What did your life look like when you were half your current age?

[OneFancyTealQuail]

I was 16 just done my gcses about to go into six form college

I was 28 and living with a man, in my house that I had bought, that I did not want to be with. But although I had tried to ask him to move out a couple of times, he never had any money and I felt awful about being the bad guy, so I let it just roll on and on. Am the adult child of am alcoholic and a narcissist and therefore had very few boundaries and was a terrible people pleaser.

I was going through a pretty crap time. I was 31,had just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, consequently having to give up work as I was in such a bad way,and had split up with my husband a few months previously. Thankfully,things are lot better now. Turns out he did me a big favour!

I was 25 and life looked a hell of a lot brighter, full of possibilities I stupidly failed to take. Oh well, soon be over.

I was approaching 21 and had moved a flight away from home for a 4 month summer contract in a hotel. I am still in that destination (albeit not in the same job!).

I was 22, a year into sobriety, sixth year of living alone, temping as a sous chef in a private hospital and living in a bedsit. Was just about to meet my first husband.

Nicely I'm now married with a child, still sober (ok Ive had a few slip ups!), but I'm not as thin as I was!

You are both frauds. I was soon the be married to the biggest war known to man

2 months into a marriage that should prob have never happened

Fucking awful. Untreated depression, horrible boyfriend, no family, living in a miserable house share and my job was a nightmare. Age 22ish.

Now is vastly better.

I was 31, depressed, in a shitty low paid job, within touching distance of alcoholism and had been dumped by what I thought was the love of my life.

A couple of years later I had DD1, got married, no longer used alcohol as a crutch and stumbled into what’s been a great fulfilling career.

I was 17 with a baby, it’s crazy to look back now as my son is now the age I was when I had him. He makes me immensely proud I never thought I would be where I am today

Oh what a great thread. I was just coming up to 30 and feeling pretty washed up Tbh! However, things were starting to improve career and money wise, albeit off a rather poor base, although it took a bit more time (about another 4to 5 years) for that to come to fruition. Terrible choice of partner (I did, eventually, choose well, but dear god, didn’t I take my time??) 35 was when things really started to improve (DS born and really good job found) and 38 was when things really changed for the better (end of terrible relationship, financial and emotional freedom).

I can safely say I was a hopelessly late starter and criminally naive.

33, with 5yr old and 3 yr old, just moved house into a lovely village with them and my brilliant husband.
I thought I was old then, but my goodness I know what old is now!

28 with a 5 month old, was in Greece for the summer, about to go back to work following maternity leave (only 6 months at that time and I had taken a couple of weeks before the birth). She is currently in Brazil on business!

It looked great !

I was 18 and an absolute mess!

18 - due to receive (or maybe had just received) my A-level results and ready to start uni in September. A shell of a person after being bullied for years prior to sixth form, I was looking forward to starting a new chapter of my life.

It’s been a bit bumpy since, particularly in the world of work, but have now found myself in a role which plays to my strengths and working with the best people 😊 Very lucky to be settled with a wonderful husband (my rock) and my beautiful, funny and feisty DD! I’m still an anxious person (not sure I can change that), but more accepting of who I am, better at drawing boundaries and less likely to take crap!

22; early days in a relationship my now dh and started working as airline cabin crew. It was was an amazing time, everything was really exciting. Juicy tubes and a little dkny handbag. Loved it.

I was 16 too and pretty carefree! Wouldn’t mind one more summer like that.

I was 15, drinking cider with my friends on a weekend and sneaking into gigs at pubs in Tunbridge Wells, studying for GCSEs and just generally not realising how easy life was at the time

Married, pregnant with dd1 after having suffered a miscarriage and really happy, but also terrified I'd lose the pregnancy again.

21 and "studying" abroad, abusing the freedom and allowance my parents gave me.. broke up with my first long-term boyfriend who went abroad with me and living my best carefree years!

had baby boy, just about to go back to work, he was 9 months old so it was a wrench

I was 27, just bought my first flat with, then boyfriend, (now DH). Climbing the career ladder (until I reached the top and fell off...)
Life was A LOT OF FUN.

I was living in new York, working for dodgy scammers. Renting a railroad apartment with no furniture or cooker from a Puerto Rican guy who looked a bit like a heavy metal bassist.

I bought a kettle and my roommate put raw ramen noodles inside it to try and cook them.

I later found out kettles weren't that popular in the states. Also that she was a maniac.

I was 27 and teaching. I had no idea what would lie ahead in years to come ( cancer after cancer).