Are you enjoying your life?

[annice22]

Hi GCers I was wondering if you are really enjoying your life or is there something holding you back?

Something that was holding me back was not taking risks. So now I take more risk and I am a lot happier because of it. The out come is not how I would of like on some of them. But now I don't have wonder what if. I'm not sure if it's holding me back but it is really bothing me my room being such a mess. I'm afraid to invite people over because my room is messy. So to over come that I will make sure it's clean (I know that will take more effort but hey I'm not going let it hold me back )

[justamom]

Good for you! That's a great place to start!

I really do love my life, but yes there are things that "hold me back". In the real world, I must weigh each word so carefully and being notorious for putting my foot in my mouth, it's really difficult.
So, maybe my lack of tact holds me back!
Also, fearing judgments that would reflect on my husband and kids I feel like I can't really cut loose. I LOVE to play and Hubby, being kind of serious, won't play with me very often!

The biggest thing though is the fact that Hubby and I are always choosing "The Road Less Traveled" and that can separate you from people. I often wish that we could find another couple that we shared interests with, but it always seems that either the husband or wife is not the kind of person whose company we would enjoy. Too bad you can't invite one over without the other!!! Planning a dinner party turns into a MAJOR discussion and often loses all the fun.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by justamom
I often wish that we could find another couple that we shared interests with, but it always seems that either the husband or wife is not the kind of person whose company we would enjoy. Too bad you can't invite one over without the other!!! Planning a dinner party turns into a MAJOR discussion and often loses all the fun.

I wonder if that's a generational thing. My grandparents and parents seemed to have other couples that they got together with on a fairly regular basis.

We don't really.

I also wonder if it has to do with societal mobility. Previous generations were much more likely to move "back home" after school or the military and stay there for their entire lives. We live over a thousand miles from our parents and have lived in six cities during 30+ years of marriage.

As for risk taking, I'm much less inclined now then I was at a younger age.

[AchtungBaby80]

I'm enjoying mine. I worry a lot, but worrying really makes things not so fun, so I try not to do that...and believe me, it's hard!

There's a little church in my town that puts sayings on their board out front, and last week's said, "Any day above ground is a good one." Well...they've got a point there!

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I wonder if that's a generational thing. My grandparents and parents seemed to have other couples that they got together with on a fairly regular basis.

I'm finding that's getting easier as more of our friends are settling down. Those of us who are settled prefer to hang out with other couples, and the single ones stick together.

Just tonight, after work we're going to a dinner party featuring... fondue! He hee!

Back on topic... yes, I am enjoying my life like I never thought possible. There have been hard times but they seem to have passed, and now I'm living out my dream... living in my own house with my darling (soon-to-be) husband, doing well financially, planning for our long future together

[KillarneyRose]

I am enjoying my life now more than I ever have in the past. Within the past few years, all the pieces have fallen in place. I am surrounded by people whose company I genuinely enjoy, my husband's choice in employment has proved to be satisfying on a personal level and lucrative on a financial level. My daughters are an absolute joy; I love being with them, and we just purchased our dream home on the water.

There are so many life choices to be made; it's mind boggling if you think about it. The biggest choice I made was that between my fast track career and building a family. I believe that women *can* "have it all" if that is what they choose, but circumstances in our case precluded that idea. I have learned that my greatest satisfaction has come from deciding what is right for me and my family, as opposed to what I *think* I should be doing. Things have worked out better than I'd ever dreamed they could. I'm living my life on the terms I have set and could not be happier!

Thank you for this thread, Annice22! There have been so much bad juju around here lately and it's nice to read something affirming and positive!

[GeekyPenguin]

I think I've definitely learned to enjoy my life more in the last year, and to really appreciate what I have. I had someone very close to me die, and it made me realize that not everybody gets to live their alloted 75 years, some get more, and some get much less. I've been trying a lot harder to take advantage of the opportunties available to me, and to share my feelings with people that I would have otherwise held inside. I've been having mixed results but I can say I'm geniunely happier with my life now than I would have been without these bumps - I appreciate things more now.

[XOMichelle]

I'm much happier than I have been in the past. Although I'm working a lot harder, I have goals I am serious about reaching. It has mde all the difference!

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by Ginger
I'm finding that's getting easier as more of our friends are settling down. Those of us who are settled prefer to hang out with other couples, and the single ones stick together.

Are you and your group of friends locally-based--meaning that most are from the same general region of the state or country? If most haven't strayed in locale or interest since college, then this is more likely than what I've seen with my friends, some of whom are all over the world now.

DeltAlum referred to the fact that couples don't socialize as a unit if people are moving around all the time. Most people aren't attached to their hometown or even home state as much as our grandparents were, and as a result, different levels of cohesion between social groups occurs. You don't have that group of hometown or college buds to fall back on, because everyone's scattered.

[alikat2]

I love my life right now. I have a job I genuinely enjoy, good friends, a family who loves me and I'm having lots of fun. On a strictly material level, I have about everything a girl could possibly want.

The one thing that holds me back is that there are people in my life who like to pass judgement on my lifestyle......i.e., someone at work who thinks my girlfriends and me party way too much.....which not only annoys me, it makes me question myself. But I really try not to let it. It's hard, though.

Originally posted by Munchkin03
Are you and your group of friends locally-based--meaning that most are from the same general region of the state or country?

Not really. Most of us have met from after college. There are a few throwback college buddies, but that's mostly the single guys. For the most part, all of us "couples" were all introduced afterwords. That's why I responded as I did.

Most of my high school and college friends could be in India now for all I know... we've lost touch and I don't really regret that (hmm... what does that say?)

[valkyrie]

I have to say I'm not really enjoying my life right now -- I've been having what I like to call an existential crisis for about a year or so. However, the good thing about it is that it's really made me think about what I want to do in life and what's important to me, so I think that pretty soon I'll be back on the road toward true happiness.

I agree with what Munchkin03 said, too -- most of my friends are scattered all over the country and as I've gotten older it has become harder to meet people with whom I have anything in common.

[Rudey]

I enjoy my life becuase I work hard to appreciate it. Great job, former model girlfriend, good looking friends, apartment with a balcony, more literature on my shelf than I can count, my parents are happy, I have the ability to leave it all and move to another country, I'm on the track for more with my career, relationships, family, my fraternity, and hopefully one day politics.

-Rudey
--It was all luck probably

My life is on pause right now, but I'm enjoying it.

There's nothing like not having to worry about going to class, waking up every afternoon at 1 just to go surfing at 3. And work? Work is only 3 nights a week and I don't have to bust my butt behind the bar and I'll still bring the $$$!

5 more months until my vacation's over!

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I wonder if that's a generational thing. My grandparents and parents seemed to have other couples that they got together with on a fairly regular basis.

We don't really.

I also wonder if it has to do with societal mobility. Previous generations were much more likely to move "back home" after school or the military and stay there for their entire lives. We live over a thousand miles from our parents and have lived in six cities during 30+ years of marriage.

As for risk taking, I'm much less inclined now then I was at a younger age.

Yah, my parents (now in the "early retirement" thing) get together with their neighbors every Friday night for dinner and had a huge New Year's Eve party. The only parties I remember them ever throwing were small New Year's Day Bowl game parties....