If you were told your life ended tomorrow

[Turkeysahoy]

Would you feel you have lived a fulfilled life?

Inspired by a post I have just read which made me think.

I am 34 and would answer No at this moment in time. As I’ve stayed in a career I dislike for too long and haven’t been as carefree as I would have liked. Things I hope to change of course.

How about you?

I have done everything I set out to do but am not ready to go at 48. I have young adult DC and want to see them settled and after 30 years (so far) slogging it in the NHS I want to see how retirement feels and have the freedom of that to do what I want when I want.

I'm a bit shocked and sad at how many posters feel unbothered or that it would be a relief. Huge sympathy for those who are bereaved or have received a grim prognosis.

I'm in my 50s and definitely not ready to go! I generally have a nice life, am happily married and have enjoyed parenthood. I'd be devastated not to see my dc (20 and 17) through the next few stages of their lives and hopefully see them settled into careers and happy adult lives.

In reply to your post yesterday when asked 'If your life ended tomorrow'.
You sound like a good person and I know that because you care deeply about your animals. I care about mine and would miss them the most if my life ended and I would worry myself sick that nobody would be able to love them the way that I do.
Also, I doubt there is any afterlife but it doesn't stop me from wishing I could see my dear mum and dad again and dearest friend passed away in covid times.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and all the best to you and your animals for 2026.

I would be sad, and especially would be devastated to leave my kids before they are adults (youngest is 16). But I would feel lucky that I have lived a fulfilled and happy life.

I wouldn't say I'd lived a fulfilled life, but would quite happily go tomorrow. Can't think of anything I'd be sad I hadn't got around to doing. No interest in 'bucket list' activities like travelling, skydiving, running a marathon etc. no kids I'd be missing out on watching grow up.

Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans is very true for me, I know I would have regrets if it were to end tomorrow, why didn’t I travel more, when I was younger I should have fought for the person I was meant to be with.

Well, I’ve certainly had an interesting and colourful life, although it hasn’t been easy.

I have always wanted to do a lot more travelling, so that would be my main regret.

I’d be ok about moving on to the next life, but not ok about leaving my animals behind.

I'd be gutted about not seeing DC grow up and worry for their future, but quite happy in terms of what I've done.

No I would not.
Though others have told me the opposite.
I never achieved some big things I wanted to so no I would not feel I led an accomplished life and likely never will.

@EmeraldRouletteand @Smidge001it’s taboo in our society (and rightly so, I suppose) that a lot of people, particularly middle aged people with parents who are well into old age, just wish it was over.

So you’re very much not on your own.

💐

@Iocanepowder I felt the same when kids were young, it feels like endless drudgery. Then one you get to pop out for 5 mins alone or someone makes their own sandwich and it goes from there. A little bit more freedom every day, a little bit less work and stress. You have so much to look forward to

I don't think either of us have said that?

But we both said that it's hard to figure out what you can achieve in this situation - and certainly my big regret would be lack of achievement.