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Original poster

Do you get depressed looking at pictures of younger, carefree self?

39 replies

Eastie77Returns · 31/07/2023 23:17

When you had the world at your feet and didn’t realise? Because of course you don’t when you’re young. I’ve just spent an hour looking through an old online portal of pictures of me and old friends going back to the mid 2000s. Strutting around in slim jeans with that flat stomach that didn’t seem to gain an ounce in weight no matter how much I ate or drank. Living abroad (I left the U.K. when I was 21), meeting new people and learning another language. The chaotic house shares. Had wonderful times and not so great times. But they were the best years of my life and I didn’t know it. Youth is truly wasted on the young. Ah I could weep for my ignorance!

OP posts:
Madeinessex · 31/07/2023 23:23

Also, the huge huge social life, limited responsibility and the ability to burn the candle at both ends.

DoesItHaveKosovo · 31/07/2023 23:24

Not depressed but very wistful and nostalgic!

Underthebell · 31/07/2023 23:24

Absolutely not. Sure, slimmer, yes, less responsibilities but I feel blessed to be healthy and to age. And I also still know how to have fun. So yes, perks to youth, but what's the alternative?! I love the perks that come with age, knowing your boundaries, making informed choices and numerous other perks. I don't envy young people, just content within myself. Ao, definitely depressed looking at younger pics of myself, though I admire how fresh-faced I looked because I certainly don't feel like that every day now!

Underthebell · 31/07/2023 23:25

That meant to say, NOT depressed looking at pics of younger self!

Firstworldprobs · 31/07/2023 23:27

I’ve never been carefree.

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 31/07/2023 23:29

DoesItHaveKosovo · 31/07/2023 23:24

Not depressed but very wistful and nostalgic!

Yeah, perhaps I meant wistful and nostalgic, I didn’t exactly feel depressed. Just a longing to turn back the clock.

OP posts:
Harrythehappypig · 31/07/2023 23:32

No, I’m slimmer now and probably a bit less of a worrier. You’ll be doing the same looking at yourself now in another 15-20 years time so don’t waste your life now fretting about the loss of yesterday.

Market1 · 31/07/2023 23:33

NO!

I am in my 50s, and this is the best decade yet ( although 30s and 40s were great too)

My lovely children are adults and we have adult friendships as equals.

No grandchildren of my own yet, but great nieces and nephews, so plenty of little ones to cuddle and spoil, and then hand back to parents to do the night waking!

My mortgage is paid,

I eventually found a job I loved, and am settled in it and got good at it,

I have done my hobbies for years/decades and am very good at them.

I am considered "senior" in many areas, work, politics and hobby related, and my opinion is sought and respected.

I have good friends, 2 or 3 very close friends from every decade of my life.

I have travelled, and experienced a lot, and understand many issues and situations that I didn't understand when I was younger.

I care not one whit about what anyone thinks of me, I am free and single, and do what I want when I want and I wear what I want. I have more personal freedom and more disposable income than at any other time in my life.

There are many other reasons too, but that is just a few reasons why 50s is the best decade yet

Xmasbaby11 · 31/07/2023 23:34

Oh yes! Wistful. I lived abroad for most of my twenties in a few different countries so travel, learning a language, house shares, foreign boyfriends. Unlimited energy to go out, try new things, never tired. I was never slim or attractive though so not lost anything there!

in my twenties I was lonely - never had a decent boyfriend, always looking for love, didn’t have much money and no idea what I wanted to do with my life. But a lot of experiences!

Now I am 47, married and have dc and a nice home. Decent if not dream job. Different stresses and definitely not as much energy.

homeforme · 31/07/2023 23:36

No, back then i was in such a bad place. I had no understanding of my autism or ADHD and was constantly trying to be normal and failing. Sure I was thinner; a whole 10 stone lighter, but I would take now (mid 40s) over younger self any day of the week.

I wish I had the sense of self back then that I have now. My diagnosis was life changing.

Dox9 · 31/07/2023 23:37

No I don't and I certainly wouldn't turn back the clock. I am more carefree now with little bit of financial security accumulated over the last 20 years!

Saschka · 31/07/2023 23:40

Nope, but I have a job where age and experience are highly valued, and I have respect and authority now that I never had in my 20s! Plus much more stability, and DS, and more money…

I enjoyed my 20s, but my 30s were better and my 40s better still. Hopefully 50s and 60s will be equally good.

AnotherDayOfSun · 01/08/2023 05:46

Yes, absolutely. Having the world at your feet and not realizing it is a great way to describe it. Of course, there were the drawbacks - less experience, less wisdom, too influenced by everyone's (not always well-meaning) advice, the looming biological clock and the deadlines of "must have a family by 30/35/40/45, etc." But yes, in terms of looks, health, energy levels, I definitely did not appreciate how easily those things were then, and how much effort those things take now!

mangochops · 01/08/2023 05:49

No, because I look better now and I wasnt "care free" back then- my mum died young and I had a lot to cope with. I'm in a much better place now

MavisChunch29 · 01/08/2023 05:55

No, not depressed. I enjoyed and fully appreciated it at the time.

MavisChunch29 · 01/08/2023 05:57

Saschka · 31/07/2023 23:40

Nope, but I have a job where age and experience are highly valued, and I have respect and authority now that I never had in my 20s! Plus much more stability, and DS, and more money…

I enjoyed my 20s, but my 30s were better and my 40s better still. Hopefully 50s and 60s will be equally good.

This.

ArcticBells · 01/08/2023 05:59

Yes, I'm finding the aging process very difficult to come to terms with. I have many regrets about missed opportunities and lack of appreciation of my younger days

onefinemess · 01/08/2023 08:05

I get you OP.

When I look back at pictures taken 20 years ago I get a real sense of time passing.

I genuinely believe that those of us who grew up (teenagers) in the 90s, really did experience the best years.

We had technology but it wasn't overbearing.

We had privacy.

We were not so anxious or worried. I can't remember any body in school having "anxiety" or "ADHD". (Queue the "they just didn't feel confident to say it and things are better now" comments).

We had THE best music.

We also had optimism. We couldn't wait to learn to drive, finish school, get jobs/go to Uni, move out of home. That was the BIG one, moving out of your parents house and into some grotty flat or house share. It was amazing. How lucky we were to experience it, and how limited our lives would have been if we all stayed at home.

I remember the feeling of unfocused excitement, wanting to do SOMETHING but not sure what. But also knowing that whatever you did choose would work out OK because you could always try something else.

I don't think teenagers today are quite so optimistic or happy as we were back then.

TarquinOliverNimrod · 01/08/2023 08:15

No. I love my life now even more, as even though life was hugely fun and carefree back then, it was quite a frivolous and superficial time.

My life now is way more fulfilled, richer and more magical, spending my life with my gorgeous DH and my beautiful baby boy. This is what life is all about, not partying, clubs, Ibiza, what I looked like or how slim I was.

dontchaknow · 01/08/2023 08:40

Whilst of course I have some regrets about my youth passing, I can't honestly say that I'd like to have it back again in this day and age. Aside from the wrinkles etc, I don't think I've changed much, and my attitude to life remains cheerful. But for generations behind me, I think that the world has changed, and continues to change a great deal, and not all of those changes are good.

TheDogHasCaughtAnotherBloodyFish · 01/08/2023 08:55

I don’t, I only feel happiness remembering all the things I was doing. I’m happy with my life and how I look now as well, probably happier.

TheChosenTwo · 01/08/2023 08:57

Not depressed and actually even though I obviously looked younger 20 years ago I love my life now and I didn’t then.
i wouldn’t want that life, and I don’t even mind that I’m not as slim 😂 I’m genuinely a lot happier now than I was.

SunnyEgg · 01/08/2023 08:58

No. I feel good now

It was a bit different then and yes was great but so much is good now

Alltheusernamesaretakennow · 01/08/2023 09:09

Market1 · 31/07/2023 23:33

NO!

I am in my 50s, and this is the best decade yet ( although 30s and 40s were great too)

My lovely children are adults and we have adult friendships as equals.

No grandchildren of my own yet, but great nieces and nephews, so plenty of little ones to cuddle and spoil, and then hand back to parents to do the night waking!

My mortgage is paid,

I eventually found a job I loved, and am settled in it and got good at it,

I have done my hobbies for years/decades and am very good at them.

I am considered "senior" in many areas, work, politics and hobby related, and my opinion is sought and respected.

I have good friends, 2 or 3 very close friends from every decade of my life.

I have travelled, and experienced a lot, and understand many issues and situations that I didn't understand when I was younger.

I care not one whit about what anyone thinks of me, I am free and single, and do what I want when I want and I wear what I want. I have more personal freedom and more disposable income than at any other time in my life.

There are many other reasons too, but that is just a few reasons why 50s is the best decade yet

Totally agree, we have much in common!

I love my life now, late 50s, still slim(mish), enjoyed lots of travelling when younger, and so much freedom!

Felt a real pang of nostalgia when the film Mamma Mia 2 came out, and she was cartwheeling through the olive groves, full of the joy of life. I was never that acrobatic, but understood that feeling - I was in tears in the cinema!!

DappledThings · 01/08/2023 09:33

Nope. I was a teenager in the 90s like someone said above and I had some great times at university and being carefree in London in my 20s in the noughties. I enjoyed a lot of it but I was also insecure, sad and unconfident in many ways.

I don't feel I had the world at my feet then anywhere near as much as I do now. I wouldn't swap my figure of my 20s for the confidence of my 40s for any money.

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