Have you ever felt like this?

I taught my sons that to be successful you just need to be happy. I am proud to say they are happy.
My life has not turned out like I wanted but hey it's a good life and I have the people I love

Hmm. I don't know.. I'm 41 and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I've never been much of a planner, and I kind of like where I am at the moment, for the most part.. I wish I had a lot more money, but I'm doing okay for myself.. paying the bills and I'm able to do most of the things I want to do.. I have a sweetie, but it's not anything serious.. I don't think we'll be getting married or anything.. so maybe It would be nice to have something a little deeper, but at the moment I'm fine with this.. I think life is what you make it, and you have to decide what you want it to be and make it happen. how? I have no clue.. LOL

same here i am 33 and dont know what i wanna be when i grow up yet..

Yes, to all the above..It sounds almost like a mid life crises.

I never knew what I wanted be growing up, feel like I should have done something other than what I did with my life, guess I will never know what I was supposed to do with my like.

The worst thing you can do is compare yourself to others. No matter at what level you are, there will always be someone smarter, someone richer, someone more successful, someone prettier.

You need to assess where you are and if you think you can do more then do it, but don't try to achieve someone else's goals or soemeone else's perception of what yours should be. Have your own dreams and don't lose sight of them.

Fifty is a milestone. Many people thought they would do more with their lives by the time they were fifty. It's important to remember that your life isn't over. You still have time to do things that you would like to do.

I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. My prayers every morning are asking God to show me what He wants me to do. Open the doors for me and give me the wisdom to 'see' what He wants from me.
I've always felt that if you do what you love the rest will follow. If you love to read then volunteer to teach others to read, if you love to take pictures take a class to learn more. The more things you get involved in to make YOU feel better about YOU the more doors will open for others to see the confident person you are.

i have dreams where i am constantly trying to get up a hill and sliding back down, that's how my life is, when i try to do the right thing, i keep falling down, but i've learned that it's what i need to do, i could take the easy way out and just stay down when i fall or i could get up and fall again.

God is in control of our lives. He has a perfect plan for us, we must trust Him.

My secret, if you can call it that, was this....I stopped thinking about what other people had or wanted for me. I started thinking outside the box.

Okay, so my depression makes it really hard for me to have a nine to five job, so I carved out a place for myself online. It has taken a while, but I am finally starting to see the rewards.

My relationships were crappy. I was never happy, fulfilled or whatever and let's be honest, because of that I probably drank too much. I was busy trying to be involved in relationships that society and my mother thought that I should be in. (ie. I should be wanting kids, enjoy the happy homemaker role, have a career, degree, etc.) I realized that I had to start doing things because it was what I wanted and what was right for me.

When I figured out that I didn't have to compete with the Jone's and that my life was a painting of my own making, I got a lot happier. It wasn't easy. Try explaining to your mom that she will never be a grandparent. (actually, I think that she was a bit relieved) Or try telling your dad that until he gets his life together and stops blaming everyone else for his problems that you don't want to talk to him.

I also had to change what I was looking for in a mate. But instead of narrowing the choices, it really opened up some new horizons. I wasn't looking for someone that made my mom or betty sue happy. I wasn't looking for what "society" says that I should be looking for. I was looking just for me. Actually, I wasn't even looking, but I was at least opening my eyes a bit more:)

What is really important to you Lora. Is the material stuff or career going to do it? I used to drive a BMW and live in a big house on 20 acres, etc., but I was miserable.

I think at 50, you are pretty darn young! Don't look at that as an obstacle, look at it as a gift of experience. I am not saying that I don't look at 20 somethings anymore and cringe a bit, I just look at all I have to offer that they don't.

Hang in there:)

Oh, and I didn't mean to sound like I was preaching, sorry if I did. I haven't got it figured out yet at all.

I just try to focus on what I do have and my strengths and go from there:)

That is the way I felt last year when my ex husband decided that he didn't want to be married to me anymore and give his former girlfriend a second chance...which blew up in his face and didn't happen. Now he has been through 2 others and they don't want him and he decided he wanted me back...Too late...sorry Charlie. Not his name. I have had to start over and now things are falling into place. I have started a new job and have my house...not a lot of things because I don't need things to make me happy when I have God leading my path. That is what has brought me through.

Oh, I'm pretty sure we all feel this way from time to time. Although I'm still young at 31, don't think I don't feel that way every once and awhile!

We make our own destinies.. chin up!

Hey Lora, I'm a Hoosier, too! Born in a tiny town called Franklin. Anyway, you are focusing on the wrong things. Don't focus on what you don't have, focus on what you DO have.

In my life, I've had triumphs and tragedies...as has everyone. The key to picking yourself up, time and again, is to look ahead, not behind, and count your many blessings.

No success story here. I always feel i need a book called LIfe For Dummies. I don't own a home in one of the easiest places in the world to buy a house, I'm working for the same rate I did 15 years ago--several jobs later. I could go on... On the other hand I have three great kids--even if they do lay around like cats and a longish marriage to a great guy. I've published a little and am happier now than I have been in years--having just changed jobss to one that suits me bettr. I think some of inch toward success. At 43, I'm realizing that it's not to late to go back to school and have the career I wanted before I started having kids and before my husband started his PhD. Sometimes I think life is just w\awesome if I look at what I have instead of what I don't.

wait you all. I do feel God has taken good care of me. I just sometimes get sad and all. guess I get to looking around at some of the material things others have. Still just the same God has been good to me.

I think that some people misunderstand the "reap what you sow" nonsense in the Bible. They think it is about amassing things. It is not. It is about how you live. That is much more important than anything else. How you live costs nothing and everyone can afford it.

i had so many ideas/goals of what my life should be...at 38...i'm starting to think that the life i have is what i was meant to have...and not the rest...like marriage and kids...i think my new life goal is to stay out of debtors jail and be content...if not happy...

I feel like I have had lots of success! IT comes through strength, making tough decisions that make you a better person. BEing kind to others and trusting a higher power to provide for your needs even when times are really really tough. I have gone from being a single parent, homeless, jobless, and living in a battered women's shelter with a three week old baby and very few friends running from an abusive ex husband to now having a stable loving home with a wonderful and patient sweet husband and model well behaved stepson, fantastic daughter, and the greatest job I have ever had in my life. I got the job with NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE simply by trusting that I would have what I needed. There have been several times as well I have needed money and had something happen that I had it come right when I needed it. Times I have been tired and had to make a stop on the way home when I would have rather died but then that first parking place opened up and things weren't so bad! I have clawed my way from despair and like where I am and Iam THANKFUL which is a huge key to success as well. I am thankful everyday for what I have now. I also have revived several friendships thought lost and made several more. I am now blessed with a loving family/friends/support network that has truly humbled me! MY boss also was sent straight from heaven the man is amazing and true godsend. He pays 100% of the costs for our healthcare insurance, stocks the work kitchen with anything and everything I couldwant to eat or drink everyday and buys my lunch on fridays. He gives me and my kids extra money on our birthdays (gave me $100 and my kids each $50) He is kind and thoughtful. When I had to take a month and a half off for losing the baby/internal bleeding and then the car accident he did not complain and did not give away my job even though he is not bound by fmla as his company has less than 18 employees.

I guess the secret to success is being happy and just trusting that you will have everything you need and be everywhere you need to be and taking joy in sharing it with others!

Good luck to you!

You are right Joe with all the name it and claim it teachings going on out there

I feel like this all the time ... :-/

Lora, I do know how you feel. Trust me...I never thought that i would have 2 kids and be divorced at 30. How i long to have a "normal" life. To have a happy normal life...but to everyone, normal is different. I have had the hardest 4 years and finally, because i have changed my outlook in life...things are looking up. Granted i don't have everything i want or need...but life is getting happier...hang in there. Everyone has down days...i think we need them to survive

" I think that some people misunderstand the "reap what you sow" nonsense in the Bible." What in the flippin' world would any of this have to do with that? Only YOU, Joe, could make that comparison. (Well, maybe Clark could too.) I usually compile a list of Gather's most ridiculous and I haven't seen anything quite this good in awhile. Congrats!

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I know what u r talking about lori. Im much younger but I still feel just as fustrated. I am disabled. But there are times I look at other ppl my age and wonder Y I cant have a nice job, husband, family? But most of the time the Lord whispers in my ear "Thats not what I have in mind for you." I still dont know what it is exactly what im suppose to do but as long as I feel as if im following Christ I know He will show me in HIS time. Our timing & God's timing is so different. Just lean on God, He will lead you.

Life is hard darlin! Things don't always work out the way you want, that the way it is! All you can do is your best and take what comes your way.

yes I feel that way most of the time, are we twins?

I look around and see so many people doing better, I am 53 and disabled now with no income except a lousy little disability check and what I can make from writing. I worked hard all my life got two degrees and like so what,

But each year I say it will get better and I believe that it will

and it will Carol. You gotta believe it. It is nice to know though that other people have some of the same feelings. Isn't it. I am working on my asso. degree though. and God has been good to me

HI Lora, You are not alone in this; I definitely have these days. Sometimes it is only natural I think to feel the why me or why not me or why can't I; the world is so competitive anymore. I hold fast to my job but it took many pitfalls to get me here, as to relationships, won't even go there, after 48 years still alone and looking and varios other things in my life have made me at times question why? But Lora, you are on your way, working toward your degree, looking for a job, kudos to that. As to others, I do have to say, I have met many who seemed on the front "to have it all" only to discover their closets were not empty of "what if's" also. Just keep the faith and as I always say, "Keep on Keeping on".

Lora, I see the Dr for depression every tuesday...

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