[Closed] Feeling a succes?

I think you are all missing the point ....

OP, how many Instagram followers you got?

I love my job, and am very good at it - and i also work at a Castle. I make people happy, and making them happy makes me happy.

I didn't take a 'step down' to do it, though, so there the similarity ends. I've never really amounted to much, but i've always been more or less happy, so i've got that going for me.

I have two older brothers, and remember a conversation i had with my Mum a number of years ago that has really stuck with me. She said that she was only really worried about Thing One (not his real name), because he didn't know what he wanted. Thing Two always knew what he wanted, and what he needed to do to get it, so she never worried about him. Thing Three - me - she didn't worry about because she knew he didn't really want very much.

If there is a moral to the story, which i don't think there particularly is, it is to try and find what it is you really 'want'. There are things we undoubtedly 'need', and money is definitely one of those things, but what is it that you 'want'?

Thing One is fine btw - he rather 'fell' into where he's at, but is similarly very good at it.

PS - I have no Instagram followers at all, probably because i don't have an Instagram account - even if i did i don't reckon that number would be much higher

Someone please buy a pair of my girlfriend's smelly pants because I don't have a job and need money and a self esteem boost and an Alfa Romeo car

Following my cheery post on page 2.. .at least I've got my healt.. oh bugger.

The flip side of the stressed out busy sect is that someone values them enough to need them. That's not a bad feeling in itself. Because once you're not needed that's quite hard to deal with from my personal experience. (Working for myself perspective.)

It's difficult to get a balance and sometimes you have work very hard to support your family, i am lucky that i can work 3 days a week and make a very good living. However i expected to work until my mid 60s (out of choice) doing 2 to 3 days a week, then i had some health issues which means realistically i have maybe 3 years of being to do my job effectively which takes me to 57.

I am lucky between property pensions and business i will be fine, but if i had a rented house, minimum wage and no significant pensions i would be frankly s***ing myself.

So my advice is "you need to get a rainy day fund" and if that means working harder and longer for a while its probably worth it, but its a tough choice.

Been looking at Ma's and MScs and found one in environmental policy and management.

I don't have a science background, but for my BA I focused on environmental policy and had hoped to get in to that area once done.

Anyone in that area? Looking to do it part time. The fees are huge, but just about paid off my last loan, so taking out another student loan is money again I've never had so will not miss.

There seems to be more opportunities and roles in that area, than the heritage sector I am currently in.

Well, I’d like to buy Flange a beer.  Happy Birthday mate, and try to see the good side of things.  You know where we all are if you want to vent here.

I’m sat reading this in a moody pub on my own on my 39th birthday.

I earn north of 150k a year, have no kids, own a flash car, all the bikes I could dream of and a s****y flat. I’m utterly ‘Kin miserable and pretty lonely. My relationship is falling apart with my Mrs, I don’t see my family anymore and barely have any friends. I’m so knackered from work that I can’t face riding my bikes. When I do ride, I struggle to manage more than 20 miles.

This might sound a bit harsh but why not simply change career? If you're earning that much you must be pretty smart. And presumably have plenty cash tucked away. So change jobs, earn a lot less, sort your relationship (or start a new one), see your family, make new friends, ride your bike more. And you still have plenty time to make sprogs.

I appreciate there are maybe factors we don't know about, but overall the answer seems quite simple.

Oh, and happy belated birthday.

I've had a really good year this year, helped by finally having an ablation (9 months AF free), going back on to Sertraline, and the glorious summer helped too. For once I feel that I've got work and home life balanced, I'm loving spending more time with my daughter and work has been more productive too. Previously my happiness at work would influence everything. I run a micro business with a friend, it's not growing, in fact, just a child no2 is about to arrive my income is the lowest for years but at the same time instead of beating my self up about it I've learnt to take advantage of the flexibility self-employment can give.

It is very hard to stop comparing yourself to others, whether it's stuff on TV or social media or just friends. Have I achieved my potential? why does X earn more than me? why am I not a corporate director? Then I realise (combined with a bit of bad luck) that I'm not because I didn't make those sacrifices, I put my daughter to bed nearly every night, eat with my family and hardly ever travel away. Not many of my 'successful' friends can say that.

I've got some way to go but I slowly realising success is not totally tied to my career or income.

You sound pretty successful to me cheers_drive. Most people tell fibs and present themselves in a certain light on social media. Best avoided in my humble opinion. Apart from this place obviously.

Flange where is this moody pub? Close to Ipswich? I can come and buy beer too. (Is the pub dog friendly as the pooch will need to come along as there is a minor barrage happening in East Ipswich)?