What did you expect to be doing in your 30's?

[sampa]

hmm trying to think of interesting topics for this section. Anyone have thoughts on what you thought you'd be doing in your 30's back when you were 20? Married, kids, house and stuff or traveling the world? Share.

 

[ido]

I thought I was going to be living out my happily ever after with my husband and our kids/dog. Being a SAHM was my "career" aspiration in my 20s - and I did get to realize it for almost 5 years.

But, I'm adjusting to the turn my life took and am carving a new path for myself and the boys. My life isn't what I had envisioned, but I am traveling this path for a reason, so I might as well enjoy it along the way. God knows what He is doing with me.

 

[sampa]

Same here flnativegrl, I'm not sure I could even think that far. I've come to realize that even though things don't pan out the way we think they should have, sometimes God has better plans for our life.

 

[ido]

I'm pretty sure God always has better plans for our life than we can even fathom for ourselves. I pretty much had a crash course in allowing God to take over...I know I couldn't have gotten to where I am right now in such a short time by my own doing.

 

[Autumnleaf]

I thought I'd be a doctor in LA. I'm better off than that with my current job and family situation.

 

[sampa]

Autumnleaf, that's great. God always has our best interest Are you still military? Or is this picture of someone else?

 

[Grumpy Hillbilly]

Well, I didn't think I would be disabled, that's for sure! In my early twenties I didn't plan on living this long, so I guess life is just a surprise!

 

[Autumnleaf]

Autumnleaf, that's great. God always has our best interest Are you still military? Or is this picture of someone else?

No, that's me from when I was a Marine. I work in pharmacy now.

 

[sampa]

Well, I didn't think I would be disabled, that's for sure! In my early twenties I didn't plan on living this long, so I guess life is just a surprise!

Grumpy HIllbilly, Life takes so many turns doesn't it? I hope there are some positives to life after 30, I know I'd never want to go back to the mindset I had when I was 20.

No, that's me from when I was a Marine. I work in pharmacy now.

THanks for your service Autumnleaf, I've got some time in with the military also.

 

[Autumnleaf]

THanks for your service Autumnleaf, I've got some time in with the military also.

Thanks for your service. Tell me about it if you want to.

 

[Barnabas71]

I harboured an ambition of having my own haulage business. Perhaps… owning several trucks and employing a few drivers. I had no idea, at that time, that in a few years my father would start up a company.

I suppose this process assisted in getting the ‘entrepreneurial bug’ out of my system. ‘There must be more than this?’ was the phrase that was lingering constantly in the back of my mind whenever I would be sitting at the table in some restaurant and having to listen to endless, empty gossip, about different people who coexisted in that same industry. All they seemed interested in was their status, compared to those around them. I noticed how ever well they were doing, it was never well enough! They were often materially rich, yet spiritually bankrupt.

I certainly had no idea I would - in my thirties - be back at college studying A levels and focusing on university in a couple of years. The thirst and hunger to ‘make money, or make it big’ has now gone. But, ironically, my further education is being assisted by the positive legacy from the family business. I would be a hypocrite to deny this fact.

I would now like job satisfaction, security, and to work in a vocation where I am having a positive impact on society around me. I would find it rewarding to change peoples lives in a good way. To help people. I would also find it also rewarding to fight the evil that is now so prevalent and endemic throughout much of society today. I now have much more of a heart for the vulnerable, the hurting, the lost; that I did not have so much when I was younger. I suppose my values have changes as I have matured, and reflected on the things that are REALLY important in this life. There are endless occupations where I would have some hope of doing this - at least to a certain degree. Time will tell I guess.

BTW Autumnleaf, I have never been in the forces, but when I was a teenager I was in the army cadets, and really enjoyed it

 

[sampa]

I harboured an ambition of having my own haulage business. Perhaps… owning several trucks and employing a few drivers. I had no idea, .....

That's great Barnabas, I've been surrounded also by people doing the name dropping thing, looking for money and a lot of things while I just wanna run the other way. I'm starting to come to a point where i can accept it but not seeking after the money thing like I was in my younger years. Its awesome that your heart has grown for the lost and hurting. There's always the option of charity work also if your not led into a full-time occupation. God bless you Barnabas and thanks for sharing.

 

[ItalianAngel]

When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I fully expected that I would be married and have at least one child by the time I was 30. I'm 35 now and..well..I hope I'll be married and have a child by the time I turn 40!

 

[windcatcher]

It's almost always you are doing something you didn't think you would be doing, isn't it?

I thought I was in a ministry or something working for God, but things are so slow as usual. But I have been grown spiritually nevertheless. That matters!

Sometimes I would think that maybe I delayed certain things in my life so that God couldn't do what He planned. I now just believe I could be faithful to the Lord and He would restore those loss times.

 

[mandycross]

Hi I 'm new here and I turned 33 some months ago there were many things I thought would have happened by now but sometimes there are bigger plans in store for us than what we had for ourselves. I am happy that I am alive because many of us never get to reach our 30s. Thank God!!!

 

[PastorJim]

hmm trying to think of interesting topics for this section. Anyone have thoughts on what you thought you'd be doing in your 30's back when you were 20? Married, kids, house and stuff or traveling the world? Share.

I thought I'd be living on a house boat in Key West, solving mysteries in my spare time like Travis McGee.

As much as I loved spending time on my grandparents' farm as a kid, if you'd have told me that I'd be a farmer, I'd have called for the men in the white coats and the butterfly net to come and get you.

And if you'd have said I'd be a pastor, my family and friends would have called the men in the white coats.

I really wanted to see the world and just live like somebody in a Jimmy Buffett song, but I also knew that family was very important to me, so I got married relatively early and settled down. For a short time when I was first married, as much as I loved my wife and our new daughter, I did have bouts of disappointment at not being able to go off on all of those adventures but now, with my beautiful wife and five children (soon to be six), I just can't imagine what experience I could have had that would be more wonderful than this or would have brought me so much fulfillment and happiness.

 

[sampa]

When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I fully expected that I would be married and have at least one child by the time I was 30. I'm 35 now and..well..I hope I'll be married and have a child by the time I turn 40!

Same here ItalianAngel, never expected it. Times have changed though now so it's not as unusual.

.......I thought I was in a ministry or something working for God, but things are so slow as usual. But I have been grown spiritually nevertheless. That matters! ........

Windwatcher, growing spiritually is an awesome thing. Few of us consider all those that have fallen away, and how hard it is to come back if we do. Consider that a gift.

Hi I 'm new here and I turned 33 some months ago there were many things I thought would have happened by now but sometimes there are bigger plans in store for us than what we had for ourselves. I am happy that I am alive because many of us never get to reach our 30s. Thank God!!!

Welcome Mandycross, congrats on turning 33. Very true, turning 30 is indeed a blessing

I thought I'd be living on a house boat in Key West, solving mysteries in my spare time like Travis McGee.
...... but now, with my beautiful wife and five children (soon to be six), I just can't imagine what experience I could have had that would be more wonderful than this or would have brought me so much fulfillment and happiness.

Pastor Jim, sometimes God knows more what would make us happier than what we think would. And family is more important than any material possession that is only passing.

 

[tartanarmy]

I thought I was going to be living out my happily ever after with my husband and our kids/dog. Being a SAHM was my "career" aspiration in my 20s - and I did get to realize it for almost 5 years.

But, I'm adjusting to the turn my life took and am carving a new path for myself and the boys. My life isn't what I had envisioned, but I am traveling this path for a reason, so I might as well enjoy it along the way. God knows what He is doing with me.

I'm right there with ya! Only difference is no kids. I'm on a different path too but I discoved my wonderful Interpreting career and a calling to help others

 

[Big D]

I was so certain I would never make it to 30.I've never been so happy to be wrong.

 

[GoodNewsJim]

I thought I'd be researching cures for diseases. I at least thought I'd have a job.