How do you feel your life is turning out ?

[Lardlizard]

Better or worse than you expected

Better but I think I was blessed with a family that both encouraged me but kept my feet on the ground in terms of expectations.

Yeah, really well. I'm not making any great mark on the world but it's a lot easier and more peaceful that I imagined life could be.

Different. Not better or worse.

Not what I expected AT ALL, but I love what I have, and am generally very happy.

Sometimes wonder about what might have been if I had gone down a different path, but not in a wistful way, just in a musing one.

Both!

Happily married to a great man been together since we were 17. Lovely house, business and finances are comfortable

I’m disappointed with my self, I’m a loner I don’t have many close friends and I have terrible confidence and social anxiety issues. I start things and never finish them such as several fiction books because I’m scared if I finished them and people read them they would criticise me. I’ve held myself back from really enjoying life because I’m so concerned about being seen!

Toby - I don't think the bakery idea is such a bad idea. I hope you look into it.

Worse. I'll be glad to see the back of this year.

Better,

My hubby is lovely and I adore him. I have our son and I just love our life.

I was able to make the choice to live my life exactly how I want and it makes us all happy. I wouldn't change anything.

Different!

I thought I'd be like Carrie in SATC. Strutting around London, single, no kids, high powered job, work hard, play hard, living somewhere in zone 2.

In reality, I'm married (very happily!), 2 kids, ended up loving being a SAHM and so now only work 2 days! I have a very lovely life, but it's perhaps a bit more 'normal' than I imagined!

Much worse.

Can't understand why i never had the confidence to go for a proper career instead of dabbling in this, that and the other.

Got two degrees and 4 dcs. Reliant on dh financially which makes me very anxious not least because he recently lost his job.

Everything my mother warned me about......

So weird how life turns out it’s certainly down to half chance

It's certainly interesting reading how life is so far turning out.

Lots of people saying different.

I would say I was very happy before a personal tragedy and thought it was better than I could have imagined. After the tragedy it all spiralled and many of the things I treasured were gone. However, I see people 10 years on who are rebuilding and happy and think there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

@Cobblersandhogwash - if you have two degrees and your DP is now unemployed, it's your chance to begin a career. Build on the strongest experience you have from your dabbling and try to move over a few years into a position you really enjoy that brings in a fair income.

Obviously I imagined being fabulously wealthy and content....

My life is very different to the one I expected to have. It's just a life, a bit meh. If it was boxed on a shelf I definitely wouldn't choose it, but I DID choose it bit by bit, decision after decision so I shouldn't feel too sorry for myself.

So much better than I expected.

I had a hard start with my Dad dying when I was very young, then my mum. I was a hugely anxious and self conscious child and I expected bad luck.

I now have a lovely husband. Great children. Much more financial security than I thought possible enabling a lifestyle of fun. A career that’s more successful than I dreamed. Lots of friends who I feel properly accepted by. I often pause and think how amazing it all is and then immediately am filled with fear it may be taken away at any second.

My only sadness is my parents aren’t around to share in the life I’ve built.

Bit of a mixed bag. I lost far too many years (30 in fact) to a marriage with an abusive man and emerged with an ED, anxiety and a huge self hatred plus one of my DC has SN.

Rebuilding myself and my life now and generally pretty happy though a bit stressed about work and stuff. I try to be grateful for the good times while they are good and to tell myself that the shit times are temporary. Don't think I am the world's best parent but I do try. Never having another relationship again!

But silly question. Surely down to attitude? so you could have gone through the mill but come out stronger and cant imagine yourself being any other way.

Plus all lives have tragedy and failure. At the moment I am incredibly fortunate but luck wont last. I thank God for the good fortune of my life. We all won the lottery of life being born in rich nations not poverty stricken or war torn third/developing world. I pray for those less fortunate than myself.

Worse, no friends, no partner, no job, no money, no car. Bad health.

I do have a degree but that was a bloody waste of time and energy.

@newdeer thank you for your positive and encouraging words.

I wouldn't have a clue where to start.

Just asked childminder's mum and she said brilliant. She has got to 65 and said she has hit the jackpot of life as nothing of any significance has ever happened to her and for that she is grateful. So it's all about perspective I guess. She's had no 'tragedy or failure' and is really happy and grateful for that.

I’m 45 and never really expected anything specific from my life. I feel the same now as I did ever since I have memories...just that life is what it is and you play the cards you get given the best you can.

From the outside my life does seem quite shit, financial responsibility for 2 children, hideous divorce, no family except my mum. But I feel ok. I enjoy life. The whole thing is over in a flash, most of what happens is out of our control and I accept that, but the things I can control I do.

So I look after my health, which so far is working out, I have honest and true relationships with everyone in my life so there is no drama and I absolutely try to have fun. I work hard to keep the roof over our heads and just accept some level of drudgery is part of it all..I don’t expect that to change before I die so I guess that keeps me content

@ItIsWhatItIsInnit would you think about converting to a career in the NHS? You could do Medicine? Or if you want a shorter course there's loads of options. There's also the NHS Clinical Scientists training scheme, I think you can get onto that with a Maths degree.

There's also a huge shortage of Maths teachers and government will give a financial initiative to train as one. Don't ever regret taking a degree in Maths. Fabulous subject and so many opportunities. No need to be in a boring job

Worse. I expected feminism to have succeeded and I never predicted neoliberalism would dominate or the environment would go to shit. I never, ever, thought I'd have to battle for control over what the word 'woman' means.

Hmm, mixed. Grew up in a very dysfunctional family and have had some very odd and codependent relationships myself.
Also had some MH issues which seem to pop up once or twice per decade.
But, I managed to get a degree, I've been travelling several times. I own my own home, with DH, we have two lovely kids.
I'm out of work atm but am retraining and feel very positively about that. And I have some very good friends.
I'm lucky on the whole I think.

Life is good. Lots of debt because I live beyond my means and DH and I are basically housemates but I don't mind my job, live in naice village, both parents alive, earn well enough, have a lovely DC, my health and animals who are perfect to me. I have learned to appreciate moments rather than stuff when I can.