How do you feel your life is turning out ?

[Lardlizard]

Better or worse than you expected

Probably worse.
Hate my job, am reasonably comfortable financially but would have hoped at my age to be a bit wealthier, I’ve gained quite a lot of weight over the years, few health issues and lost touch with most of my friends.
I do have a very happy relationship which is one good thing.

Worse than I expected really, but I still have a great life in many ways. I never anticipated that my second child would be stillborn due to errors made during delivery then I wouldn’t be able to have another. It’s not something I will get over and I feel like every happy moment will forever be a little bit tainted with that background sadness. As a result of this my career hasn’t developed in the way I’d hoped either.

However I have a lovely DC and DH, a nice home, am reasonably healthy and don’t have major money worries which I am extremely grateful for.

Mmn really not sure.

Good stable job, that I do love. Stable marriage. Lovely home in lovely area. Parents still alive.

However I struggle with self loathing and binge eating and am very overweight. So outside looks good but inside I am dying

Better. Had a child young and was fed the usual bullshit about my life now being over.

I still went to uni and got the job I wanted. I also found myself a wonderful husband along the way. We are comfortable and have a lovely life.

My past still upsets me though.

Worse. For now. Maybe i can turn it around.

Not great at the moment tbh. Definitely not at all what I would have imagined 20 years ago...

Interesting question. I think I never really thought about how I’d expect life to turn until my mid-30s out but after losing my first child, having a child with ASD after and divorcing, I don’t expect great things going forward. I’m very fortunate in many ways - don’t have to worry about finances, fab education, great job, good health, look great for my age but feel utterly alone and am tired of life and tired of having to find strength for others. It would be so great to find love and companionship again but I can’t see it (but maybe life will kind to me one day, which sounds very passive, I know).

Meh. Wish I'd married someone esle

Other than that it's fine

So much worse than I ever imagined. I had a very stable, incredibly privileged childhood, and did well at school, went to a very good university - but had a nervous breakdown part way through and dropped out 6 years ago and it's all been downhill from there.

When I was small I naturally assumed I'd be good at everything and wildly successful when I grew up. While I am quite successful and good at some things, I also never banked on being CRIPPLED with adult anxiety about every fucking thing and have therefore never done anything with my life except work, care for my parents and always take the safe route. No travelling, only had two jobs etc.

So with that in mind I'm quitting my job on Friday and going to the other side of the world for a few months! Bricking it doesn't cover it.

Better. I thought I'd be married forever and that would make me happy but I'm very happily divorced!

Well, I never had high expectations - I was never good at anything, never that bright and never had any family support, but fuck me. I didn’t think I’d end up like this.

Just terrible really.

Better, but after being much worse than expected throughout my 20s. Had my first dc as a young single mum, who turned out to be disabled, which wrecked my career plans. Stayed on benefits for a long time and went through several unhappy relationships plus a long period of being single. But now I'm happily married with another dc, we're financially more comfortable than I ever imagined, and I have the time and finances to just enjoy life with my DH and dc.

Worse. And I'm 45 and it feels all downhill.
I never went to uni and a non sleeping and challenging DD meant I dropped OU. I really wanted to earn more when the dc's leave home but I think it's too late now.
I was looking at pension planning the other day and feeling fed up.
Although DS is turning into a funny, and usually sensible, teenager so all is not lost.

Better. Happily married with a 10wk old baby I never thought I’d have (not due to fertility but met DH later in life and had DD at 41).
We are pretty broke but otherwise all is well. We have our issues obviously, life far from perfect but I count myself very lucky.

Certainly it's not what I expected! My worst nightmare was being a single mum and I thought I did what I could to avoid this (though obviously not having a kid is the only surefire way). Now here I am. Jury's still out on how miserable this life is (or isn't).

It’s not worked out how I expected at all, and has included a huge tragedy, but apart from that it is better than my wildest dreams.

Well maybe not my wildest dreams -I’d have married Morten Harket if those had come true . But I have been very lucky.

So far so good - just not what I expected!!

I was expecting that my military career that began at 16 would last a lot longer than 4 years....I never ever imagined I’d have married DH and had 3 kids by the age of 25!

Great question!

Worse in some ways but better in others. I have lovely, healthy children. But I don’t much like being a mum. Divorce was also a shock.

I thought I’d have an enjoyable career. Fell very far short there.

But I am healthy and not mad and I’ve had a good life in other ways. So it’s hard to calculate I guess. What about you OP?

Better than expected. Made some poor decisions when younger such as not pursuing education at the right age but went to Uni as a mature student . Had some MH issues but have been given amazing medical help through the good old reviled NHS . Was told would never be able to have children but am now a mother and grandmother albeit an elderly one . Luckily fit enough to chase GS around and walk beloved dogs . Have been able to help the kids financially and in other emotional and practical ways . Feel very grateful for good health and don’t take it for granted . Have just enough money .
So sorry to hear some of you have had real difficulties one way and another . Some people appear to lead completely charmed lives whilst so many struggle .I feel I’ve been lucky and try to give something back every day .
@Namestranger
Well done !!!!

Better than expected. I'm happily married, have two gorgeous, healthy, clever kids, a nice home and am financially comfortable. I'm building a career in an industry I've always wanted to work in, and thanks to BIWI's Bootcamp I'm in better shape than I was in my 20s.

I feel very fortunate.

Thanks Majorcollywobble - I'll be posting a handhold thread on Friday for sure though!

Much better.

Came from poor family, abusive father, terrible schooling.

Left at 17 and never looked back. I feel I am the way I am in spite of the start I had.

Comfortably off, incredible family and friends, job I love and good health.

Sometimes I worry that it will all come crashing down as I can’t believe my luck sometime.

Better so far!

28 and a homeowner (which I am very proud of as I am in the well known 'generation rent' age category). I have a job that I love and genuinely enjoy the people I work with. DP is a funny, kind and caring person. I worked two jobs (13 hours a day, seven days a week) for a year when I was 24 and went travelling around Asia for six months and have managed to go somewhere new an exciting every year.

Currently 37 weeks pregnant with £10k in the bank (that we worked very hard to save) so I can take a years maternity leave. I just hope that the birth goes well and baby is okay. I don't know what life will bring after baby is born with the change in dynamics!!!!

I'm not sure, it might depend on which day you ask me. Dislike my job, lost one of my parents very tragically, struggling to conceive. But on the positive side I have a lovely DH, have travelled a lot and not doing too badly financially. Life is hard though.