What would your 16-year-old self think of where you are now?

[dumbstruckdumptruck]

I've been feeling a bit disappointed by life recently – objectively totally irrationally, since my situation is pretty good, all things considered. So I've been trying to imagine how my younger self would feel if I could show her her future.

How do you think your younger self (teenage age) would feel if she could see how things turned out?

@GeorgeorRuth it's a hell of a narrative, isn't it? "You can be anything you want" – well, you can, AND it's not always that simple...

She’d think I was sad to have stopped drinking which goes to show her opinion isn’t valid.

She'd be very glad that I'd moved 200+ miles away from my parents, that I have a career I love, a very dishy husband and two wonderful sons. I feel very lucky.

Beyond ecstatic with me! I’ve achieved all my life’s dreams. The 30 years between 16 and now have had some pretty hideous patches, but I’m honestly living my best life right now, mid 40s. Never been happier.

Proud that I walked away from everything and have no one in my life from then. Pleased I’d made a good set of friends . Delighted with my educational attainment. Surprised I earn so much. Disappointed I’m chubby. Baffled at who I married but not that much.

sorry I’ve lost my music obsession I think. But pleased I do still listen to new music at 46 and go to lots of gigs.

Mostly just relieved I survived and was happy. She couldn’t see a way to do that.

Oh 16 year old me would be thrilled- I was definitely convinced I would never find a boyfriend, let alone a husband. I was fat, ugly, with awful hair and I would wish on stars just for the ability to unzip myself and step out of that fat body and into a new lithe self

Aged 16-17 were quite emotionally tumultuous years for me, so if someone had shown me a crystal ball of what life would be like now, I would have been amazed actually!

My 16 year old self would be absolutely thrilled. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself somehow that it was all
going to be fine.

On paper I have a really crap life now but actually I can push that aside because I have the most amazing husband and I never thought I’d be this lucky. For all the bad stuff going on I just remind myself what I do have and I know 16 year old me would cry with relief to know that life was going to be this way

Amazed!! Then, family always in council house, money tight, not put first by parents, not great exam results, working in retail, never had a boyfriend, nobody in family drove. Mum had affairs, dad alcoholic.

Now. House paid, great kids, married over 40 years, fatter, semi retired by choice. More confident. No guilt over parents dying, I know I did what was needed, although not what I wanted. Drive, decent car, holidays abroad, money in bank.

Looking back I guess I feel quite proud of me.

She'd be proud of what we'd achieved. She'd love my job and salary and my home. She'd be surprised that I have boys, as she thought she'd have girls, but she'd love the fact that we have such a great relationship. I think she'd be a bit taken aback to be single as she could never imagine being a single parent and always thought she'd be married.

She'd be delighted at how much more confident and self assured I am. She'd be appalled that I don't drink, but would approve of me now being a regular gym goer (something she always wanted to do and never got round to!)

She'd love that my taste in my music hasn't changed and I still listen to some of the bands that she used to love. I think she may be disappointed that I haven't travelled much, and that I'm no longer in touch with her best friends. She's love that I'm still into spiritual things and have tarot cards and do yoga!

Love this!!

Sad and horrified that this would be what's ahead of her!

I think she'd be satisfied. She'd be shocked to see how things ended with exH but pleased that DP is everything and more. I think she'd have reconsidered having DC but she'd get on well with them both. She'd be happy with our job and car and more than happy with our house.

Cool question OP because my litmus test for major decisions is often 'what would young softplayhooray think of this?'. I've always been scared of selling out so staying true to myself is hugely top of my list. It's not the most profitable way forward, granted, but it's 100% great for me.

16 year old me would be really happy because I do something and live somewhere that I've always dreamed of (can't say what or where as it's too outing ) and never did what 16 year old me would have considered selling out.

She would be disgusted that I seem to be turning in to my mother. She'd be disappointed that the dreams I had didnt turn in to much but I think she would understand the reasons why and see that life is probably better for me than it would have been had I persued her dreams at all costs.

In all I think she would be surprised at how my life has turned out but she would be happy that in general I have a good life.

Great question!

She's not be too surprised I don't think. Became a teacher as I always wanted to be, got married, had kids. Moved to a bigger city as I'd always hoped to.

Would be surprised at my choice of degree, the fact I've done numerous post grads, ended up in senior leadership, and have a disabled child.

I haven't broken the mould and lived a happy and uneventful life.

16 year old me would be shocked at how close I am to my parents.

@MolliciousIntent glad you are still here

16-year old self would first be pretty astonished I was still alive despite her continued attempts of self-sabotage including constant suicide ideation brought on by undiagnosed untreated anxiety, depression and most likely autism. She would then be thrilled that I managed to stay close to the small group friends I then had, still exchange Christmas cards with the mother of ‘the one that got away’ and that I own my own very amazing dog. After several cats. She might be slightly disappointed that I never managed to own my own pony. She would be relieved I managed to salvage my rocky relationship with my parents and that me and my mum are the closest ever. She would be proud I have raised an amazing brave funny independent and kind 19 year old single handed with the help of said parents. She would find comfort in knowing I have now found my place in life and learned to love myself and my own company. She would laugh at my still-enduring love of puppets! Most of all though she would be so fucking proud of me. That I finally managed to make something of my love of reading and all things language and that I’d got myself a degree. And then that I now, as of this year, at the grand age of 52, am now a newly qualified teacher. Where do I work I hear her ask. At your college. The one where you struggled so much to find yourself. Where you hated yourself and your life and you wanted it to end. Or change. Where you cried out for help and guidance but nobody could help you. You did it yourself. You made a magnificent Life for yourself. You now help all the young 16-year old selves to help them find their way in their lives. You’ve made it. And they will. You are a fucking star.

Mine would be happy with the DH, DC and the job she felt destined to do. She’d be thrilled that Best Friend is still BF.
She’d be disappointed that I never managed to sort my hair out and that I didn’t marry David Essex.

She would be very impressed I think.

At 16, I'd already fucked up my education and was working for a living in a low paid job with few prospects. I don't think back then that 'she' would have ever imagine doing what I do now, or having what I have.

But I'm also pretty sure she would be totally baffled as to how her skinny ass self who could not for love nor money put any weight on, got so fucking chubby

So many amazing stories here, both positive and hard. Thank you all for being so honest.

Surprised at some of my choices. Impressed by my self-confidence, ability to drive and the fact that I’m slimmer and fitter than she is.

A bit surprised but not too unhappy. She'd be delighted that I love my job and it's just about glamorous enough to impress her (had plans at that age to be in a v glamorous profession and was for a while, so she might be meh about me leaving it for something more sensible.
She'd be happy that i am happily married with children who have done well. She wouldn't be over impressed by my home as it is far too like her childhood home and she probably had delusions of some incredibly chic central London place overlooking a park.

She’d be so fucked off I live in zone 4, she swore that she’d never live further out than zone 2

This makes me feel so great to read...you are going to be a bloody brilliant teacher!

Happily still not a Tory! I still have my 1980s Support the Miners badges.