Would childhood you approve of adult you and his future?
Discussion
ASA569 said:
15 year old me would be impressed with what I've achieved career-wise but distinctly unimpressed with my work-life balance. The fact I work too many hours to own a dog would be the big failing point. And the fact I'm spending a precious day off posting nonsense on a car forum instead of exploring the countryside with a daft mutt gambling along in front of me would definitely not impress
You really oughtn't let dogs gamble. They struggle understanding odds and their paws make it hard to hold the cardsIt's a very good question Ari.
As with some others' experiences, I grew up with not much money, rurally isolated but with great parents.
Although confident on the face of things and in the 'popular' and academically able group of kids at school, they didn't know I had crushing anxiety when it came to going out and doing the socialising things teenagers do, -(not gibbering panic attacks but a bit agoraphobic, horrible nausea, and fatigue). But I grew out of that, did things in my early career that scared me, helping take me onwards and upwards. That would probably be reassuring to childhood-me and instill a bit of self-belief for the scary unknown future.
I'm not rich but I think childhood-me would be pleased to see my kids have far more material choices than I did.
I think skinny childhood-me would be less impressed by my current physique, ...and what the f
k happened to that thick hair I was told was a strong and long-lasting family trait?
As with some others' experiences, I grew up with not much money, rurally isolated but with great parents.
Although confident on the face of things and in the 'popular' and academically able group of kids at school, they didn't know I had crushing anxiety when it came to going out and doing the socialising things teenagers do, -(not gibbering panic attacks but a bit agoraphobic, horrible nausea, and fatigue). But I grew out of that, did things in my early career that scared me, helping take me onwards and upwards. That would probably be reassuring to childhood-me and instill a bit of self-belief for the scary unknown future.
I'm not rich but I think childhood-me would be pleased to see my kids have far more material choices than I did.
I think skinny childhood-me would be less impressed by my current physique, ...and what the f
k happened to that thick hair I was told was a strong and long-lasting family trait?Edited by captainzep on Friday 22 September 14:24
I would say yes.
I was always top of the class until the second / third year senior school when suddenly I wasn't I may just have hung onto top 10/15, not sure why. I have probably over achieved in comparison to my class mates at the time, unless they are all multi millionaire bankers, then I am probably where I should be.
I have a car whose doors go up, and all young boys like that.
Childhood me loved cars and martial arts, though I was a child in the Max Power era and so dreamt of a 90's hatch with crap mods and overboosted engine, I was also too scared to actually do any of the martial arts stuff. I wasn't sure what work I wanted to do when I grew up but knew I wanted to earn enough to live comfortably, I also loved dance music
as I grew up I started DJing and did alright of it, childhood me would have approved, he would not have approved of the other activities go along with that lifestyle.
As adult me then got a more sensible job and started earning some money the DJing was replaced by martial arts which I compete in and have done better than I ever expected, childhood me would have been ok with this but probably envisaged myself as some sort of Tong Po killer rather than a hobbyist. I also drive a car I would've loved, it doesn't have an ecosse bodykit but modern cars come pre-chavved anyway so it's alright
as I grew up I started DJing and did alright of it, childhood me would have approved, he would not have approved of the other activities go along with that lifestyle.
As adult me then got a more sensible job and started earning some money the DJing was replaced by martial arts which I compete in and have done better than I ever expected, childhood me would have been ok with this but probably envisaged myself as some sort of Tong Po killer rather than a hobbyist. I also drive a car I would've loved, it doesn't have an ecosse bodykit but modern cars come pre-chavved anyway so it's alright
Nope, childhood me would currently be very disappointed.
Growing up in a small village, all my mates had dogs, motorbikes / quads and guns. My parents didn't care for any of that, so it was all outlawed in our house. First things I bought when I moved out, dogs, guns and bike. Things were looking up and childhood me would have been happy. For about 10 years ish.
However, life got in the way and kids, mortgages, family holidays, jobs all took over, time constraints and working hours meant a few hobbies fell away. Childhood me now disappointed. I'm certainly not unhappy though and I'm making every effort to get away from the 9-5 and the grind and dependency, to get back to making childhood me happy again.
Growing up in a small village, all my mates had dogs, motorbikes / quads and guns. My parents didn't care for any of that, so it was all outlawed in our house. First things I bought when I moved out, dogs, guns and bike. Things were looking up and childhood me would have been happy. For about 10 years ish.
However, life got in the way and kids, mortgages, family holidays, jobs all took over, time constraints and working hours meant a few hobbies fell away. Childhood me now disappointed. I'm certainly not unhappy though and I'm making every effort to get away from the 9-5 and the grind and dependency, to get back to making childhood me happy again.
Nah, the 15 year old me would look at me today and say "regardless of what you've achieved, you never did manage to pull Katrina Brown in 11JH did you - therefore, pffft, you're a loser" 
To be fair though, I'd like to retort to 15 year old me that according to recent pics, it would appear that although she was an early bloomer, it would appear long term that we dodged a bullet on that one and were obviously barking up the wrong tree.
But he wouldn't listen to me.
To be fair though, I'd like to retort to 15 year old me that according to recent pics, it would appear that although she was an early bloomer, it would appear long term that we dodged a bullet on that one and were obviously barking up the wrong tree.
But he wouldn't listen to me.
Edited by Plate spinner on Friday 22 September 18:57
Plate spinner said:
To be fair though, I'd like to retort to 15 year old me that according to recent pics, it would appear that although she was an early bloomer, it would appear long term that we dodged a bullet on that one and were obviously barking up the wrong tree.
]
One of the joys/perils of social media - it shows us that most of the 'fitties' at school were fully clapped out and haggard by age 27]
15 year old me was a self-loathing dick, who would probably think I was a middle aged, middle class tosser of the highest order, without the wits to realise that (having been on the verge of expulsion from a good school with a toxic home life and serious confidence issues as well as problems with rules and authority) the 52 year old bloke in front of him had (realising at 16 that the forces or educational progress were the only ways open to get away) gone to a decent Uni after all, sustained a career in the same discipline for 29 years, developed a serious work ethic, met the love of his life at 25 and raised two daughters of much greater worth than he was at 15.
If the twain ever met,15 year old me would be likely to have spat on my shoes and I'd be likely to have given him a good slap.
We'd both be smoking, mind you
If the twain ever met,15 year old me would be likely to have spat on my shoes and I'd be likely to have given him a good slap.
We'd both be smoking, mind you
15 year old me would be deeply unimpressed that I'm no longer cut and stupidly fit.
But 15 year old me was a shallow boob-obsessed wker, so he would at least be happy that my partner has breasts like beachballs!
He'd probably like my sportscar and motorbike too....... but not my office job in IT!
But 15 year old me was a shallow boob-obsessed w
ker, so he would at least be happy that my partner has breasts like beachballs!He'd probably like my sportscar and motorbike too....... but not my office job in IT!
Nik da Greek said:
ASA569 said:
15 year old me would be impressed with what I've achieved career-wise but distinctly unimpressed with my work-life balance. The fact I work too many hours to own a dog would be the big failing point. And the fact I'm spending a precious day off posting nonsense on a car forum instead of exploring the countryside with a daft mutt gambling along in front of me would definitely not impress
You really oughtn't let dogs gamble. They struggle understanding odds and their paws make it hard to hold the cards
So it wasn't marked cards as he claimed...
Childhood me had very limited ambitions. My parents were poor, they provided shelter and food but not a lot else. I was very aware that I was firmly in the lower decile of 'wealth' throughout my school days but also aware that I was in the top few percent for 'brains' and good at most sports.
I had set my sights back then on achieving a university degree and embarking on an enjoyable career, having no money worries, getting on the housing ladder before mid 20's and playing the field when it came to the fairer sex. By the ripe old age of 24 all that had been achieved with the bonus that I had also married (and remain married to) an incredible woman and had also bought my first brand new car.
Since then my ambitions have been consistently upped over the years in terms of career, family and 'toys' and achieved. Childhood me would be completely amazed but I suspect he would look at the picture of the Lamborghini Miura on his bedroom wall, look back at me and say "well"? It was never an ambition to own one back then as it was just a dream too far away to even think of such a thing and I have no real ambition to own one today so that may be only disappointment to childhood me.
I had set my sights back then on achieving a university degree and embarking on an enjoyable career, having no money worries, getting on the housing ladder before mid 20's and playing the field when it came to the fairer sex. By the ripe old age of 24 all that had been achieved with the bonus that I had also married (and remain married to) an incredible woman and had also bought my first brand new car.
Since then my ambitions have been consistently upped over the years in terms of career, family and 'toys' and achieved. Childhood me would be completely amazed but I suspect he would look at the picture of the Lamborghini Miura on his bedroom wall, look back at me and say "well"? It was never an ambition to own one back then as it was just a dream too far away to even think of such a thing and I have no real ambition to own one today so that may be only disappointment to childhood me.
Edited by Garvin on Saturday 23 September 08:44
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