What a great thread.
I wrote myself a letter when I was 13 to open when I was 30 and I lost it!
I can remember that I did specifically write that if I didn't have a cat that I should go out and get one from a shelter, so past me would be pleased that I have 2 shelter cats.
I also wrote down the house phone number of my best pal and wrote that if I wasn't in touch that I should ring her. Turns out I was on the phone to her this morning about going to see a band so past me would also be happy.
I definitely agree that I thought I would be special, and be famous or well respected etc and that I'm actually very happy not to be.
Things that have not gone to plan (or have they?):
- at 25 I clawed my way out of a 3 year long abusive relationship with an alcoholic, angry man, who had stunted personal development and had vicariously stunted mine. I was unemployed, single, no career, didn't own a home, was in debt and had a lot of trauma to process.
- at 26 I had a few months of absolute euphoria, partying, enjoying freedom, and then had a breakdown (long time coming)
- at 27 I had a minimum wage office job. I met my lovely partner who was only 21 and at uni (eek). My family told me this was and inappropriate relationship and was still me lashing out, being irresponsible, processing the past few years. I knew different, he's an old soul.
- at 27 after 3 months of dating I fell pregnant (oops)
- at 27, while on mat leave, I did a qualification
- at 27 after having my baby at Christmas I was made redundant.
- at 29, after an extended mat leave (best redundancy ever, I got 14m with my baby) I got an entry level project management job.
- at 30 I got made redundant while we were in the process of buying our first house
- at 31 I got a more senior PM job.
- at 33 I moved into private industry (from public sector) and got a decent pay rise
- at 36 I got promoted into a senior leadership role
Never mind 'is your life different to what you imagined in childhood?' my life is so far beyond what I imagined 8 years ago.
This actually made me feel really full of gratitude typing this out. How nice.
I wrote myself a letter when I was 13 to open when I was 30 and I lost it!
I can remember that I did specifically write that if I didn't have a cat that I should go out and get one from a shelter, so past me would be pleased that I have 2 shelter cats.
I also wrote down the house phone number of my best pal and wrote that if I wasn't in touch that I should ring her. Turns out I was on the phone to her this morning about going to see a band so past me would also be happy.
I definitely agree that I thought I would be special, and be famous or well respected etc and that I'm actually very happy not to be.
Things that have not gone to plan (or have they?):
- at 25 I clawed my way out of a 3 year long abusive relationship with an alcoholic, angry man, who had stunted personal development and had vicariously stunted mine. I was unemployed, single, no career, didn't own a home, was in debt and had a lot of trauma to process.
- at 26 I had a few months of absolute euphoria, partying, enjoying freedom, and then had a breakdown (long time coming)
- at 27 I had a minimum wage office job. I met my lovely partner who was only 21 and at uni (eek). My family told me this was and inappropriate relationship and was still me lashing out, being irresponsible, processing the past few years. I knew different, he's an old soul.
- at 27 after 3 months of dating I fell pregnant (oops)
- at 27, while on mat leave, I did a qualification
- at 27 after having my baby at Christmas I was made redundant.
- at 29, after an extended mat leave (best redundancy ever, I got 14m with my baby) I got an entry level project management job.
- at 30 I got made redundant while we were in the process of buying our first house
- at 31 I got a more senior PM job.
- at 33 I moved into private industry (from public sector) and got a decent pay rise
- at 36 I got promoted into a senior leadership role
Never mind 'is your life different to what you imagined in childhood?' my life is so far beyond what I imagined 8 years ago.
This actually made me feel really full of gratitude typing this out. How nice.