How have you changed as you aged?

[Anonymous]

How have you changed as you aged?

From your teens to your 20s to your 30s to your 40s etc (wherever you are right now)

What are some of your highlights?

What are some of your regrets?

How have you grown or changed as a person?

[Fireguy17]

Yes, it is only natural.
There are the obvious physical changes that happen as we age.
My highlights are all of the things I have accomplished, the differences I have made in people's lives.
I have kind of a checkered past, I was pretty hard core, a hell raiser, physically I am built like a truck, football player build, strong as an ox, so I never feared anything or anyone.
My job helped with that too.
Being a truckie we are a pretty special breed.
Great job if you like breaking things.
We do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Because of that I was not kind to my body, but I get along just fine. A few surgeries, a new knee, some aches and pains, but still in good shape overall.
Now as I've gotten older I've gotten smarter, like the old adage work smarter not harder.
I do a lot more teaching younger firefighters how to survive and live to tell about it.
Now long term exposure to anything will kill you.
Products we used everyday now they are finding out oopps, our bad.
Even the gear we wear to protect us can cause health issues.
I've slowed down, I'm much more empathetic towards other.
I tend to make the most out of every day.
Not like the clock is ticking, but there is a big difference between now vs when you are in your 20s.
I'm traveling more, just enjoying each day.
I got married young, and divorced, so I looked at that as my 2nd childhood.
I had my looks, money, I could come and go as I pleased, so I kind of forgot to get married and have a family.
Part of it was that I was afraid if I had a kid, esp a boy he would turn out just like me.
There are a few regrets, there have been a couple women in my life that I let slip away, so I've always wondered what if.
Obviously they must have seen something good in me.
So overall I'm fine with my life looking back.
I really like who I am now.
I have apologized to all but 1 person in school who I bullied, I just haven't been able to contact him, or run into him yet, but I'm hopeful it will happen.

[Anonymous]

I’ve undergone significant transformations throughout my life. It seems that profound experiences often necessitate drastic changes.

In my late teens, I exhibited rebellious behavior and carried a sense of resentment, despite grappling with insecurities. Despite having a learning disability, I possessed a high IQ. Unfortunately, my lack of self-understanding led teachers to perceive me as lazy and treat me disrespectfully.

After high school, I joined the military. Joining the military provided me with a sense of accomplishment and bolstered my self-assurance. Simultaneously, I found myself immersed in a culture defined by competition and dominance, where alpha males clashed with their egos.

Transitioning from the military to college, I sought to recreate the hyper-masculine environment by resorting to steroid usage to excel in bodybuilding. However, the anabolic steroids had a negative impact on my temperament, making me more aggressive. I became an extreme version of myself, engaging in promiscuous relationships and succumbing to a sense of pride.

After college, I then transitioned and channeled my aggression and anger towards building wealth, seizing opportunities during a profitable period. Money became my new obsession. Made a lot of money and lost a lot of money. Money became my personality for some time.

Long story short, I discovered God and found solace in prayer, ultimately leading me to embrace Christianity and commit myself to living a life devoted to God. Today, I have relinquished the use of steroids and my pursuit of vanity and greed. I am married and dedicated to serving God, actively participating in church and hosting Bible studies. I have developed a much more agreeable temperament compared to my past self.

I strive to emulate the character of Jesus in my everyday life. While I do have regrets, I recognize that dwelling on them is unproductive. Presently, I consider myself a more balanced individual, valuing introspection and considering myself an intellectual. I still struggle with many flaws though.

[Pinay_ako]

I feel so much better about myself now that I’m 40 than when I was in my 20s…

I used to dread getting greys and getting old but I have learnt to embrace it. Getting old only means we’re still alive and get to enjoy every day with our love ones and every breath we take is a blessing.

And that it’s never too late to start all over again and change the negatives and turn it to positive. Never ever let anyone tell you you can’t!

[jennifer_bloom]

In my teens I learned humility

in my 20s I learned honesty

in my 30s I learned boundaries

Now late 30s I’m learning kindness and compassion

[blissinanarchy1]

Pretty big list. As a young kid, I was extremely insecure, passive, and prone to emotional outbursts. I had abusive and manipulative parents. I was gaslighted into thinking I was crazy, and in a way, I was. I always had this Navy Seal type of will to better myself emotionally, and mentally.

Throughout my teens, I was angry. I didn’t know who I was. I was physically aggressive, yet ironically I was scared of verbal altercation. I had no problem putting hands on someone, and wasn’t scared to get my ass beat as well. I slowly but surely over years of therapy started to realize the reality of my situation, my placement in the world. I was always seen as a high potential person who’s wasting their talent.

As a young adult today I am happy with my mental health. I have a very high emotional intelligence, and get along with nearly anyone, and it isn’t at the expense of my real self. I still have challenges, I am still angey but rightfully so. It’s funny, I went from a walking panic attack that just wanted to be accepted, and never was, to a guy who’s seen as extremely confident and people from all backgrounds gravitate towards me.

[mobiusforniner]

Im okay with telling people how and why I feel the way I do.

I've learned that im comfortable with being me, I've achieved what I want, and now my focus is passing this legacy onto others. this endeavor is even more rewarding

True leadership is a balance between confidence and humility

Love is liberation. It is letting go of your wants for the betterment of someone else.

Asking questions and listening- not talking- is the key to making people want to be around you.

The right thing is always the harder thing to do, and the toughest decision to make.

[exitseven]

I cannot run anymore and I have a fake hip. I can't lift as much as I could either. I have all kinds of aches and pains. It seems like every day I find something else that i cannot do anymore. Lots of people say that having wisdom and maturity more than make up for the loss. I;m just not seeing it.

[TheSpaceGnome]

I look basically the same now as I did at 14, and my interests and hobbies are the same, but my knowledge base improved each day, and continues to do so.

I don't have any regrets, and I really haven't changed as a person.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Skills also improve each day.

[Rangers]

I've only become more and more blue as I realize that all of the hope I had growing up that I'd finally be free when school is over wasn't true, there's no freedom nor happiness anywhere for me

[BLP11520]

I gained wisdom and work experience have stayed healthy

[CrimsonAngel09]

I got silver hair at 29.

[Dargil]

I have changed wives.

[Anonymous]

I am consumed by regrets.

[Anonymous]

No, who does that?