Is this it?

[Ladymuck]

I've been wondering lately. I am getting old and have suddenly got this unnerving feeling that I haven't actually achieved very much on this earth...compared with others. Now I am frantic that I might snuff it without having had the chance to do something worthwhile or sufficiently fulfilling. To make matters worse, I am unsure as to what I actually mean by worthwhile or fulfilling. Even if I did, is it too late to do anything about it...i.e. is it possible to catch up so to speak? And, if not, how does one go about doing this - given that there never seem to be enough hours in the day?

Does anyone else feel like this? Or am I just being melodramatic?

[monica]

You are not being melodramatic love. i have recently made a life changing decision and although I have had wobbles over it, I am so much happier for doing it. Fancy a twos up on a bungee jump?????

[Narnia]

A) LM move to the Drawing Room

B) Ask yourself what do you want to achieve

C) When you realise that's impossible accept the joys you do have in your life

D) When they aren't enough, you are seriously ill.Call a doctor.

E) He wont have the answer but you needed to know that.

F) You are now at a point where you are asking 'what is the the purpose of life'?

G) As you don't know the answer read lots of books.

H) These won't help a bit apart from being able to cross something else off your list.

I) Listen to your heart.

j) Remember you are not here to be judged by yourself or others but to be fulfilled.

PS Where that smiley come from?

[silverfox]

First thing I'd say is this is drawing room material to which everyone can contribute.

What does it mean to achieve?

What does doing something worthwhile/fulfilling mean?

Too late for what? Catch up with what?

These are big questions Ladymuck and for once I'll shut up and not give any opinion.

(Edited because of sticky 'h' key. Is this significant?)

[legalbeagle]

When I have fears that I may cease to be

Before my pen has glean?d my teeming brain,

Before high piled books, in charact?ry,

Hold like rich garners the full-ripen?d grain;

When I behold, upon the night?s starr?d face,

Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,

And think that I may never live to trace

Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;

And when I feel, fair creature of an hour!

That I shall never look upon thee more,

Never have relish in the faery power

Of unreflecting love!?then on the shore

Of the wide world I stand alone, and think

Till Love and Fame to nothingness do sink

[brum]

I must read more Keats. He knows.

[legalbeagle]

Bugger all help though!

[Narnia]

I may have joked that this is Drawing Room material but it isn't. It's more important than such threads as 'Is there a God'. This is a person not a debate. It's good to know when to keep quiet.

[Narnia]

K) Given you have tried lots of things to be fulfilled, look at what you haven't tried.

L) Ask for help,inside

M) Wait, but don't forget the question you asked

N) If someone says something that touches you, listen to them

O) If there is a question,there probably is an answer too

P) Be glad you asked the question, many don't

[computedshorty]

Ladymuck.

If you think that you have haven't actually achieved very much on this earth...compared with others. Then change direction do something new.

You might find that you have been pushed into a job that you really dont like. This has happened to me but I just left the job, looking back now it was for the best.

Later in life you can look back and think well I did make my mark, it might not be obvious now, as you have only got halfway.

Puts down Keats, picks up Jobs offered.

[silverfox]

Narnia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> >

> I may have joked that this is Drawing Room

> material but it isn't. It's more important than

> such threads as 'Is there a God'. This is a person

> not a debate. It's good to know when to keep

> quiet.

I don't agree with you. It goes to the core of our existence, how we perceive ourselves, how others perceive us (not that we should be concerned what others think).

[legalbeagle]

computedshorty Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Ladymuck.

> If you think that you have haven't actually

> achieved very much on this earth...compared with

> others. Then change direction do something new.

> You might find that you have been pushed into a

> job that you really dont like. This has happened

> to me but I just left the job, looking back now it

> was for the best.

> Later in life you can look back and think well I

> did make my mark, it might not be obvious now, as

> you have only got halfway.

>

> Puts down Keats, picks up Jobs offered.

Never put down Keats! He's a reminder that what LM is feeling is human and understandable and that she isn't alone. Not every question has an answer. Sometimes we need to learn to just be.

[Narnia]

CS, LM does not say anything about comparing herself to others. It's what she feels that counts and it does not seem to be the satisfaction or otherwise gained from doing better or worse than others. She would not appear to be that shallow and I doubt it's a different job she's after!

PS Perhaps a change of maid

[computedshorty]

Narnia

Not only did ladymuck say this it is here copied and pasted

that I haven't actually achieved very much on this earth...compared with others.

Perhaps you might be more careful of your own opinions.

What have you achieved to give your advice?

[alice]

easy

think about what you like doing

then do it

[Huguenot]

Mid-life crisis? ;-)

I guess the first question to answer is what is worthwhile. I don't think that's easy.

I've tended to find that it reduces to 'am I happy?'.

[Narnia]

Yes I should be. Apologies.

[Narnia]

A state of drunkenness perhaps!

[????]

Happiness is within, so if you're genuinely feeling worried about this then you need to explore it; if you just feel perhaps you should have achieved (whatever that means) more 'externally', I'd forget about it. Most of us don't achieve much but many of us are happy.

[Brendan]

Didn't we invent alcohol for this sort of thing?

[brum]

....and electric guitars.

[womanofdulwich]

i recently stepped down as a trustee of an alms house. it means a meeting 4 evenings pa and going to collect rents one months in four or five. collecting rents means you go and see the ladies and chat a bit make sure they are ok. you need to have some energy to get things done-and improve things. it can be satisfying you can make a difference. do you fancy giving it a whirl? a good way to decide if you like that sort of thing? PM if you are interested.

[brum]

As legalb said, LM you are not alone in feeling this way. The question.. 'am I too old to...?' is understandable, but I am discovering that age is not necessarily a barrier to personal happiness and success. As long as health matters don't intervene, anything is possible. And it doesn't need to be something that achieves recognition from others, but as quids says, it's something that can be found from within. Easier said than done, I know! X

[reggie]

Comparing one's achievements with others can have different results.

How about comparing oneself to all those humans who dont even make it out of the womb?

As Nigel Tufnell once said " to much f@ucking perspective'

[steveo]

Our existence is pointless so just enjoy yourself as stylishly as possible and drink Guinness