Life not turning out how you'd expected

Mr_Shoes_Tied

I used to think I'd grow up, leave school and life would get better. I'd be rewarded for all the work I put in at school, that things would change and improve but I'm still the same guy I was back then.

In fact my world is a lot smaller.

Anyone else feel like they're not living their life or that they were made for more?

I know it sounds vain and I don't mean it that way, it just always felt like I have so much potential but can't figure out how to achieve it and I'm having to find a way to be happy with mediocre, boring and lonely

SmellyBin

A few things that occur to me and are very much a part of my life that definitely is not what I was hoping for:

We live in a deafening and demanding society. It seem to be okay to long to 'live your best life,' yet we don't often realize how that can put pressure on most of us.

With that in mind I think it is quite brave to state 'I'm having to find a way to be happy with mediocre, boring and lonely.' That is not something you can easily find someone saying on social media to gain likes or show off their green grass...

But indeed I've got pain to have two degrees, but am unable to work or contribute in a meaningful way...

So with that I am wondering what you and others think of this. Would it be okay to sometimes find situations that less is more? That there is more to us than what we didn't manage to fulfill or reach?

I hope you're doing okay today with whatever you're dealing with, thanks to bring up a very interesting discussion :)

Bluebell21

Two quotes from Always Remember by Charlie Mackesy.

"Sometimes I feel I haven't achieved much" said the boy.

You are here, and have come this far. Which is a spectacular thing.

and

"You will have critics" said the horse.

"Try not to be one of them".

Amberpearl

I too feel I've not achieved much

I'm. An only child was shy and bullied

Animal mad I wanted to be a vet but I hated science and didn't get the grades

2 failed marriages

I wanted to travel the world live abroad

Visit all the theme parks and zoos abroad

Can't do any of it as I. Don't have enough money

Il be 60 in June

I'm. Dreading it

I want a life

WelshBlue

Hell yeah

Made to leave school at 16 into an industry I had no interest in. Turns out I had a natural aptitude for it and was in demand. Very comfortable financially from a young age. Fast forward 7 years and I find myself on the wrong end of a few policemen's fists … fighting back cost me 3 years of my life. Came out to a psycho ex who had drained every bank account. Totally penniless. Not all lost … I was now a fully qualified welder

Met my now wife within 2 weeks … threw myself into making up for lost time and money. 80 hours a week … loving it

Fast forward another 12 years, in the process of having made enough to think of buying a fixer upper I had always wanted.

Then came the first of 5 serious accidents in 2 years. Not so bad, personal insurance … but that only goes so far.

Fast forward another couple of years … another big accident. Only hadn't renewd my personal insurance due the first manifestations of PTSD. And then debillitating Fibromyalgia kicked in.

Couldn't claim any benefits as I had too much in the bank.

Fast forward some more, I've got Fibro's nastier big brother, I'm on LWRCA and PIP instead of being the grafter I was, live in rented accomodation instead of my dream home

… and I consider myself lucky. Compared to so many in this world, I've had a great life. Experienced so many great and even terrible things, witnessed almost as much of both but most importantly … I'm finally happy at myself. Because I'm a survivor who could have given up so many times. But clung on, because life is worth it. And so am I

Without the life I've had, what else could I write great music about 🤣

SheffieldMan1976

I've worked, but never beyond the voluntary sector, well I did have a part time remote job a couple of years ago with my support company, it was supposed to be assisting CQC Inspectors with inspections of supported living care Homes in the UK, it never happened though due to COVID restrictions and an apparent lack of demand for the service, so I just got paid for "attending" regular 2 to 3 hour MS Teams meetings held by care managers from across the Country,

I've also worked in almost every Charity shop this side of Sheffield, yet I've been told by more than one "expert" that 30 odd years of voluntary work doesn't count on my CV as "real" work.