How old are you and how achieved do you feel in life?

fr336

How old are you and how content do you feel in what you've achieved in life so far? Have you pretty much everything in place going forward, just about there, or still haven't a clue (no matter what age you are!)? I'm 25, nearing 26, and despite feeling I have quite a different outlook on life than the average overall - a positive for me personally - I feel I'm so screwed on the details and really know sod all. Don't even get me started on my actual physical life..that's very non existant But yeah, onwards and upwards hopefully.

Sir Arthur Daley

Regrets, I've had a few But then again, too few to mention.

fr336

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Regrets, I've had a few But then again, too few to mention.

I could be so good for you

Sir Arthur Daley

fr336 wrote: »

I could be so good for you

My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.

fr336

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.

Can't disagree there. Does my thread fufil one of your life goals? :P

Sir Arthur Daley

fr336 wrote: »

Does my thread fufil one of your life goals? :P

No.

fr336

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

No.

Ah well keep coming back won't ya

Sir Arthur Daley

fr336 wrote: »

Ah well keep coming back won't ya

Thats what I said to her earlier

fr336

Sir Arthur Daley wrote: »

Thats what I said to her earlier

Hmm yes.

chrissb8

Cheer up OP! Just go out and put yourself out there more. Not even going on nights out just be more inclined to take up opportunities when they present themselves. I've just turned 24 and am half way through college. Don't worry I've questioned myself before in regards to where am I going and what the hell am I doing. Just eliminate all around you when it comes to thinking what you want and go with that. Don't be afraid to fail either! All cliches I know, but seriously I was at a low point myself a few years back in what direction my life was going etc. You're young and have your life ahead of you don't stress!

fr336

chrissb8 wrote: »

Cheer up OP! Just go out and put yourself out there more. Not even going on nights out just be more inclined to take up opportunities when they present themselves. I've just turned 24 and am half way through college. Don't worry I've questioned myself before in regards to where am I going and what the hell am I doing. Just eliminate all around you when it comes to thinking what you want and go with that. Don't be afraid to fail either! All cliches I know, but seriously I was at a low point myself a few years back in what direction my life was going etc. You're young and have your life ahead of you don't stress!

Thanks for this, especially the young bit I've had a few minor but restrictive health issues in recent years that I'm hopefully getting to the bottom of now..it's just since turning 25 you really do feel that and get a move on with so many things! I really haven't lived at all..I know almost everybody only lives within their own certain culture, but I've been more wasteful than most

Thanks again

beks101

I'm 29 and I mainly just feel knackered

Joseph Loughnane

Anybody who can't drive by age 23 has failed at life in my opinion.

fr336

Joseph Loughnane wrote: »

Anybody who can't drive by age 23 has failed at life in my opinion.

And if they take over the world, including you, by the age of 24.................?

Czarcasm

fr336 wrote: »

How old are you and how content do you feel in what you've achieved in life so far? Have you pretty much everything in place going forward, just about there, or still haven't a clue (no matter what age you are!)?

I'm 37 and honestly, I'm fairly content with what I've achieved in life so far. I'd never say I was fully contented as that'd allow me to become complacent, and when you become complacent you start to take things for granted. I haven't achieved everything I've wanted to achieve yet, but I've learned from past experience that if you don't have the foundations in place first for what you really want to achieve, you're basically at nothing.

Life really IS about learning to walk before you can run, and having the minor details nailed down first before you can go on to achieve bigger and better things. I've learned from an early age that you have to take control of what you want from your own life rather than just expecting and waiting for things to happen for you, because you'll be a long time waiting with that attitude, and you'll wake up one morning wondering how life has passed you by and you haven't achieved what you wanted to achieve, simply because you never learned anything, and the only way you learn is by doing things, and learning from your mistakes.

Tragamin2k2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXvoYGrnuv8

stop worrying

fr336

Czarcasm wrote: »

I'm 37 and honestly, I'm fairly content with what I've achieved in life so far. I'd never say I was fully contented as that'd allow me to become complacent, and when you become complacent you start to take things for granted. I haven't achieved everything I've wanted to achieve yet, but I've learned from past experience that if you don't have the foundations in place first for what you really want to achieve, you're basically at nothing.

Life really IS about learning to walk before you can run, and having the minor details nailed down first before you can go on to achieve bigger and better things. I've learned from an early age that you have to take control of what you want from your own life rather than just expecting and waiting for things to happen for you, because you'll be a long time waiting with that attitude, and you'll wake up one morning wondering how life has passed you by and you haven't achieved what you wanted to achieve, simply because you never learned anything, and the only way you learn is by doing things, and learning from your mistakes.

OP here - great post, thanks so much.

rwg

146 - overworked and underpaid

fr336

rwg wrote: »

146 - overworked and underpaid

You one of those new robot yokes? :P

Ihatecuddles

I'm 22, married with a house.

Feel pretty settled now. It's nice

suicide_circus

mauzo! wrote: »

I'm 22, married with a house.

Feel pretty settled now. It's nice

It's not very nice to call your husband a house.

sunflower27

I am 41, struggling financially since I went back to college two years ago to pursue a long-held dream of becoming a counsellor.

My background is in journalism and I was made redundant twice between 2008 and 2010. There is so few jobs in the field now that it was a case of get out now and do what I always wanted to do.

Coming from well-paid jobs to struggle with the banks over my mortgage and live a week on less than what I used to spend on a night out has totally humbled me.

I quit drinking and smoking as well - major bonus thatsaves me loads of money.

I am seeing clients now as part of my degree and I cannot tell you how good I feel knowing I have made a difference to someone. You cannot put a price on that!

I am skint, but I have the best friends in the world, the best partner I could ever want (after many, many dickheads) and I love my course and p/t job as a lowly-paid carer.

My current financial situation will improve and I plan to combine 20 years of publishing skills with my current degree and one day write books.

My future's so bright.... I gotta wear shades

Oh, and my health is good as well. I am very happy

Alf. A. Male

Looking back, I can't understand how I used to get me knickers in a twist about things when I was 25. Relax, you're only starting.

playedalive

I'm 23 myself, so don't know whether I'm too young to contribute, but I guess I feel achieved in the sense that I got my college degree. But that's really the only thing. ..I guess getting out of retail, moving out and being more adult-like will make me feel more secure.

Bigtoe107

I'm 23, I feel I'm doing okay for myself. I passed my driving test at 17 and since then I have aquired an Undergrad and a masters. I moved to China last year and have started learning Chinese (I'm getting pretty good). I do feel I have stagnated a little bit since I got here but I'm trying to put something in the works now to kick on next year.

Vicxas

27 and I seem to like to live life on Dark Souls difficulty

CelticRambler

46 and having a great time! Made all but one of my worst mistakes by 26 by thinking The Grand Plan was the way to go. After a longer-than-planned break from my original career, I had a chance to work alongside my future colleagues-in-training before Christmas, and it was interesting to see how little they were being taught about working in the real world. Sure, they're getting to learn all that's "cutting edge" at the moment and that's great, but when 95% of your daily routine is spent doing/using things the old way, it's a lot of investment for little return. I've definitely have learnt a lot more all round (physical & mental skills) in the last ten years than those between 16-26, aswell as having had more exciting adventures.

Tasden

I'm 24, have a degree and am studying for a level 6 atm in a more specific field, hope to do a masters once I get enough money.
Have a beautiful little girl who is turning out to be a really brilliant person, so kind and well behaved.
I work a couple days a week in basically my dream job but could do with something with more hours.
Don't have any plans really, just enjoying it

Elessar

I'm 28 and working away in a job I can't stand. Went back to study IT last year in the evenings and love it. So much so that the plan is, if I can't get anything else before September, quit the job and concentrate on college (still part time, then try for an internship somewhere) and then go back full time next year. Should have done this years ago really!

In terms of achievements, nothing really stands out for me. I kind of coasted through life the last 10 years.

Clondalphian

I'm 24. Graduated from college last year. Just started a new permanent job having previous worked on 3/4 month contracts.

I'm still on a provisional licence so my plan is to buy my own Car, get the full licence(4th time lucky hopefully) and then make some travel plans.

Hopefullly after a few years of saving I'll be able to put a deposit down on a house

I'm fairly happy with the direction my life is going in at the minute

Green Giant

25

Happy with:
- Full licence for six years, no points on it either
- Masters and degree from university
- Working a job I like
- Committee member of local organisation for 8 years

Unhappy with:
- Never been in a serious relationship
- Very unlikely to get a permanent residence of my own in the near future
- Hopeless at everyday tasks like cooking
- Even more hopeless at mechanical, manual working taks

smileyj1987

I'm 26 and very happy with my life . I have paid for my home at this stage and now heading back to college in September so I couldn't be happier with how life has gone for me .

dgt

24. Things used to be alright, but deteriorated fast these past few months. With such a poorly planned final year course I've struggled to keep up with a hugely imbalanced workload. Not as fit as I used to be. Couldn't do my normal stuff outside college as I hadn't the time. Car's broke and I can't be arsed repairing it again. I have projects I'd need to get started on but other people lumbered me with work. At times I'm expected to drop whatever I'm doing and go do something for someone else... I feel like I'm getting shafted and absolutely nowhere. For what I can do well I have naff all to show for it and am virtually penniless! :rolleyes:

No job, I hope to change that later this year. My ladyfriend moved to Guernsey to work for the year, she should be back around March.

I've been through far worse though, just need to get back up to strength and away I go

--LOS--

I'm 26 and I feel like I've been studying all my life with nothing to show for it except some paperwork -_-

I have felt very negative about that and I still do sometimes, but overall I'm fine. I don't want kids and marriage so I'll probably do more with the rest of my life than most people would, I'm loving living and studying abroad at the moment. I've had to deal with a lot of sh1t in my life that will probably have a negative impact on me forever but I'm very grateful for a lot of stuff too. It's all good as they say :P

Menas

Green Giant wrote: »

25

Happy with:
- Full licence for six years, no points on it either
- Masters and degree from university
- Working a job I like
- Committee member of local organisation for 8 years

Unhappy with:
- Never been in a serious relationship
- Very unlikely to get a permanent residence of my own in the near future
- Hopeless at everyday tasks like cooking
- Even more hopeless at mechanical, manual working taks

I would not worry too much about your 'unhappy' list.
The relationship thing will happen. No doubt about that. Half the fun is in the chase.
Stuff like cooking do not come naturally to a lot of people. But you can aquire those skills. Try to challenge yourself to learn how to cook. Start simple and work up to cooking a full meal for the family. Great satisfaction if you do it.

Same with the mechanical/diy type stuff. They can be learned and practice will really help there. As will the internet. You can find good 'how to' guides for everything from oiling a door hinge to building decking in the garden. So challenge yourself there too.

osarusan

I'm 35, I got a boy of my own now.
Last night I sat him up behond the wheel
and said son take a good look around,
this is your home town.

rainbow kirby

30 next week, finished my masters four years ago and basically never out of work since then, engaged to a wonderful person and planning our wedding for late next spring. Yep, I'm pretty happy. Renting, but so is everyone else here because apparently property is a commodity for Russian oligarchs.

Still can't drive though... but living in cities makes that not such a big deal.

Maximus Alexander

28, haven't died yet, so doing pretty well all in all.

The one thing that really niggles at me is that I work in IT, but I have a powerful urge to do something creative instead, always have. I don't think I'll ever feel truly content until I figure out what that is.

pundy

without sounding like it's gloating - im 30 and in less than 2 years i will be retiring from work forever, so, yeah, i think i've achieved what i set out to do... which was to NOT have to work!

OldNotWIse

30 and kn*ckered too, dont know what 60 will feel like.

Education: Degree and currently halfway through postgrad to get to where i really want to be. A little late but better than never. Definitely on the right road now so happy with that.

Work: steady job but repetitive and mind-numbing.

Money: Pretty bad. Was bold during the boom and have nothing saved, but I have enough to pay my rent, parents mortgage, college fees and have a reasonable standard of living. Not enough left to save much but that will change when I finish my course.

Personal relationships: 3 years with OH and happy.

House: no house yet but dont want to mortgage my as* on a 3 bed semi for half a million in a sh1thole city that I hate, and dont know where I will be working in a few years so happy to rent for now.

Drivers license: got last year (cringe)

dante2015

i am approaching the dreaded 40 this year

its been long and hard along the way but i have loved every minute of it

i was adopted at 5 weeks of age and found my real mum and sister when i was 21, at 21 i lost my dad to cancer and at 31 i lost my mum to cancer as well, at 22 i moved to ireland and never looked back, until 2 years ago i was single and loving it, looking for work (not Finding it). living in my uncles house and no car, then things changed i found the perfect girl, moved to a great 4 bed house and now have what i think is the worlds best job and a new car.

through the worst of times and the best of times i have had a blast and never regretted a thing i did because its life and you learn from it

so cheer up there are good time ahead

RoboRat

Im 37, feel I have done OK but my main regrets are:

Buying a house by myself in 2006 which has left me in a house that I have to rent out and renting another with my family because its still in negative equity. I really wanted to have my home sorted by now but perhaps next year. It also meant that I stayed in a job that I should have left much sooner which directly led to my mental health deteriorating, thankfully I have left that job and life is good.

I would like to be a lot more comfortable financially. I am 37 and have done massive things for the companies I worked for but my salary doesn't reflect this. I took a punt on my current employers and although its great working for them, I am feeling the financial strain as they cannot afford to give me a raise. I am not looking for a 6 figure salary but just enough to live comfortably and have some savings for a rainy day, and a pension. I get pissed off when I see people on much more money who are nowhere near as effective as I am, but thats life.

I wish I had travelled when I finished college, I decided to focus on my career and I get a pang of jealousy when I hear people talking about their travels.

I wish I had been more serious with my football. I had a scholarship in the UK and was playing with a feeder club for a premier league team but I was too happy living the college life and enjoyed the party life too much. I never had much confidence back then so I assumed it was luck and that I would never make it but looking at the current Irish squad... makes me think!!!

I wish I had payed more attention to my mental health and rather than trying to bury the problem, addressed it sooner. It led to the darkest time in my life and it was because it was such a taboo subject back then. I should have gone with my gut feeling and not listened to people telling me to 'cheer up'.

Positives

Getting married and having a son, they both mean the world to me and light up my day

My family and friends. I have been blessed with amazing friends who have been in my life for over 20 years and are rocks when needed. I would die for them and vice versa. I have also an amazing family and although we have gone through very hard times, we have come out for the better.

Moving to an exciting progressive company with opportunities and more importantly appreciation

Setting up my own company this year which has gone better than I could have imagined, even when I had to deal with serious issues.

Having the balls to pursue my dreams and making the hard decisions. I suffered a lot as a child and carried that into adulthood which affected my confidence. I have put all that behind me and I live my life.

Knex*

mauzo! wrote: »

I'm 22, married with a house.

Feel pretty settled now. It's nice

Amazing how different people can be (which is a good thing).

I'm 23, and the thought of getting married would absolutely terrify me right now. I won't even get into a relationship at the moment as I'm heading to Austin for a year in September.

I certainly don't feel settled, but I'm not so sure that I'm ready, or even capable, of feeling so right now. I kinda like the turmoil of travelling, new jobs, new people, and all that.

Grass is not always greener, but I like the walk.

imitation

I'm 30, pretty happy with my job and where i live. I would like to get more sight seeing done, but a trip a year is what I'm averaging. Things are pretty quiet on the relationship front and I'm defintely out of the immortal 20s phase, so Im defintely starting to question what I'm doing and if its enough. Worst thing I find is how fast time goes with a busy Job, i kind of pine for my student days with plenty of time and energy for my own persuits.

What Id say to anybody is try to enjoy the stage of life your in, your going to be single at some point, enjoy the free time instead of miserable.

Jimmyie

In this modern society, people think you must do it now or you will never get it.


Remember that, even you could travel to India for example and become a monk,etc.

Kevhog1988

Im 25, 26 next month

Positives
Have a well paying job in the uk
two degrees under my belt
Have an amazing little boy who has great fun at his daddys house every second weekend. (from a previous relationship)
Am saving towards buying the field to the rear of the family home. Hoping to get the deposit together before any of the neighbours

Negatives
Am working in england, away from family, friends, the countryside.
Hours are long and job is fairly stressful at times.
Am sometimes forced to miss my access with my son due to work.
Homesickness is a balls!!
No permanent relationship/partner

MRnotlob606

I'm a mere 19 but this has been a good year so far for me.

berrecka

Have 3 MScs. Have travelled a good bit and have lived in a good few different places. Have never been unemployed (other than the times spent travelling). Each job I have had has been a very different career to the last, most of which have been pretty enjoyable and interesting overall. Moved back home with a man I adore, who I will have married and bought a house with by the end of 2014. Great friends, awesome family I get to see every day. There is **** in my life, but hey, it would be weird if there wasn't, and nothing I cant handle. All in all, I'm pretty happy to be turning 33 next month.

Donadea Leo

Interesting what peoples perspectives are on satisfaction. Seem to be measured by formal education , work opportunities, girlfriend or boyfriend or husband or wife, housing and finances.
there are so many ways we can replicate the feelings these things bring. Education is important but there s lots of ways of getting educated and a piece of paper isn t always necessary. It also gives you a sense of achievement very important but you can also get this by achieving your highest score in kandy krush. Celebrate small victories. This goes for work too.
Relationships come in all shapes and sizes, respect them all, having a good friend is more satisfactory than being married to someone you cant stand.
money can't by happiness but can relieve pressure for people so its role is limited. Anyone just my view.

dante2015

i dont get paid all that much for what i do and by the end of the month i am broke but still love what i do so for me money doesnt come in to it and i think by the general tone in here most people are very happy with their other half and i think will agree that they are friends with them

Sleepy

I'm 33 and generally exhausted. In the 11 years since I left college I've had decent work for all bar 2 months and yet, I'm still renting, still paying back old debts, earning about 20/30k below what I should be, haven't got a pension and basically living pay-cheque to pay-cheque. Wish I'd never bothered going the corporate job route and, were I to do it over again, I'd get some savings together from the many part-time jobs I had while in college and get the first flight out of Ireland to go see the world.

It's strange: compared to previous generations I've seen more of the world and experienced more than the aristocracy of old could have dreamed of and yet, in our age, I feel rather behind where I should be my age.

I wouldn't see my college education or career as "achievements". Those of us with degrees and office jobs are merely the modern working class. No matter how much our parents bought into the illusion that they were middle class simply because they didn't work in the fields, benefited from high inflation which helped them buy their homes easily and cheap education to allow them send us to college.

My greatest achievements are a happy relationship with my wife and children that seem to be turning out well so far (the youngest just got an excellent first school report card and we're regularly complimented on their manners and general behaviour)