bbbamI
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Somehow I have my doubts about that....
How would your teenage 'you' view 'you' today?
- Thread starter hakuna matata
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Fireup2020
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My teenage self would be mortified that I have a Navy "career" (pushing 23 years active/reserve) divorced 2x (what -you screwed up not once, but twice...and considering a 3rd marriage!! WTF!) My teenage self would be pleased to know the laudry list of where I've been, and the wonderful experiences I've had overseas. But, why am I not a lawyer or physician? Why no Ivy league or Ivy league'esque colleges?....and why in the heck do I work for a state(NJ) in my civ life?
At least I am still cool....to others (and youngsters- so they say!),...
At least I am still cool....to others (and youngsters- so they say!),...
She would think that I am older than dirt and ugh, look at those wrinkles! She would be impressed that I am getting paid and don't have to work (pension) and of the savings that we have accumulated (not that much compared to some of you, but I grew up pretty poor).
CyclingInvestor
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
My teenaged self would not be too surprised overall.
- pleased and not surprised that I had met and surpassed my financial goals, how smoothly my career went
- pleased and surprised how far some of my hobbies (cycling, hiking) went (since I did not do much physically as a teenager), and that I was able to stay married for 6 years.
- not pleased that I later let myself get somewhat out of shape
- pleased and not surprised that I had met and surpassed my financial goals, how smoothly my career went
- pleased and surprised how far some of my hobbies (cycling, hiking) went (since I did not do much physically as a teenager), and that I was able to stay married for 6 years.
- not pleased that I later let myself get somewhat out of shape
I think my teenage self would be pleased overall. He wanted to become an engineer and I became an engineer. He wanted to become "rich" and I became "rich" far beyond what he dreamed possible. He wanted to own a Volkswagen and I owned 2 Volkswagens. He wanted to have a nice place to live and I do own a nice house. I think he would be surprised how smooth the sailing was and how fast I reached my goals (back then he used to worry so much about the future). I think he would also be surprised to find out that I married and that I am living thousands of miles from my hometown.
Moemg
Gone but not forgotten
Moscyn
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What a great topic! I am sure my teenage self would be happy with how I lived my life and what I have achieved. Never thought I would be living in a fast paced and modern country given that I was born and raised in a small suburb area in one of the developing countries in Asia. Would never have thought I had a good career. Would be a bit saddened with the health problems and pains I had to go through but happy that I have recovered with a positive attitude towards life. Would be thoroughly happy that I still maintain good relations with my family members. Would be happy with my DH and wonder how on earth I managed to get it right there given I was quite a feather brain then.
Westernskies
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My teenage self would view me with a smug sense of triumph, since I'm married to the woman he really wanted to marry 35 years ago... thought it took a few years and a second try to realize he was right all along.
...and he'd wonder what she sees in some old, boring, conservative, sarcastic bald guy...
...and he'd wonder what she sees in some old, boring, conservative, sarcastic bald guy...
I think my teenage self would be very pleased at how I'd turned out.
OP
OP
hakuna matata
Recycles dryer sheets
Great that all of 'your' teens would be happy with where you are now! I know mine would be as well. What brought this topic up for me was talking to my young daughter. She is at the age where she wants to grow up so fast and I keep trying to caution her to enjoy the ride!
I fully recognize she won't listen or believe me. But as her dad I gotta try right?
I look back over my life and I feel blessed in so many ways. Now it hasn't been easy but it has been a fun ride. Lucky in many ways, and in many ways set out by design early on as well. It is interesting to me though that we all make decisions along the way that have such huge impacts later on, and yet we never truly recognize them at the time. Sometimes I wonder if some decision long ago had went a different way, how would I have turned out? Would I be the same guy in the same position?
I fully recognize she won't listen or believe me. But as her dad I gotta try right?
I look back over my life and I feel blessed in so many ways. Now it hasn't been easy but it has been a fun ride. Lucky in many ways, and in many ways set out by design early on as well. It is interesting to me though that we all make decisions along the way that have such huge impacts later on, and yet we never truly recognize them at the time. Sometimes I wonder if some decision long ago had went a different way, how would I have turned out? Would I be the same guy in the same position?
traineeinvestor
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
I think my teenage self would be horrified that I wasted most of my life as a lawyer, disappointed that I didn't spend a decade or two sailing around the South Pacific on my own boat, disappointed that it will take me until my mid-40s to FIRE, disappointed that I haven't written the best selling novel and disappointed that it takes me about four hours to get around a marathon (on a very good day). (He had [-]overly ambitious [/-]high aspirations.) He'd probably offer me some car polish for my head, tell me I don't drink enough and that I've failed to make the most out of my life. I'd have a few things to say to the arrogant little twerp myself [-]but that would just confirm the accuracy his views[/-].
On the plus side, the fact that I got off my butt and went and lived in another country and am very close to FIRE would get a big thumbs up. And at least my dress sense has improved (although my wife would disagree).
On the plus side, the fact that I got off my butt and went and lived in another country and am very close to FIRE would get a big thumbs up. And at least my dress sense has improved (although my wife would disagree).
Koolau
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
My teen self planned out my life and, for the most part, I've lived the plan. The two "shocks" my teen self would have are 1) I raised 3 kids. The teen me made up his mind not to have kids. Then again "Men plan, God smiles." 2) I moved 5000 miles from the midwest after 60 years and settled in Paradise. THAT would surprise the teen me.
The fact that I'm still with the same girl my 7-year-old self met in 2nd grade would not surprise him. I think it surprises the old man I've become that she stuck with me this long.
The fact that I'm still with the same girl my 7-year-old self met in 2nd grade would not surprise him. I think it surprises the old man I've become that she stuck with me this long.
I know exactly what the teenaged version of myself would say - that I had failed miserably to live up to his expectations. I should be close to retirement already, with rental properties and other investments providing the bulk of my income, and I should NOT have a family, because that only gets in the way of attaining a secure lifestyle. I should have waited until I was at least 30 before I got married.
He would say I have become short sighted, self-indulgent, and just another droning wannabe in a world of useless people who refuse to make the hard choices necessary to get ahead. He would condemn the last ten years of my life as a completely unnecessary detour and blame it on some personal weakness that had developed.
The fact that I am in the Army now would be viewed as ultimate proof that I had contracted some kind of wasting disease that was slowly eroding my sanity.
He'd also tell me I should be eating more whole grains.
I was kind of arrogant and judgemental when I was a teenager, in case you didn't pick up on that. I also had high expectations, very few of which I have been able to bring to fruition. I fight this battle all the time. If I hadn't gotten married, none of the financial problems I've had over the last ten years would have happened, and there is no telling where I might be, so the me from ten years ago would definitely say that I was a complete and utter failure who is not fit to carry on the life that he began.
He would say I have become short sighted, self-indulgent, and just another droning wannabe in a world of useless people who refuse to make the hard choices necessary to get ahead. He would condemn the last ten years of my life as a completely unnecessary detour and blame it on some personal weakness that had developed.
The fact that I am in the Army now would be viewed as ultimate proof that I had contracted some kind of wasting disease that was slowly eroding my sanity.
He'd also tell me I should be eating more whole grains.
I was kind of arrogant and judgemental when I was a teenager, in case you didn't pick up on that. I also had high expectations, very few of which I have been able to bring to fruition. I fight this battle all the time. If I hadn't gotten married, none of the financial problems I've had over the last ten years would have happened, and there is no telling where I might be, so the me from ten years ago would definitely say that I was a complete and utter failure who is not fit to carry on the life that he began.
Ronstar
Moderator Emeritus
My teenage self would wonder how I survived this long acting like a teenager, and he'd tell me to start acting my age.
My teenage self would look at me and say I looked too much like my father. He'd say you "followed the plan" and except for the excursion of the divorce it worked out pretty well. He'd say it was cool that I'm still riding a motorcycle, but hey, where's the airplane? And how the heck did you get to be a computer nerd?
But living in... West Virginia?
But living in... West Virginia?
My teenage self would be amazed at all of the things I have done, places I've visited, things I've learned. However, my teenage self expected to have an interesting life - expected to move around - expected to see the world - hoped to live overseas - etc.
My teenage self would be surprised that I had gotten married not just once, but twice....and that I liked it. My teenage self would not be surprised that I had no children.
The weird thing is, when I was in sixth grade, I had as an assignment to write where I would be within 10 years from that time - everything I wrote came true, down to the location. I realized that the mind and the manifestation of those ideas onto paper is a very strong tool (or weapon!), so my amazement from the time I saw the prediction and saw that it had come true is that I don't accomplish some things I write down.
My teenage self would be surprised that I had gotten married not just once, but twice....and that I liked it. My teenage self would not be surprised that I had no children.
The weird thing is, when I was in sixth grade, I had as an assignment to write where I would be within 10 years from that time - everything I wrote came true, down to the location. I realized that the mind and the manifestation of those ideas onto paper is a very strong tool (or weapon!), so my amazement from the time I saw the prediction and saw that it had come true is that I don't accomplish some things I write down.
cardude
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I'm feel like I'm doing more cool stuff now (surfing in Costa Rica, travelling, riding motorcycles, waterskiing, snow skiing) than I did when I was a teenager, so I think I would think I'm pretty cool. Maybe that's just wishful thinking though.
But really, what the heck was I doing when I was a teenager? Riding around in an old truck, looking for mud, or girls, or beer. I think that was about it.
But really, what the heck was I doing when I was a teenager? Riding around in an old truck, looking for mud, or girls, or beer. I think that was about it.
haha
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Please tell me that this is former marriage, or at least that your wife does not read this board?
If at least one of these things is not true, your financial problems may be just beginning.
Ha
antmary
Full time employment: Posting here.
My teenage self was passionate about "becoming something" in life. She didn't know, but she also thrived on having fun. Of course, she didn't have a clue about money, except saving babysitting money for clothes....that strong spirit and inborn optimism got me through some pretty tough times as I progressed in life.
Now, she would say that I need to party more! Have more fun! But, my adult self wouldn't turn over financial issues to her!
Now, she would say that I need to party more! Have more fun! But, my adult self wouldn't turn over financial issues to her!
Heh. Well, it is the current marriage, but she readily admits to the difficulties we had in the past. She was mentally ill with an undiagnosed illness until the last year or two. (Love the Army healthcare!)
She doesn't read the board anyway, and... um... I post under a pseudonym.
haha
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
My teenage self would be happy to see that I am not incarcerated.
Ha
Ha
rescueme
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
My teenage self would be amazed that he stopped being afraid...
Khan
Gone but not forgotten
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Relieved that I never reproduced
Amazed that I ended up in Ohio
Wondering why I lived past 50
Amazed that I ended up in Ohio
Wondering why I lived past 50
I think he'd be grinning ear to ear. I still love fast cars and Van Halen (though not as loud), married a fox (still married to the fox), still sometimes like to party at the lake (shut it down at 11PM now), traveling to warm places regularly, and making a good dollar (don't have to wear a name tag or hair net either).
