At which age were you the ‘Real you’ the most?

Once I hit my 50's (now 55). Definitely not teenage years. I was trying too hard to "fit in". That's probably the time I was the least my true self.

I also realised I don't do well in relationships. Never met someone I felt I could be the "real me" with. Always compromising and losing myself in the process. Stopped bothering with all that in my late 40s.

Despite some health niggles, my 50s are turning out to be my favourite decade so far. Because I am now living my life on my terms. DC are grown up so I can please myself. I've had the time and space to realise who the real me is, and I like that person!

50s...I'm now 60 and am definitely the real me. Took a while but I got here 🙌🏼

Now. Wiser, calmer, don't tolerate bullshit, don't pretend to enjoy social gatherings that I don't want to enjoy.

Lol, I can barely remember being a teenager it was so long ago. I was a different person then but I don’t know which is more ‘real’ 🤷‍♀️

Right now, age 60. Teenage me hadn't a clue, God love her 🤣

Now, at 47.
Recently divorced.
No partner on the horizon.
Former husband turned me into someone who wasn't the true me. I didn't like who I was becoming and felt I was an actor in his stage play. Now he's gone, I am getting back to who I think I really am again.

I liked the version of me in my late 20s, I finally felt comfortable with where I was in life and quite settled. Having kids in my early and mid 30s threw that all up in the air and now in my late 30s I feel like I’m coming into the “real” version of myself. I still think it will take a few years. Having kids gave me a massive (sometimes unpleasant) shake up on a personal level and I’m forever grateful for that.

Mid 30s, as the mother of babies and toddlers. I know a lot of people hate this stage, but I found it pretty easy. I had been waiting for it for a long time, and I felt like I was finally me. I was also working part time in my dream career that I had worked so hard for. It was pretty magical.

I feel like I've been 'the real me' all the way through from about 14 when I became aware of myself as a person, to now at 39.

Life evolves. At 20 I had freedom, fun and life was to be lived but I didn't know where I was going.

At 64, oddly enough, the freedom is back now the dc are grown albeit with some elder care sprinkled over, life is still to be lived, I am happy with what has gone before. There is nothing reckless or impromptu about life now but I prefer it that way.

In my 20s I had to make my own security. That was hard work but it was the real me. I needed that.

This for me too, same age.

I think I've always been the 'most real' me, but who that person is has changed. At 60, I like the person I am now the most, and I identify with her the most. But I feel very compassionate towards all those other 'mes' who have led me here today. Would NOT want to be any of them again though!

I was trying to think when I was the real me. I’m 73 and there are many versions of the real me, depending on my role. The best me takes care of everyone. She often gets misunderstood.

The freedom and energy of my mid 20s but with the wisdom of now 54

Now at 49.

I don't really understand how anyone could be a better or truer version of yourself when you are young, illness aside perhaps.

The best thing is realising you are enough just as you are.

Now. 50s. Teenage years were messy. I wouldn't go there again.

I’d say now, 50’s. I am being myself now. If people don’t like me, that’s their loss. I’m happy with my looks, personality and my life. I’m the least insecure I’ve ever been.

I would say more as a child if I'm completely honest.

Now in middle age.

I’ve been the real me since about 25. Before that I was kid me, then hiding from the world teen me, then in a bad relationship me. Then I got out of all that, said fuck it, threw away the stuff I was holding onto I didn’t like, and just became me.

Been just me ever since and met my husband as just me and he loves me as I am.

Definitely as i’ve got older. I’m 48 soon, and feel I am the real me. Teenage and young 20’s, definitely not

7-10 was the Real Me.
Been through all sorts of stages since, teenager, student, teacher, wife, mother. And now at 77 I'm back to the Me I was 70 yeas ago, but with the experience of the other Mes.

24 and 41.

I guess in your teen / early 20s you are you and use it as a baseline to compare to as generally we only have to think of ourselves, can have hobbies and friends solely based around us and available finances.

Once you have a partner / children everything takes into account them, hobbies are what you can do around the children. How you decorate or where you go on holiday takes into account your partner's feelings too etc. I wouldn't do the same hobbies as a teen as after I had DD as they were risky (outward bound rather than drugs) but I developed new ones to include DD.

Now she's heading into her later teens I'm finding I have time to find the 'real' me again and take time to do stuff purely for my own enjoyment.

22-25. I had responsibilities but I still had an excess of energy outside of work to help causes I cared about, see my friends lots and just laugh all the time. I focused on my strengths and the strengths of others and laughed about my flaws/ didn’t take myself seriously.

Now I feel anxious and beaten by life, as though I’m always moving from one crisis to the next. I’ve lost my zest for life and love of people.