Or upbringingā¦ Inspired by someone who described their upbringing so well, that I actually felt like I experienced it from the 1st person perspective
I can drink.
I am very very different. I'm much more open-minded, less fearful, more joyful, more confident, less depressed, more genuine, less judgemental, more grateful, and all-around healthier.
Therapy, a divorce, and cuddling are all contributing factors for how much better I'm doing.
I have less stamina, and my case of touch deprivation is getting worse.
10 years ago I thought I would never make it to 16, much less 25. Today I am happy; something I never thought Iād be able to genuinely say.
@JoyfulHeart same. Glad youāre here! Therapy and kind strangers have really helped me be here today.
I'm very different in the way I view the world, others and myself.
@applepie55 I'm glad that you're here too! I salute you for not giving up.
Ten years ago, I was getting divorced and caring for my 2 year old. I am still single and she has grown into a wonderful 12 year old.
@CrissyKat Lol. Man, to be that young again. Lol.
!0 years ago I was still working and dealing with permanent fatigue from breast cancer treatment and wondering how I was gonna make it til retirement. By September 2012 my employer had offered early retirement and I knew I could make it til February 28, 2013.
My life is much better and easier than it used to be. Retired and no parents or husband to deal with. Parents are still living but I don't have to deal with them much. But I wish I had as much energy as some of these forum posters and could parse nuance, etc. like I used to. Tho I never was that much of a parser. Lol.
Just out of a divorceā¦moved 3000 miles back to the east coast after being in Southern California for nearly 20 years and learning how to navigate life by myself. Little did I know that 5 years later I would have a life threatening and life changing medical incident which is when my second life really began. What a ride it has been!
Coincidence that someone should start a thread about this...Exactly 10 years ago (2012), in May, I was fighting and still believing that we would win my wife's breast cancer battle. We didn't.
I feel I have changed in a sense that I became quieter and calmer, really really understood what they mean when they say that things are temporary and how fickle life could be. This new sense of outlook helped me to survive and move on, as much as I could.
As Apple's saying goes, "This changes everything", it would aptly apply to my 2012 year
I am nothing but the crumbling shell and painful memories of who I was 10 years ago.
I often wish that my "near fatal" illness had actually been a fatal one.
But, as the man said, "Life is pain, Highness. Anyone that tells you differently is selling you something."
About 300 books different.
10 years ago. Living in a big custom house on big acreage and in an unhappy marriage. A little over a year into a major job change. It was also the year I dropped thousands on counseling, trying everything to make it work. Slowly seeing that it probably would never be happy.
Fwd 10 years living in a custom tiny house on smaller acreage by myself. Knowing I am responsible for it all and can handle it. Now going on 12 years into my final career move and still loving it. Divorced and another painful relationship later, I have come to the conclusion I am pretty much going to live my days alone surrounded by loving friends and my very small circle of cuddle buddies.
Never could I have predicted in just what 10 years would bring.
@GoodRightHook Don't forget your brain that is like a steel trap. I always believe what you say about yourself but wonder if you don't sell yourself at least a little short.
Like @Saysoh says I'm probably about 300 books different also. I can't imagine my life without books. Glad I live close to a good library - the Nashville Library.
Today I'm actually learning to accept that I'm sort of handsome. Ten years ago I thought I was the ugliest, most repulsive creature on the planet.
@Saysoh oh YES BOOKS!! I just looked. I have 304 in my audible library and at least another 200 on my Kindle and I did not even get those until 2013.
I let over 600 books go when I downsized. Still have about 75 hardcopy.
And the Library, I'm with @achetocuddle just let me lose myself in there.
@KYtransplant Don't know when you have the time and energy to read, but more power to you!
@achetocuddle That's why I have so many audible books. I listen to them while I work.
Last week I put in 65 and a 1/2 hours.I went through abou t 4 books. Some of them repeats.
Oftentimes on the 3rd or 4th time through I pick up on things I didn't initially catch or with the way society is changing I can understand things better by understanding the history
@KYtransplant
Me as well. I'm an overhead door tech and often spend hours ladders or lifts. AirPods are lterally my greatest investments
Ten years ago, I was a few years out of college and starting my life.
Ten years later, I feel as if I've experienced ages. I feel stronger in some ways, defeated in others.
I've seen some shit. And it hasn't been pleasent.
@dreamer12x that's tough man, sorry to hear that. Great hearing about your positive outlook on things and realizing how fraglie life is.
10 years ago I was working way too much as life had me by the balls. Hard work paid off and the last several years I've been spending every spare minute with the kids.
I have to echo @GoodRightHook 's response. 10 years ago I was happy, energetic and full of life. Now just a hollow shell of the person I used to be. Just trying to get through each day.
I'm loads happier than I was at 22. More messed up physically, but much healthier mentally!
Born into a normal, boring (yet still harmful) cult: it's nice to finally be out.
@robroo
That poster is so on point for how I feel.
You are not alone in feeling this way.
(Old people are grumpy for a LOT of reasons...)
10 years ago I was an anxious 17 year old whoās life was full of uncertainty and today I am an anxious 27 year old whose life is full of uncertainty. Most of the issues that keep me up at night worrying are different than what they were ten years ago although some are still the same. My circumstances over the past decade have changed but my personality and mindset have not.
I get a little anxious because we can't know the future. I'm trying to be more like people who live fully in the moment and don't hold themselves responsible for every thing that life hands you. I'm better at this than I was 15 years ago.
@MCcuddles2
"I've seen some shit. And it hasn't been pleasent."
Everyone has seen some shit. For example, I have the longest hair I've ever had in my life and the drain scares me. I know I'm starting to go bald.
Jokes aside, we all have that trauma. We're not alone in that aspect.
I am totally different than what I was 10 years ago. 10 years ago I was people pleasing relationship pleasing and no matter what I wanted my partner to be happy and then I would be happy. But nowadays I realize that is not the case. You got to love yourself and be happy with them and you will attract the same energy externally. I didn't know that back then but I realized it now. Let's see where it takes me and everyone else that realizes this. :-) hello everyone I am new here but I think everyone is really cool everyone is being who they are and expressing themselves.
Much to my dismay, still single š¤£. More friends, more cuddles š.
Iāve gained weight. Less care free. Less haughty. More sociable. Trying to balance being responsible with living in the moment, so less free time.
More anxious in some ways, less in others. Less of a people pleaser, trying to focus more on my own needs.
To everyone, wherever you are in your journey, I hope today you make that next step toward your goals, no matter how small it is.
@Saysoh Youāre right that we all have our share of trauma. One extremely bad event may have been a cause for a shift in oneās way of, viewing the world, for others it might have been a repetition of less severe negative experiences that caused a similar shift. I think some peopleās trauma is more severe than others, but it also not a particularly useful thing to look for or point out generally, in my opinion.
Life experiences to realize not to fret too much over what I cannot controlā¦and self-care is the best care and the first care to care for others.
