How stable has your life been in the last ten years?

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Since the start of 2016 I have had one year where I lived in the same house and did the same job the whole year. And that year was 2021, so, you know, not the most stable of years, globally speaking.

It’s a bit nuts, looking back. I’m knackered.

Mixed.

Things that have remained the same:
my home
single status
childfree status
the friends I had back then are still my good friends

Things that have changed:
both parents have died
a sibling has died
new friends have come along
I’ve had 5 operations

I've moved country 3 times, plus another time within the same country. DH has remained in same job, (but moved a lot more than that!) and I've gone from SAHM (in our moving years) to running my own business. DDs have obviously grown up a lot (but experienced a range of schools).

DH is moving back to our home location thus year which will be a massive change.

Ten years ago I was still homeless and an addict. Since then I've got clean and sober, got myself into a flat, had my daughter, got my little dog, got a job, reconnected with all my family (who have no idea how bad my life was and I won't be telling them) and basically rejoined the human race instead of watching at the side.

Very. Same house throughout, same job for the last nine years. I’m quite old, though.

Pretty stable really, changed jobs once, still with dh and very content with that, still in the same house although will be looking to move in about 5 years or so.
Had quite the rollercoaster with a dcs mental health which has been challenging for her and also for us to help her navigate, that’s probably been the unstable component of the last 7 years or so.
Have the same friendships but made some lovely new ones, my health has improved and I’m a lot of active these days which is a huge positive.
So overall I’d say stable with a steady incline - no one can ever know what tomorrow brings so I try very hard to be grateful for where I am and what I have and not focus too much about the future. I do really live day to day quite happily and appreciate the quiet periods in life.
I anticipate the next 10 years have the potential to be quite rough, my in-laws are ageing and in good health overall but are in their 80’s and my mum in her 60’s is not in the best of health. So again I try and be grateful that as of this particular moment everyone in my life that I love is happy and healthy and as my family are the most important thing for me that’s as much as I could ask for.

Mid 50's here, as that will matter. When I was mid 20s and mid 30s things were less stable. The last ten years for me has been absolutley stable,

I was going to say stable, but on closer reflection:

• Ended a long term relationship.
• Undertook some therapy after said dumping, and obtained some very powerful insights about myself and family that have changed my life.
• Had a whole job drama during covid.
• Paid off my mortgage by myself.
• Made a wonderful new friend through pure chance.
• A subsequent (unrelated, new role) job drama, but that has resolved very well. But there may be 2026 drama (same role, different drama).

That's just the last 8 years, not even 10.

True, these ten years have taken me from mid 30s to mid 40s. Very much hoping the next ten years will be more straightforward.

Well 10 years ago I had a 6 month old, since then I’ve had 2 more kids, 2 different houses, year long extension, retrained and gone back to work. So I wouldn’t say stable, loads going on and loads of progress. Definitely not stagnant! And all great stuff luckily. 2 grandparents died but I was already lucky to have 4 grandparents in my 30s.

Essentially, all my shit and instability is to come!

Good luck to you. Although things are in a constant state of change, actual frequent unheaval is hard to live with year on year.

I actually retired then at 65. My youngest Ds and best friend, said I would go mad! I've done a lot more gardening, baking, freezing,jams, chutneys. Knitting and sewing.Youngest DD moved nearer 4 years ago, I have a grandchild staying most weeks.. I have managed to acquire some stomach issues in the last 2 years. My 18 year old dog had to be PTS almost 3 years ago,acquired a puppy 2 years ago.

I’ve lived in the same house since 2014, and have no plans to move. But, since 2016 I’ve had two children, completed a professional qualification, changed jobs three times, lost a few friendships, and gained a few.

The biggest change has been financially. In 2016 we were massively, massively struggling. We’ve since managed to pay off the mortgage and we have quite a bit in savings, and life is just easier in that respect. I’m really thankful for it.

If I really think about the last 10 years and all that happened I think I'd start crying and not stop. It's had such an effect on my mental and physical health that this year I've been fast tracked for 3 different cancers, my back has multiple slipped discs and I found last month I've had a small brain bleed over the last few years but they don't know when and it's stable at the moment. I went NC with my DM in 2024 after years of emotional abuse (child sa victim which she never acknowledged) She did and said something unforgivable and it just broke me and I said enough. Now I'm the black sheep of the family.but I don't care. There's so much that's happened I can't even type it (my hand goes numb anyway and it's affecting my typing skills 😬) On the plus side I've developed some very special and important friendships and have a wonderful husband who has had to deal with 30 years of my side of the families madness. I have a wonderful family on DH side of the family so there is positives. I'm 53 next year so hoping the rest of my 50s will be more stable x

Moved house once
Had 2nd child
DD's dad (my ex) died
Had a short term job while pregnant after being long term unemployed, then worked part time in another job
Retrained in a completely different career
Got a job in my new career
Got laid off
Found a new job doing something entirely different (well almost entirely, some cross-over)

I’ve moved house and changed careers. Hobbies and friends have changed a couple of times but generally pretty stable, the last ten years has covered the majority of my dc’s childhood so I’ve had to be.

Mixed

Moved 4 times
Got married
Had a child
Had a baby pass away at 21 weeks
Lost my mum after a long terminal illness
Moved countries
Dealt and came to terms with a lot of emotional trauma from my parents.

So quite a lot. Essentially my 20s were very shitty. The only good thing was my child and the career progression I'm on now. Also having a husband helped me keep sane.

Moved house twice and continents once. Got divorced. Lost a cat, gained a cat. Went back to work after being a SAHM; on third role in same organisation. DD diagnosed with ASD, and now suffering from OCD.

Lived in 3 different parts of Canada for short periods
Lived in France for a short period
Lived in 6 different places in the UK, across 2 cities
Renovated a house, sold it, bought a flat

Fostered a cat, got a different cat permanently

Kept a good group of friends, made some good new friends
Intentionally stepped back from a very toxic friendship, lost some other friends along the way

Had major life-changing surgery three times (for the same condition)
Had loads of therapy
Took up weights and yoga and dancing
Lost a chunk of weight on WLI

Built a career in a new field, including 3 leadership roles across 3 jobs.

Death of last remaining grandparent
Sibling had first child

Love life has taken a backseat but looking at the above list, that feels understandable (though I know I've been hiding out from my feelings for a while - planning to change that in 2026!)

Mixed bag, I’m 30 so the beginning of that ten wasn’t very stable just because of age really and moved a lot with lots of house shares at the beginning of the ten.

stable stuff
got married
bought house
built a decent career

unstable stuff
mostly health, had cancer, going through another serious health issue.
struggling with career, currently part time

I was going to say stable but then remembered I had an awful time with my son about six years ago, he had a girlfriend and it was a disaster and as me and my DD were moving it became a big nightmare. I moved back to London in 2021, which was a manic time to be buying - we’d make day trips, see a few houses, make an offer and it would be gone, or successful then the seller would pull out last minute, or they would say they’d rent then change their minds. The actual selling of my house was straightforward til the day of completion when I’d moved out but the funds didn’t make it up the chain in time, so was in a hotel paying ££ while my house was still mine but now empty for the weekend. Then with the two above houses falling through me, my DD and two dogs were in one expensive Airbnb after another for six more weeks. More housing issues with my son then got him settled. She started a new school and we renovated our house while living in it - so temporary kitchen of just sink, fridge and stove.
Settled a bit after that but two of my in laws passed away, our beloved dog of 15 years had to be put down, my son was in a bad motorcycle accident and my DD was diagnosed with MS three weeks before her A levels. The usual life rollercoaster I guess.

I hope it’s not patronising to say well done on that. A friends son was in a similar situation and despite trying, it wasn’t a happy outcome for him. It’s so hard to overcome, so you’ve done amazingly well. I really hope life continues to go well for you.

One relationship split; one redundancy; two house purchases; two deaths in the family. So, middling I suppose. The world is going to get drastically less stable over the next ten years so who knows what that will bring.

DH and I are both 42
we have had so much drama last 10yrs due to work (city IT type jobs).
this year alone my DH went thru 4 re orgs, including having to fire an excellent direct report that he had no one else to cover the work of (made him depressed for some time)
I went through 1 round and got cut at 1st org in Q1, by Q3 in a new org and having to lead cuts (managed to protect everyone except 1).
then at same time even the charity I volunteer at had to supervise a re orgs/ cuts that didn’t really make sense eg 8 left and now they’re using an agency for expensive temps (?)
then at the same time my original org continued rounds of cuts and old team constantly in touch and upsrt

most of our jobs last 18/24m max and it’s endless politics, in fighting and so up & down

wouldnt advise my kids to go into city technology jobs. Far too stressful (and weirdly whimsical ie this is next big thing for a few months or you are, then you’re not for unknown reasons)

one child with ADHD is inc hard work as got older so hard to get to school and school unsupportive and keep giving detentions & starting to put as unauthorised absence even when is at school just 10mins late

I don't feel like my life has been very stable in the last 10 years.

Had a third baby
Returned to work after 8 years out
Seperated from husband after home life became toxic for myself and the kids
Changed job to the most awful job which I hate and makes me the worst version of myself
Sold former family home
Moved in with family after house purchases fell through, still struggling to buy a property for myself and the kids
Got divorced
Lots of money problems
One child is massively struggling and suspected of having autism.
Lost a parent.

Every new year I think this will be the year of positive change and more stability but it never seems to come!

My whole life felt unstable until I was in my mid 30s.In the last 10 years I've struggled with a stalker, bereavement, friendship loss, parental illness, wider family issues, infertility, lots of other health issues, massive workload, trauma and stress. In the next 5 years I hope to finish a master's degree, a full home renovation and extension, have 1-2 children, and maybe get a cat and/or a dog. Maybe I'll finally be where I want to be before I'm 50! I feel like I'm running 10 years behind, and the earlier instability is kicking my ass.