So I don't really know how to ask this question because I can't quite explain what I really mean or want to ask.
I am now 30 years old and I couldn't be in a better situation than currently. My job is fun and providing me enough money to live a happy life and pay my own built house (I am a nurse). I have way more free time than lets say even in my childhood. I remember coming home from school and feeling anxiety cause of exams. I remember nursing school, it was hell for me.
Now all I have to do is go to work and when my shift is done I am off and can do whatever I want whenever I want. I don't have to ask parents to drive me somewhere, I have my own money, I have my own house, I can play video games all day... and still, I don't know why but nostalgia is real.
I am not even sure if my feelings are real. I can only give silly examples like coming home from school, logging into world of warcraft with friends and having a blast. But I don't think it was like that. We were all just in skype and everyone was minding their own business in that game. We had good laughs though.
I don't know. My life should be so much better than it was 15 years ago but I miss the 2000s era. It all just felt so different. I remember the hot summers going to the lake with friends.
Now? I don't know. Maybe it is because it seems like I am the only one that has so much "time" and no one really joins anymore. While I have a wife and no kids and most of my friends don't even have a wife yet (so no kids....) they still are somehow busy and don't go to the lake anymore, don't play video games anymore, don't do anything. I actually wonder what they do all day.
Life felt more exciting back then. Maybe because I had goals and now I am "done"? But this should feel good. I am happy that I am "done". House, wife, job. Those were the things I wanted back then and now I am more than happy to have those things.
2009... bachelor with good income, loads of job security,and next to no personal responsibilities...
"Better" is subjective, but it was definitely easier as I've since become a family man.
Amen to that.
I think if I looked at my life then Vs now I'd probably argue that I was "happier". My life was pretty easy, I had ultimated free time and no one to worry about but myself.
Fifteen years later and that's not the case, I've got two young kids who really take it out of me, barely enough money to make ends meet and we're further away from owning a home than ever. I'm more burnt out, more stressed, more worried.....and yet I'd still argue that my life is better now than it was then. Happier no, but I think my life is in some ways more...full than it was before.
I feel you. For quite a while my finances were way down the drain, and my career had stagnated to the point where I felt miserable and permanently stressed out. But I still would've chosen it over going back in time. I was lucky enough to upgrade my income four years ago, and get help with colateral for a house two years ago. While my four kids sure as hell make my life a lot more stressful, I would not want it any other way.