuring.

http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_you_are_always_changing

maguic24

I also lost a load of weight, sadly my boobs shrank too. I prefer my figure now and the fact that I can actually run!!

I realised that I am not going to move to Manchester and marry the guy I was madly in love with in secondary school. Oh to be young and naive.

I also discovered you don't get pregnant just by looking at a penis. I was terrified of them, no joke!

maguic24

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

There was a Ted Talk there recently about how we never stop changing, although we do most of our changing in our teens to mid twenties, which I find really reassuring.

http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_you_are_always_changing

I'm 22, so that explains a lot!!

Penny Tration

maguic24 wrote: »

I'm 22, so that explains a lot!!

I'm mid-twenties now, so hopefully that means I'm going to continue to be an absolute legend :cool:

mad muffin

I became a father…

weemcd

When I was 20 I couldn't drive, didn't smoke, didn't exercise, ate garbage, mostly listened to hip hop, watched the odd fight

Now I drive, smoke, exercise a fair bit when I can, eat alot better though still have a taste for junk, STILL listen to hip hop, have became more obsessed with boxing & mma

I've started seeing an old flame that I was out of contact with for most of that time, but is now back on the cards.

Lots of things change, lots stay the same. I know myself alot better than I did 5 years ago, that's for sure

/edit even in the past year, I've changed job for better pay/hours/working conditions/holidays & been on 2 holidays and changed a lot in that time. Probably one of my bigger years for change.

Talib Fiasco

maguic24 wrote: »

Congratulations, what an acheivement. Keep it up, you might have another 5 in the next 5 years!

umop.episdn wrote: »

5 more years & you'll ger your second!

It should be any day now!!

maguic24

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

It should be any day now!!

Maybe if you concentrate really hard another one will sprout?

ToddyDoody

5 years ago I was unemployed and living in Leitrim. It wasn't a bad time, I think I drunk the equivalent of 10 pints over the space of twelve months. I still used to cook spuds for the dinner. The recession was getting a lot of coverage, I thought my final year college project was excellent and that it might get published or something. My parents were fit to kill me but we struggled on. Not much has changed other than I have more memories, both good and bad and I guess I've learned a bit in my professional and personal life -nothing new just doing some stuff that I used to do a bit better ... and I moved to Galway then to Dublin.

Legs.Eleven

green_screen wrote: »

I'm mid-twenties now, so hopefully that means I'm going to continue to be an absolute legend :cool:

Unless you're turn into a total arsehole when you hit 28. It's possible! The changing never ends! Yay!

anncoates

I cringe at posts I wrote last week, never mind 2009.

maguic24

anncoates wrote: »

I cringe at posts I wrote last week, never mind 2009.

When I'm sleepy, I talk utter shiite. Or I don't pick up on things and end up embarrassing myself.......

cloud493

I've lost 9 stone
I can actually run.
I have a job, living in my own place.
I'm much more socially capable than I was.
I discovered I don't dislike certain things, i.e mustard, as much as I thought I did, and other things, like cheese and quiche, I dislike even more.

TimeToShine

“Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different...” - C.S. Lewis.

The Backwards Man

Five years ago I was a knowitall, cantankerous, bitter old bastard.

umop.episdn

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Five years ago I was a knowitall, cantankerous, bitter old bastard.

And today you're a knowitall, cantankerous, bitter old bastard.....with a touch of grey?

Legs.Eleven

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

There was a Ted Talk there recently about how we never stop changing, although we do most of our changing in our teens to mid twenties, which I find really reassuring.

http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_you_are_always_changing

I'm 27, and it's only in the last year or so that I really feel like I've 'become' myself.

Sure we're all works in progress.

WilyCoyote

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

I grew my first pubic hair in the last five years

You mean you've outgrown Bebo?

McChubbin

5 years ago I was in a crappy relationship, had a crappy haircut, a crappy job and undiagnosed mental health problems.
Right now, I'm happier than I was. I'm still single but it has it's good and bad moments. Still unemployed but at least I'm not working for a shower of gobshites and I'm growing my hair out to shoulder length.
As for my mental health issues, I'm fully diagnosed, on medication and managing things on a day by day basis to the best of my abilities.
Things are far from perfect but at least I'm contented for the moment.
Still, a holiday would be nice...

Follaton_Wood

More than I'd have ever imagined. Looking back, I took far too much for granted, but looking forward - those rose tinted glasses don't help anyone.

maguic24

Follaton_Wood wrote: »

More than I'd have ever imagined. Looking back, I took far too much for granted, but looking forward - those rose tinted glasses don't help anyone.

I also thought my granaunt (raised me) would live forever when I was 17. She passed away the January before I did my leaving cert. I was absolutely devastated.

If someone told me 5 years what I would be doing now.....my response would be 'Eh....no!'

beano345

Quit drinking and the smokes,back into training,got rid of the last emotional vampire in my life and planning a year or two of travelling,have no time for users or bs anymore though sometimes the clearer your vision gets,the more you wish you were blind.

maguic24

beano345 wrote: »

planning a year or two of travelling

Take me with you? Please, I'll be quiet.

I am so jelly! I am definitely going to go travelling if I manage to save up enough money after I have this b*starding masters done. Ugh.

beano345

maguic24 wrote: »

Take me with you? Please, I'll be quiet.

I am so jelly! I am definitely going to go travelling if I manage to save up enough money after I have this b*starding masters done. Ugh.

Sorry I'm going lone wolf on this one :pac:

Maphisto

maguic24 wrote: »

I also lost a load of weight, sadly my boobs shrank too. I prefer my figure now and the fact that I can actually run!!

I realised that I am not going to move to Manchester and marry the guy I was madly in love with in secondary school. Oh to be young and naive.

I also discovered you don't get pregnant just by looking at a penis. I was terrified of them, no joke!

That last one isn't true

maguic24

Maphisto wrote: »

That last one isn't true

That last one was VERY VERY true. I remember being absolutely horrified when we got condoms in our welcome pack in college. Horrified! I was very innocent.

Edit: It was a joke, looking at the penis thing, but I was trying to explain how bad I was. I swear to god I thought I was pregnant after the first time I did it, as we were told in school how 'unreliable' condoms were.

anncoates

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Five years ago I was a knowitall, cantankerous, bitter old bastard.

Let's start a club.

Maphisto

maguic24 wrote: »

When I'm sleepy, I talk utter shiite. Or I don't pick up on things and end up embarrassing myself.......

We t-shirts for that

maguic24

Maphisto wrote: »

We t-shirts for that

Are you trying to say I'm not smrt, I mean smart? Cos I am, I gots all the smarts. I just suffer from short fleeting periods of dopiness from time to time. :P :pac:

shalalala

5 years ago I was newly single. Now I am newly single. I think I should just disappear in May.

I think I have become a little less willing to take on board other people's opinions of me. Other than that, Nadda. I wish things had changed more!

ivytwine

Five years ago next month, funnily enough, was when things began to change for me.

I was 20, in college, and unhappily single. Had spent all of the previous semester being an absolute misery and making everyone around me feel bad Was pining over my ex, was crippled by anxiety, had an unhealthy friendship with someone who loved putting me down and making me feel bad.

Five years ago next month I went on my study abroad semester- and it's there I began to heal myself, become truly independent. I would always run down home if there was a problem before as my college was only a hop away. It took a while for the changes to kick in; it took counselling for anxiety, it took a massive falling out with that bad friend and a few more, it took nights of crying with loneliness but I barely recognise myself from 2009.

I'm up in the big smoke now, working in a job that is ok for the time being, going to head back to college again part time in September. Still single, but ok with that and open to a relationship if one were to turn up!

I'm at peace now too- I don't get up in the morning shaking with my stomach in knots. I can stand up for myself too. Thankfully, things have changed.

maguic24

ivytwine wrote: »

Five years ago next month, funnily enough, was when things began to change for me.

I was 20, in college, and unhappily single. Had spent all of the previous semester being an absolute misery and making everyone around me feel bad Was pining over my ex, was crippled by anxiety, had an unhealthy friendship with someone who loved putting me down and making me feel bad.

Five years ago next month I went on my study abroad semester- and it's there I began to heal myself, become truly independent. I would always run down home if there was a problem before as my college was only a hop away. It took a while for the changes to kick in; it took counselling for anxiety, it took a massive falling out with that bad friend and a few more, it took nights of crying with loneliness but I barely recognise myself from 2009.

I'm up in the big smoke now, working in a job that is ok for the time being, going to head back to college again part time in September. Still single, but ok with that and open to a relationship if one were to turn up!

I'm at peace now too- I don't get up in the morning shaking with my stomach in knots. I can stand up for myself too. Thankfully, things have changed.

An anxiety disorder is a terrible thing!! I have one too, thankfully not as bad as it was and I deal with it a lot better now. It was really bad when I was in the final year of my undergrad. I also had a friend exactly like the one you described!! Total wagon so she was, we're not friends anymore.

You sound so similar to me, it's scary! It's like I wrote that post! Don't get too caught up on the single thing, it has its perks.

Pawn

maguic24 wrote: »

So, has your outlook and attitude changed drastically in the last 5 years?

I'm pretty much the same since I was 19...

ivytwine

maguic24 wrote: »

An anxiety disorder is a terrible thing!! I have one too, thankfully not as bad as it was and I deal with it a lot better now. It was really bad when I was in the final year of my undergrad. I also had a friend exactly like the one you described!! Total wagon so she was, we're not friends anymore.

You sound so similar to me, it's scary! It's like I wrote that post! Don't get too caught up on the single thing, it has its perks.

Aw thank you! Always nice to meet someone else who knows what it's like... As I'm sure you know when you're going through the worst of it, it really does feel like you are totally alone and there's something really wrong with you

Of course there are bad days as well still and I still overthink everything, but I can deal with it so much better now.

Ha on the friend thing. I saw my former friend walking around Temple Bar the other week and just walked by

Lia_lia

My life circumstances have changed I guess...but I'm still the same really! I have my ups and downs, but everyone does.

Was in 2nd year of college 5 years ago. Now I'm finished college and working. And living with my boyfriend who I met in college. Sometimes I feel like I am a lot older as most of my colleagues are in their thirties and talking about mortgages and babies all the time...big change from coming straight out of college!

maguic24

ivytwine wrote: »

Aw thank you! Always nice to meet someone else who knows what it's like... As I'm sure you know when you're going through the worst of it, it really does feel like you are totally alone and there's something really wrong with you

Of course there are bad days as well still and I still overthink everything, but I can deal with it so much better now.

Ha on the friend thing. I saw my former friend walking around Temple Bar the other week and just walked by

I started to suffer from really bad insomnia when I was in college. I was just soo panicked and trying to go to sleep was a complete nightmare! Then I was wrecked the next day and couldn't concentrate which made me more panicked. My anxiety was so bad at that time, I used to get really stressed when my phone rang. I know it sounds so silly but it really was that bad. I think everything is a million times worse in your head. I still overthink things as well but you just have to remember it's your mind being a d*ck.

I also met my former friend on the bus out to a conference before Xmas. Neither of us spoke to each other, it was a real 'oh gawd, look away, look away, look away, moment'.

I'm not that like that as person, I would always try to have it out with people an get over things but I realised in the last few years some people are pure toxic and you don't need that negativity in your life! Thankfully those type of people are in the minority!!

chrissb8

I don't try to get on with everyone like I used too. Doing this involved pretending I liked things I didn't and pretending I hated things I liked.

Physically I am much better off. Much more aware of my diet although I am prone to periods of eating badly! (who isn't). The difference is that I recognize it and have the control to pull back.

Was without a good leaving cert no ambition for college or for the future in general. Bucked up repeated my L.C two years after finishing school. In college now.

Got a job and am now looking forward to going interrailing and then off to Berlin for an erasmus.

Most of all I would say in doing these things it made me a lot happier and now I'm generally more motivated for life in general and lost a lot of my cynicism as a result. I was an angry young man and now I'm a happy one. That is the main difference and how thankful I am for that.