How do you judge your life?

Question

Once in a while I sit back and wonder what my 10 year old self would think about how my life turned out. I think this is a fairly decent yardstick as it quickly illustrates the compromises I have made in my life.

I had a girlfriend who would go do mushrooms alone in nature and look at her life.

By what yardstick do you judge your own life?

Answer 1

That's a hard one, because there are so many ways -
I ask myself these questions every once in a while:
Any regrets? (What is a regret anyway? Something you wish you hadn't done, or something you wish you had?)
Did I do it my way? (because no one else can live my life for me)
Did I learn something? (because life is growing and reaching beyond what you think your limits are)
Is this where I want to be? (no, never, but that's okay - I have the rest of my life to get there, and the journey has been hard, painful, fun, and every other word)
Have I accomplished my goals? (so far, so good...)

Answer 2

MY ten year old self would have been stunned! Back then, I was a devout Catholic and straight-A student. Who knew I'd become an atheist, a Hippie activist, leader in the sexual revolution of the '70's and 80's, then a teacher and writer...and finally, the parent of a smart, funny, fantastic kid?!

I guess I turned out pretty well, after all. I have helped a LOT of people and continue to do so.

ADDENDUM: To Cordova; man, it makes me feel AWFUL that you've given up on sex! you're young! Get out and have some fun, esp. before reproducing, 'cause it USUALLY takes a nosedive then, no matter WHAT religion you believe in!

Answer 3

I measure it by thinking about when the end comes, whenever that may be, will I be at peace. I know too many people that are fearful like they are desperate to rectify so many things or they are in a panic to get to some arbitrary end.

I don't feel that way so I must be on the right track no matter what my age.

Trying to get more out of life, and actually getting it, is great but in the end I think Sheryl Crow sings it right: "It's not having what you want...It's wanting what you've got!"

Answer 4

For me money equals freedom. I am 27 years old and I am on my way to achieving that freedom. I have given up drink, I have given up tobacco, I have all but given up sex. I must make an obscene amount of money so I can stop working and live out the remainder of my life in drunken debauchery. As they say, work now, play later. I am going to work very hard now, and play even harder later. So far I think I am on the right path. So long as I stay sober and healthy by the grace of God I will reach my goal.

Answer 5

By how I feel about the things I have done. Do the regrets for the pain I've caused outweigh to satisfaction of doing good things.
By good, I mean ethical, loving, helping.

Answer 6

By how happy and well balanced my child is, in whom I have tried to instill the best of myself & my husband, whilst encouraging the good things in his personality.

Having a child raises your self awareness like nothing else. I am very aware of my 'faults' that I try not to pass on to my son.

Answer 7

i glance decrease back upon each and all the failings I even have completed in my existence and weigh them up and ask the question to which I already understand the respond as quickly as I die will I be going to heaven? whether saved by Jesus I usually ask your self even however i've got confidence in him and am saved by repenting I nonetheless ask your self whether i'm going to bypass to heaven as my existence is so packed with sin and has been for see you later that it out-techniques the solid. i'm a harsh choose upon myself and try to bigger myself continuously yet I continuously fail so I finally end up with the unanswerable question will i bypass to heaven?

Answer 8

I measure it by how much love and happiness and inner joy I'm feeling. Because in the end, that's all I'll have.

Answer 9

We should use the same yardstick that God will someday use.