[Andrew Stephens]

Like they say, life isn't a rehearsal, you only live once, ground control to major Tom (or something).

When I was around 5 years old I decided that I wanted to be an english teacher. This was my game plan until I was around 14 when I decided I wanted to become a graphic designer. I went to art college, became a graphic designer and eventually ended up running my own studio specialising in designing and illustrating children's books. Sadly the market shifted (to India) and the studio had to close. Now I do some web site design and Mac IT consulting, which I'm trying to build up.

Along the way I moved to South Africa, which netted me a wife, and back to the UK. That wasn't part of any plan but worked out just fine

What with setting up the new business at this stage of my life (early 40's) I can safely say that I'm a fair way behind where i thought I might be at this stage in my life, however I do have my family.

Anyway I know that there's a big spread of ages and acheivers on here, so how are your lives going.

Are you on track for your dreams or has chance dealt you a low blow (or a high five)?

[Mastrap]

Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans

and:

Fools make plans. Wise men steer.

[sek929]

I've always been a chronic underachiever.

Took 4 years of computer design in college and realized my heart wasn't in it, I couldn't imagine sitting behind a monitor day-in day-out for the rest of my life. Bombed most of my elective classes, mostly by not going, but kicked ass in all my art classes. I'm still a Junior or some sh!t, who knows.

By the end of this month I'll have my CSL (Construction Supervisor License) and then I'll start making real money...not that I don't make good money now, but I'm not going to be a Carpenter for the rest of my life...no future in that. I'm only 24, but I've been in 'the business' since I was 12, which is half of my life at this point.

I'm in my first steady relationship of almost 3 years and I've never been happier....except due to roommate issues I am now back in my parents basement. At least it allowed me to blow a grand on a sweet new Mac. I'll be in my new place shortly after previously stated license is in my pocket.

I've always thought following in your father's footsteps is cliché, but I think that nowadays it's a cliché to try your hardest not to.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by sek929 

chronic

Interesting choice of words.

[sek929]

I was a slacker long before I touched any drug, been that way since...well, ever.

[osiris]

I've been a chronic over-achiever most of my life. An annoying habit that you slackers wouldn't understand.

[Randman]

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens 

What with setting up the new business at this stage of my life (early 40's) I can safely say that I'm a fair way behind where i thought I might be at this stage in my life, however I do have my family.

Similar story. In 2000, I moved to Singapore for a 3-year contract and ended up staying more than 8 years. Just returned to the USA (10 months ago). Been at my new job for 6 months (as of yesterday, Monday) and still adjusting to things.

If I had stayed here, I'd likely be in a management position and have a little more job security. On the other hand, I wouldn't have been able to see or do half the things I was fortunate enough to see and do during my years abroad.

[dcmacdaddy]

I have been working or going to university (sometimes both at the same time) for almost 20 years. Right now I am six months into a 9-12 month sabbatical from work. I am using the time to finish up my Masters degree which I have been working on sporadically for the past seven years (M.A. in Literature with a concentration in Medieval Literature). With the time off from work I have had time to think about career plans and what I want to do and where I want to live. I have done AV/IT/Multimedia work my entire working life. In fact, I had been with the same employer for 13 years, although I worked in several different parts of the organization during that time.

For my future plans I am considering a move back to NYC (and possibly a return to my old job) a move to Ireland for work (I have always wanted to try living/working oversees and I've got friends and distant family in Ireland) or a move to leave the rat-race altogether by moving to some rural part of New England and living in a cabin, smoking my pipe and trying my hand at being a playwright (my dream for a good decade of my teen/college years). I'll let you know what happens when I get there.

[Laminar]

I'm about to begin my 8th and final semester to get my bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering. I'm still not sure if it's what I want to spend the rest of my life doing, but we'll see what happens.

[mattyb]

How's my life going? I wouldn't change a thing. Nothing. Good wife, two healthy kids, decent job, good pay, in a nice area, money in the bank. As for dreams, well I always wanted to be super rich, but thats not going to happen at least not money wise.

I need to get off of my arse more and do some exercise, stop posting here so much, stop smoking, sort out the paperwork, trim the hedge etc etc, but there's nothing that I need at the moment. Quite dull I suppose.

[- - e r i k - -]

Well my life is going great, thanks for asking

My life philosophy has always been to aim for a major change every four years or so, and so far that has worked out great for me. I've worked as a web designer through the dot com boom, moved to Australia, dodged a would-be disastrous marriage, done a fairly useless degree (on paper, not in life experience) and have a sweet creative job that gives me enough to get by and then some. I don't own a whole lot (car, computer and gadgets), but neither do I have any major debts (sure, I should start paying back my student loan some day). I have a great gorgeous girl friend and lots of good friends from all walks of life.

And yes, I practically do live in paradise.

I've learned that you don't always need to conform to the rules, and to enjoy life and take whatever it throws at you in stride. To be more relaxed and not get riled up over bumps small and large. As you said - you only have one chance to make the best of it.

[alligator]

My life has been going well. Am I satisfied? No. Will I ever be satisfied? No. With only one chance on this rock I can't seem to make the most of it, no matter how hard I try.

What am I most proud of? I don't know.

[design219]

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens 

Are you on track for your dreams or has chance dealt you a low blow (or a high five)?

Life is very good for me. I love my career, I love my family, I love my location. Could things be better? ... Always, but I sure can't complain.

As for a dream or master plan, I never really had one. I was an art kid early on and I stumbled into photography at a very early age, which lead to journalism and graphic design. I sometimes wonder what I would be doing if I hadn't discovered the joy of photography in junior high. I think I might have ended up in a (ugh) sales career.

[ghporter]

I am about to start (Monday the 18th) the first of two internships to complete my masters in occupational therapy. Quite the turn around from someone who spent decades as an electronics technician and instructor, and who has a BS in computer science... But this is really a great fit for me; I get to work one-on-one with people, I can tell when I'm really helping them, and I don't have to mess with the crapola that comes from corporate management (mostly, anyway). I am very excited about this!

[Andrew Stephens]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I am about to start (Monday the 18th) the first of two internships to complete my masters in occupational therapy. Quite the turn around from someone who spent decades as an electronics technician and instructor, and who has a BS in computer science... But this is really a great fit for me; I get to work one-on-one with people, I can tell when I'm really helping them, and I don't have to mess with the crapola that comes from corporate management (mostly, anyway). I am very excited about this!

I thought this thread was optimised almost entirely for a huuuge Glen post but no, we get one of his shortest posts in weeks!

[Laminar]

Why are his posts so shoooorrrrt??

[osiris]

Look at it this way, your reading skills will improve.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens 

I thought this thread was optimised almost entirely for a huuuge Glen post but no, we get one of his shortest posts in weeks!

I either post too much and people gripe, or post nice little bits and people gripe. I guess I can't please you folks!




I am STOKED about this opportunity, and to keep from posting volumes, I'm working hard at just posting a little. Be prepared: when I actually start, I'll be so busy that I may not post for days and days! I know this will disappoint some... Sorry for any inconvenience.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I either post too much and people gripe, or post nice little bits and people gripe. I guess I can't please you folks!

We want consistency!

[Atheist]

I gave up trying to steer my life in a particular direction. If someone told me 5 years ago that I'd be living in St. Maarten and commuting to work in DC I would have told them they were insane.

[Monique]

In 2005 I worked for Telus as a phone operator getting lots of abuse from the customers and bosses. In the summer we went on strike and since I needed money I got a job through an agency and would go on the picket line 20 hours a week after working 38 hours. It was painful and very tireing (sorry for the spelling); but, it got me out of Telus and got a job for the government (I am on my break right now); then, 2 years later I met with people in human resources in Montreal and made a really good impression and was able to get a transfer back to Québec city close to my dying father and my family.

Also, in 2006 I started to gather care packages for Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan; at first it was supposed to be just for my office and myself but it turned out that I sent my e-mail to all the offices in the West and we were able to send 17 boxes; the following year in 2007 I was able to convince my associate executive director to include other regions for my agency and also, wrote an e-mail to the Colonel in charge of the forces in Afghanistan to get a contact since I did lose my contact (he came back safe and sound); one of his officer called me and told me that I would have her as a contact. To make a story a little shorter, we were able to send 42 care packages.

As a reward the first year I received a authographed picture of a group of soldiers, for last year I received a medal and e-mails telling me that I made a difference in the life of the soldiers.

This year, I am trying to organize it for the entire Federal government and have a paid leave. I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, my minister, my deputy minister, the minister of defence, the deputy minister of defence, the minister of foreign affairs, the deputy minister of foreign affairs, the governor general and the general in charge of the armed forces.

I hope and pray every day that one of them will say that I will be able to continue with my mission of supporting the troops in Afghanistan. So pray for me that it will work out.

[nonhuman]

Monique, that's fantastic. Way to go!

As for myself, I've never really had any sort of plan for my life. My theory has always been planning just gets you into trouble because things will never actually go to plan. As a result I've done such crazy things as move to China, pass up a chance at a fairly awesome job in China that would have taken me to Russia as well to come back home, take, on essentially a whim, a job doing IT for a global corporation that put me in the position of being the head of IT for 4-ish countries (US, 'Singapore', China, and Australia), quit that job, move across the country to Boston, move in with my girlfriend, get engaged along the way, start my own company, and am now in the process of launching a second company, with plans coming together for a third.

So basically, in my 25 years of life I've only ever had a 'real job' for 1.5 years, less total time than I've spent traveling the world. Couldn't have planned it better myself!

[mattyb]

Bravo Monique. Le monde a besoin de plus des gens comme toi.

[ghporter]

Monique, all politics aside, a Soldier just wants to know that the people back home are thinking of him. It's pretty lonely being deployed, even in a nice place, and combat conditions are certainly NOT nice. Your efforts have made a bunch of very isolated people feel a little more like Canada cares about them. Thank you.

[Snow-i]

The realities of my life are slowly starting to sink in.

I have no money...i don't have enough to cover my rent.
I should be a senior this year at UMD, however due to slacking i'm about 9 credits behind.
I don't have enough to cover tuition this year. I'm looking at ridiculously expensive student loans because thats all I can get.
My car is breaking down and there's nothing I can do to keep it from going...i don't have money for a new one and I need it to work and go to school.

I have never been happier in my life.

I have a gorgeous, highly intelligent girlfriend who I'm madly in love with, as she is with me. We're two kids determined to make it in this world and not letting the other one slip. All the problems I'm facing now seem so small when I talk to her. We help each other make it through our stresses and enjoy this part of our lives. There is no doubt in my mind we'll live wonderful lives...together? only time will tell but we both want to.

She was born in Romania. Her parents came here when communism fell with almost nothing but each other to make a better life for themselves. They worked hard, went to school, and now they eat lunch with the romanian ambassador to the US semi regularly. He's a nice guy...spent the orthodox easter with him and some others.

Not that it matters but she's 5'9, brunette with long hair. Has a beautiful smile and beautiful...well you get the idea. She is as smart as they come and does a little modeling on the side. She's the type of person who's laugh can make everyone in the room lighten up. I never believed I'd meet such a person much less be romantically involved with one. She put up a fight though....took me 4 months to get her to go out on the 1st official date :-). Well worth the fight. She put me through every test imaginable to a guy.

Anyways. To me...life is not about what you have but who you have. I have the most wonderful people on earth around me and I couldn't be happier. The logistics of making it through college will be solved...and I will make it.

It doesn't hurt that one of my jobs is marketing for an important computer company that also makes phones, mp3 players, and the world's best OS :-p. Anyways, its a part-time gig and its more a resume builder than anything else.

Life is good.

[ghporter]

Snow-i, with all that going for you, your trivial money issues will sort themselves out... Maybe not in a way you might imagine, but they will. Good luck.

[Andy8]

I got cancer at the age of 26 which turned my well planned life on its head. I fought it for 3 years and have it under control now.

Out of this bad came some good, I sold up everything and travelled the world for many years, doing work here and there along the way.

Life is indeed short, get on with it!

[Snow-i]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

Snow-i, with all that going for you, your trivial money issues will sort themselves out... Maybe not in a way you might imagine, but they will. Good luck.

thanks :-)

[Love Calm Quiet]

To an irrepressible reincarnationist...

There's *way* more than one chance.

...but it takes some real determination to make the next ones better than the present one.
—best of luck to all of you with that process ! ! !