Getting older

...for a 3rd person taking a peep, my lifes great!

People often think my life is a fairy tale. They say I have no problems and I always land on my feet. Sometimes they even say it as an accustion. But from my point of view, I have things to deal with like everybody else. And more to deal with in some areas.

I am not confused though. I at least think I know what I want. But, that is probably an age thing. I felt pretty confused when I was younger. I am not so sure I would want to go through my 20s or teens again. If it wasnt for the amount of ageism that is aimed in my direction, I would say being older is actually better than being young. But, maybe not for everybody...... Reply to this

20's is the most confusing stage i guess?

I think they might be.

At least in my teens I sort of thought I knew where I was going, because of the structure school and parents provided. But, what I was doing wasnt really mine though, because I didnt really choose any of it.

Then in my 20s I discovered that things were not turning out so well in the direction parents and teachers pointed me in. I hit the travels at 19 and did lots more of them in my 20s. I suppose that is one reason why I love travelling so much. While nothing else was working out the way it was supposed to in my 20s, at least I was getting the travelling right. I was managing to save up for it and get out and do it. It gave me an achievement to be proud of myself for. 😊

Then there were the professional qualifications I got in my late 20s, then at 30 the soul mate and soon after the child which have given me a nice selection of lifes achievements to call my own. 😊 Reply to this

but abt being confused... well i guess thats gonna linger around for a while 😉

unfortunately!
... one of those spices of life -> confusion
so, should i say "I can't wait to be 30!" ??? 😊
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.....all the fun & frolick & being free

It is possible to feel like the fun is gone out of your life and there is no fun, frolick and being free anymore as you get older. With increased responsibilites, you can easily feel dragged down. I suppose the thing to do is to learn to balance everything, so responsibilities dont take over your life.

The good news is that if you do create a balance, you enjoy what freedom and fun you have way more than when you had no responsibilities. It is as if you have to have some responsibilities, in order to fully appreciate the freedom you get. Creating the balance means realising there is a need for it, and then taking the steps towards it. But, that is all it takes. You dont in fact have to be young again to enjoy life.

I used to also worry in my 20s that maybe I would not be physcially attractive when I am older and then because of it be less lovable. This is a myth that may women fall for. There is a lot more to being lovable and attractive than looking like an 18 year old. Reply to this

I'd love to be 25 again!!! Reply to this

the only thing nice abt being 25 is - i was thin! otherwise i wouldnt wanna re-live that period of my life ! Reply to this

the only thing nice abt being 25 is - i was thin! otherwise i wouldnt wanna re-live that period of my life !

I am thinner and in better shape physically, than when I was 25. That was another thing I found confusing when I was in my 20s. I understood so little about diet and exercise, so staying in shape used to be hard work in those days. Reply to this

I am 25 and feel just as confused now as I was when I finished high school and had to decide what career I wanted. I now have a career but don't like it. Aren't sure what country I want to live in or how to make my dream job/s happen. And it's doing my head in that so many of my old school mates have all started having children! I can't even begin to INAGINE having a child at 25! Finally starting to travel this is the first time in my life I've felt truly young and free (sad I know, but I've always felt older than my age).

This is exactly what I would have posted here at 25 years old.

...how can I ever be sure I'm choosing the right one?

I think it doesnt much matter which choice you make, because getting more of what you want is more a matter of trial and error than always knowing which choice to make. Making a wrong choice will always in some way lead you closer to making a right choice. The only bad thing about making a mistake, is if you give up, instead of trying again to get more of what you want.

...the awareness that there are so many options in life...

Realising this has already put you a step ahead of how I was at 25. 😊

One of the most fantastic things about being young is the feeling of hope you have, because you havent yet been disappointed. Many unnecessarily after some disappointment give up trying to get more of what they want and live the stale and passionless existance which is often believed to go hand and hand with getting old.

I think the only way to tell is to keep trying new things until somehting makes me happy.

Happiness has little to do with the outside world. It is possible for a person to be happy in any circumstance. Do you really need to change your work circumstance, or do you need to approach it with a different attitude? What exactly about your work is making you discontent? You did choose teaching for a reason, afterall. Whatever that reason was is likely still part of what you job is about, but things like stress can easily make one forget why one is doing what one is doing. Maybe what you need is an effective way to handle whatever is negative about your job.
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I am 25 and feel just as confused now as I was when I finished high school and had to decide what career I wanted. I now have a career but don't like it. Aren't sure what country I want to live in or how to make my dream job/s happen. And it's doing my head in that so many of my old school mates have all started having children! I can't even begin to INAGINE having a child at 25! Finally starting to travel this is the first time in my life I've felt truly young and free (sad I know, but I've always felt older than my age). I don't want kids for at least 5 more years, if at all. But amongst all this freedom is the awareness that there are so many options in life, how can I ever be sure I'm choosing the right one? I think the only way to tell is to keep trying new things until somehting makes me happy. At the moment I would just like to wake up in the morning and be GLAD that I'm going to work, rather than wanting to pull the quilt over my head and sleeping the day away. Gah! I'm so confused!

I am 25 in around 10 days and i am right there with you. I started traveling last August and it was the best thing i have ever done. I too just want to wake up and be happy. I am going through a stage where i don't know what i am doing and whether what i have been doing the last 6 years is where i want to be. So i have a plan to not have a plan. So don't feel too bad, you're not the only one. Reply to this

The biggest problem with our current life style here in China is that our 5 grandchildren are growing up in Canada without us. There are many good natured (we hope) comments from our two sons about the non-deserting grandparents who live near their homes. We do get home twice a year and are able to keep in touch with Skype so it isn't too bad....

And the old adage "be careful what you ask for because you might get it" applies to the peace and quiet. It's pretty quiet around the apartment with my wife out at work. I do have a job list and an Internet connection but it is still pretty quiet.... We just got back to China from our Winter Holiday and lots of time with the grandchildren. I miss the noise and excitement they cause.... but nothing is forever (well, except for THAT and as long as we keep getting older...) and we will eventually be back in the family environment.

One thing we have noticed here in China is that the concept of an "empty nest" is not that well known. Grandparents tend to retire earlier here than in North America and then take over child care so the parents can go to work. So much for the freedom to do what you want.... unless you actually want to raise another set of kids ,-) Reply to this