Where did you think you would be today?
@joannamarie089 (76)
United States
March 27, 2012 2:30pm CST
Five, ten years ago you were making plans for your life. Things you wanted to accomplish, places you wanted to visit. Maybe you wanted to receive a college degree, have a certain job, be married, have children, be a millionaire, live in London, anything. Even if you didn't have a clear vision, you had a general idea of what you wanted.
Five years ago I was getting ready to graduate from high school. I had big goals for my life. By the time I was the age I am now, I wanted to have my bachelor's degree, have a career in my field, live in a big city, be dating or engaged to the man of my dreams and be on my way to starting a family. Well, life didn't happen that way for me. They say "life is what happens when you're busy making plans". Very true. Today I have my associate degree, I have an 8-month-old baby, I'm living back in my tiny home town, working at my old high school job again, and I'm with the man of my dreams. Everything I wanted happened either out of order or not at all.
So now I have a new five-year plan. I will have my bachelor's degree, have my own business up and running, own my home, be married, and have at least one more child. And I've decided I want to stay in my small home town. I was born and raised here. My fiance was raised here. We grew up together in this town. I want to raise my children in this town.
Its funny how dreams and goals can change with time, experience, and circumstances. I wonder if I'll have everything I want in five years. What are some things you wanted to have accomplished by now that you have or haven't done? What do you plan to accomplish in the future?
2 people like this
10 responses
@honest_efforts100 (1607)
• India
16 Jul 12
I find myself going over what I would do 5 and then 10 years from now very often. My list changes slightly, but the major goals are always the same. For me, 10 years ago I told myself that in 5 years I would live by the coast, have my own sports car, manage a bar and meet someone fantastic. 5 years ago I ended up on the coast, with my own 84’“Pontiac Fiero SE”, I was managing a hotel, with restaurant and bar and met a wonderful lady. 5 years later, I have gravitated towards my family, managed a retail store in the city and have a 07’ “Ford Mustang GT”. All we have to do is set our goals and then life will direct us towards the ones we really want. In the ten years I was beginning to miss my family and circumstances allowed me to be closer, while still maintaining my other goals.
1 person likes this
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
28 Mar 12
I would have never guessed that I would be where I am today two years ago. My husband and I had our own business and my two children were in a great private school. We had a nice house and was starting the plans on a new house on the water. Due to the bad economy we lost everything and our now starting over. We moved to a new state and a new beginning. With my mothers help we were able to buy our home without owing on it. We have a much better life than we did, my kids are happier and so is my husband. With our old business we worked six days a week and and was never able to do alot with our kids. Now I have a good job and my weekends free, we go to the beach and do not take things for granted anymore.
@joannamarie089 (76)
• United States
28 Mar 12
I'm sorry to hear that you lost everything. I've been there; pretty recently actually. But I'm so happy to hear that you are doing much better now. I'm working every day to get myself back on my feet, and I know I'm headed to a much better life than I've ever had before. Sometimes one door has to close so another door can open. We don't realize it when everything is falling apart right in front of our eyes, but everything happens for a reason. Thanks for the response!
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
29 Mar 12
Yes, I do agree that everything happens for a reason. We are much happier and enjoying our lives more. It was just hard leaving everything. I always thought my boys would graduate from the school they started in and we would grow old in the house my husband built. We moved into a great neighborhood and make a lot of new friends, so life is pretty good now. Just never know where lifes ups and downs will take you.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
16 Jul 12
Looking back over the past 5-10 yrs. of my life, there are a lot of things that have happened that at one time, I would have never dreamed possible of ever happening.
I even thought I would be stuck in some of the ruts in life I was in forever. I always dreamed of being able to own my Own home, and to still be Happily married, and it has happened.
I have been buying our home with the help of my husband now almost 3 yrs. and we have been happily married now for just about 13 1/2. Even with some of the many ups and downs and trials that we tend to face, I would not change things. I am glad to have what I have and keep on striving in life to keep it always getting better.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
28 Mar 12
I am in a better place than I thought I would be many years ago. My life has been positive, good and financially stable. The only thing I didn't accomplish was finishing college. Would have enjoyed being a psychologist. Instead I married my high school sweetheart, had 3 children and have been married almost 43 years. We just had our 6th grandbaby last week. By the way, we live 8 miles from where we both grew up in a big city in the midwest. I retired early, so I am older, but my husband continues to be full time in a lucrative field. Life has been great. Doubt I will return to college. I am content living the life I live now and just enjoying the freedom. No complaints on my part. Good luck with your future and hope you are able to accomplish your goals.
@kharlav (1669)
• Philippines
28 Mar 12
When I was in highschool, I thought at this age I would have been married and have a kid, have a pooled home, a car, and a wonderful business. But it is so not the case. I am still hoping for that to happen though, and I don't mind how old I will be when that happens.
@janechenrose (135)
• China
28 Mar 12
You live in a very happy family.Congratulation you have a strong baby. You must lead a very joyful family.
15years before ,I have a dream ,I always think I want to be going abroad ,If I struggle ,I can be famous.I want to get bachelor's degree, I love to read books to with my mind to the ancient sacred. 11years ago ,I go to the university , and then I got the bachelor's degree.Everytime I see my friend to talk about love ,I am looking forward to be happy to meet my boyfriend. 2years ago ,I meet my husband and get married. I have no child ,and no plan.
Once I want to have a job ,I am a feminist, but now I am a housewife. I write something on net . I am happy .My husband is a good person and manage the house economy well.
But I am a religious,I believe everything good can make great power.So I like to watch good movies,inspiring my heart.I am looking for person who is destined to accompany with me .Some person think me a ugly duckling ,I think my day comes.
My future plan ,so much ,love hometown ,love person ,love the world.Lead good life.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
27 Mar 12
10 years ago I was 25. I was a nursing student and I was living in the north of Denmark (on the pensinsula) I lived alone in a small apartment and I had a long distance relationship. I imagined that I would finish nursing school, move to my boyfriend's town and a get job as a nurse there. Today 10 years later, my situation is different from the way that I imagined. My ex-boyfriend and I are no longer together and I am married to another man. I have left the peninsula and I live on a island in the southern part of Denmark. I am very happy here, but I never imagined that I would buy a house here one day.
In the future I want to become a psychoterapist and I want to travel a lot with my husband. We want to visit Asia, Africa, South America, the US and many other places together. I also want to get my own art gallery.
@kukueye (1759)
• Malaysia
28 Mar 12
10 years from now , maybe suffering from heart attack , diabetes , properly high blood pressure, or high cholestorel, worse backache , getting bald, overweight to obese, maybe die of accidents or disease like cancer stroke etc.Maybe kill in hit and run and such , if the above hopely my family can claim my life insurance, that the only good news.
@nezavisima (7408)
• Bulgaria
27 Mar 12
hello my friend I never make plans because they never come true.
I just wanted a family and do it, I also wanted them to have children.
set your goals not only make plans.
and in the future I just want my children and my family are alive and well and all this to happen.
I want to work and to have funds with which to live normally.
interesting topic.
nice day!
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
27 Mar 12
About 10 years ago I was pregnant of my son and I never planned anything, I was in the middle of moving to a new place. The only thing I did not expect is that I would still live here.
I never made plans for my future I just tried to survive.
At this moment I am making plans. I am thinking about going abroad for some weeks/months to work at a school or orphan home, or to do this at a school in my city to help out kids who are given up and are labelled to be stupid just because they use the right side of their brains.
