How are you different from who you were 5 years ago?...Or do you even feel you are different?

Not talking about the "factual" differences: got married, changed jobs, moved to a new state, etc. I'm referring more to the spiritual, emotional and intellectual differences...the ones that matter the most.

Have the ways you live and approach your life changed at all since 2001, or are you doing the same things and making the same decisions for the same reasons? Small changes? Big one? No changes at all? Are similar mistakes still being repeated? Are new ones being made today that you never would have made back then?

You ever think about this shtuff?..lol

More depressed, more down, more ugly and old.. and more anything black and down

and lol.. cos my sense of humour never dies..

They say life begins at 30. and 5 years ago my life was just starting. I am feeling so much better about everything and I am much more efficent at expressing myself.

REDFEATHERS said:

So how do you think you've changed?...

As for ugly...pfft ...and I'm older than you, bucko...lol

MickG said:

I can relate to what you're feeling, definitely... ...I also feel amazingly better about everything than I did 5 years ago. It carries over into my decisions and actions on a daily basis.

I've become more intolerant of other people's stupidity as I've gotten older.

I used to constantly fret about what other people thought about me and now I don't.

These days, I only care what people think about me if I care about them - if you know what I mean. Looking in the mirror and realising that your ageing, really does make you aware that life is too short to fuss and fight.

I dumped a whole group of acquaintances recently. I actually changed my mobile and home phone numbers so they can't contact me. I also applied filters to all my email accounts, to automatically trash their emails. I've never felt happier.

Intellectually and spiritually, I've always had the same beliefs since I can remember.

funny thing, because i moved from iowa to minnesota and got a new job (that i still have) back in 2001. the biggest thing that's changed about me is my mindset ever since then is coming out last year, it was like a huge veil had been lifted off of my face. i feel even more comfortable with myself now than i ever have.

Byron said:

Good question Byron.. Five years ago I turned 30. I will have to give your question some thought. My initial reaction is that I have not changed at all but I am sure I can find small things that I have changed to be the person I am today.
Wow- now I must ponder this..

Justin1972UK said:

Interesting what you said about dumping aquaintances and feeling happier for doing so...I've never, and I mean, NEVER, had but a handful of aquaintances and even fewer friends...I've heard other people say the same thing before, about eliminating groups of people from their lives and how they've benefitted from doing so...I've always tried to imagine what that must be like, both to purposefully eliminate people from my life as well as to have a group of people in my life TO eliminate or effect me...my brother once told me that I'd never succumb to peer pressure because I have absolutely no peers around me...lol

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

"I would much rather have regrets about not doing what people said, than regretting not doing what my heart led me to and wondering what life may have been like if I'd just been myself."

Amazing and liberating feeling just being you, isnt' it... ...While not quite on the same intensity level as what you must have experienced, I can relate to it, definitely.

shanti0608 said:

I want to talk to you in five years and ask you this question again...so you better keep me around, toots...lol

Byron said:

The odd thing is, that by removing this whole group of people, it's freed up my time to meet new people: I've made more friends at work; I've hooked-up with old friends I hadn't spoken with in years; I'm hanging-out with my parents more...

My only regret was that I didn't do it sooner. I feel like I've walked away from a car-crash.

5 years ago I was avoiding responsibilities of being a hubby and a dad. Now, I own up to them

Justin1972UK said:

I've never had a group of people influence my actions or decisions, even in high school...so some of this is sincerely foreign to me. It doesn't necessarily reflect on my character, I think, so much as it does on my being such an introvert and loner most of my life. I guess that's one big area in which I've changed over how and who I was 5 years ago: I'm far more open with what I feel and who I am, and let people inside completely now instead of keeping them at a "controllable" distance out of discomfort and fear.

purplerein said:

Was there a spiritual transformation that lead to this, or an intellectual one? An emotional one? All three??...lol

This is the best thread in ages in this forum, and certainly the only good one you've ever created, Byron!


I feel different than I did five years ago to some extent. Five years ago, I was fat and depressed. I was also buckling under the pressure of getting my bachelor's degree and trying establish my career. I became estranged from a friend that was like a brother to me, and got dumped in a stormy relationship.

Now, I'm not 100% great, and there is still some searching I am doing, but I'm not as miserable as that old sap was 5 years ago. I do still have some major personal growth to accomplish, but at least now, I feel like I'm swimming somewhat with the stream and not against it.

.
[Edited 7/22/06 14:54pm]

I know I'm in a very different place than I was even 1 year ago. I've acomplished a lot for myself (and in this I mean mentally, emotionally and physically). But I feel like I've got loads and loads of work to go. It's never-ending, isn't it?

Imago said:

You ass...lol




Did you start doing the water fasts during the last five years?...

CarrieMpls said:

No, it's not..lol...which is a beautiful thing. Life = growth, in every possible way you wish to define that word.

Byron said:

Well- I have given this much thought (in the shower..hehehe) Anyways.. I guess 5-6 yrs ago I did something very selfish- I reached out and did something out of the ordinary for me. I was very happy then but I also became very confused so I went back to what was safe and familiar to me out of fear. Now I look back and I see that was a bit of a mistake. I am trying to learn to think of myself and not put everyone else first. This has been very hard for me.
I am in the process of learning to stand my ground and figure out what makes me happy.
I am much like you Byron when it comes to friends. I only have a few close ones- that is how I have always been.
In saying that- I really hope that I still know you Byron in Five years and I hope when you ask me this question that I am happier and stronger then I am today.

shanti0608 said:

You and me, both...although I feel like I've arrived at that point of knowledge now.




As do I, to both of those...

I feel I've changed a whole deal,. I've started to look at the whole spiritual side of myself, the problem is, I can't find an answer.

Byron said:

My first water fast was in 2003. It did miracles for me. I mean, seriously. It was amazing the results.

I am so much more compassionate toward myself and others. So much more self-loving on many deep levels. Happier, more full of joy and more sure of my purpose.

And I still have such a long way to go...I hope that in five years I say the same thing compared to now.

five years ago, I was pretty happy.




Now? Not so much.

jerseykrs said:

You're in my signature!

What more do you want??

I was 17.

I think that says everything

I was not a "cheerleading" type of teenager...


But Im happier now, although Im not where I wanted to be/thought Id be when I was 22. But Ill get there. Whats meant to be will be

My Beard and Hair is Grey.....I got wrinkles and I can't run round the box without an oxygen tank !!!

5 years ago I was a party girl, an emotional wreck, was in poor health and basically was totally lost.

I am the total opposite now.