Who is living their best life?

[Simon]

I've been thinking about this for a while, driven partly by hitting mid 40's and certainly spurred on by the comments in Barry's Coaster thread.

Clearly Coaster was living his life to the fullest - with adventure, and kindness and making every moment count. Who can you think of that's absolutely living their best life, either a public figure or not. A couple of actors that spring to mind are Tom Cruise, who's single handedly trying to make stuntmen the world over redundant, and Hugh Jackman, who has an amazing wife, adopted 2 kids, can act, sing, dance and does so with kindness and whilst always knowing the privilege that he has. Certainly seems to be one of the nicest people in 'Hollywood' from what I hear.

What with hitting middle age and with one young boy and our daughter on the way it's certainly recalibrating what life means to me and how I can get the most out of it.

I'm never going to be a world famous actor or have some of the opportunities of those who've really 'made it', but I'm still looking to be inspired by those who are living their lives to the best and making memories with and for their loved ones.

[Rich B]

There's enough pressures in life to just get on with, no need to add to them with the guilt you're not living your "best life!"

[dinny_g]

What Rich said...

I'm above ground, have a nice house, provide a comfortable standard of living for my family. My health is held together with medicines but it's holding together. Is it my best life - fuck knows but I'm winning...

[240PP]

I have nothing to complain about and enough good stuff going on to keep me content. I’m not a rich and famous movie star but when I look at what struggles some people have I think I’m one of the lucky ones.

[Jobbo]

I think James Corden probably is.

[Gavster]

Remember that some of the highest-achieving people are driven by deep insecurities and trauma, just because life looks shiny on the outside doesn't mean they're happy. I would never want world-level fame like Tom Cruise, I enjoy my (relative) anonymity too much.

You've got to define your best life on your own terms. I'm trying to build my life into the image that I've set out, for example I only want to work 5 hours a day so I've got plenty of time for other things, and never want to be so busy that I can't say "yes" to something fun.

I definitely hear what you're saying about middle age. When I hit 45 last year I had a massive "Oh shit, time is running out" moment. Immediately started to do things faster and think less.

[Rich B]

Let's sit back and watch this thread turn into people boasting about their achievements rather than actively trying to make others feel secure about their positions in life...

You're all doing fine. Don't stress about trying to over-achieve, you'll never get there if you're always looking over the next hill.

[DeskJockey]

What Rich says. It is a lot of pressure if everything has to be the best. Like everybody else I've got good and bad days, days where I'm feeling insecure, inadequate and like a numpty, and days that just went perfect. I'll settle for a good life and enjoy it as it is.

[scotta]

Let's sit back and watch this thread turn into people boasting about their achievements rather than actively trying to make others feel secure about their positions in life...

You're all doing fine. Don't stress about trying to over-achieve, you'll never get there if you're always looking over the next hill.

Can we not just have a good old fashioned argument instead?

[ZedLeg]

I wouldn't say I'm living my best life. I'm in a much better place than I was a couple of years ago though. Pretty happy all in all.

[Delphi]

As I'll be 55 on Sunday it's a good time to reflect on where I am. Could I be achieving more work-wise? Absofuckinglutely. But my work isn't important in the grand scheme of things, I see it as a means of funding my lifestyle, nothing more. I enjoy my work, but I don't live and breathe it. I'm focusing on making memories, so that means time spent with family and friends, holidays and experiences. Could my life be better? Probably. But equally, it could be a fuck sight worse and I'm very grateful for everything I have.

[DaveE]

I have high dopamine

"best life" for me = content (without too much going on)

[Rich B]

Let's sit back and watch this thread turn into people boasting about their achievements rather than actively trying to make others feel secure about their positions in life...

You're all doing fine. Don't stress about trying to over-achieve, you'll never get there if you're always looking over the next hill.

Can we not just have a good old fashioned argument instead?

yes please!!

[KevH18]

I doubt anyone knows anything about me apart from the car I own, but I'm feeling a bit shit at the minute. I was feeling not 100% until around 11 days but fairly happy with my job, my wife and haven't two young kids under 7. Happy with the mates I have and the best I've experienced in terms of supporting my football club this season, potentially being in the playoffs to get promoted to the Premier League for next season. Slightly out of our hands before next season but been so happy with them this season whatever the outcome is.

What happened 11 days ago was me being assaulted after having a few drinks with three of my mates before walking to the taxi to get home. Ended up with having a trauma to my skull, which hasn't been a massive trauma but struggling to get my head around what happened and have had some sort of headache since every day since then. Seems as if the police aren't able to charge the person who did it and it's difficult to get back into a normal life at the minute, so yeah, hoping it isn't too long to get back into being normal but can't say when that will be.

Feels a bit odd saying what's happened to people who don't know me in any way but prefer just getting to how I normally am in a short time

[Swervin_Mervin]

As I'll be 55 on Sunday it's a good time to reflect on where I am. Could I be achieving more work-wise? Absofuckinglutely. But my work isn't important in the grand scheme of things, I see it as a means of funding my lifestyle, nothing more. I enjoy my work, but I don't live and breathe it. I'm focusing on making memories, so that means time spent with family and friends, holidays and experiences. Could my life be better? Probably. But equally, it could be a fuck sight worse and I'm very grateful for everything I have.

All of what Andy said

Well apart from the age bit cos obvs I'm nowhere near that fucking old

I'm happy if I get even half of the jobs done that I task myself with most weekends - it's rare I get even half done though either

[nuttinnew]

I doubt anyone knows anything about me apart from the car I own, but I'm feeling a bit shit at the minute. I was feeling not 100% until around 11 days but fairly happy with my job, my wife and haven't two young kids under 7. Happy with the mates I have and the best I've experienced in terms of supporting my football club this season, potentially being in the playoffs to get promoted to the Premier League for next season. Slightly out of our hands before next season but been so happy with them this season whatever the outcome is.

What happened 11 days ago was me being assaulted after having a few drinks with three of my mates before walking to the taxi to get home. Ended up with having a trauma to my skull, which hasn't been a massive trauma but struggling to get my head around what happened and have had some sort of headache since every day since then. Seems as if the police aren't able to charge the person who did it and it's difficult to get back into a normal life at the minute, so yeah, hoping it isn't too long to get back into being normal but can't say when that will be.

Feels a bit odd saying what's happened to people who don't know me in any way but prefer just getting to how I normally am in a short time

That's unpleasant. Gws.

[Jobbo]

I doubt anyone knows anything about me apart from the car I own, but I'm feeling a bit shit at the minute. I was feeling not 100% until around 11 days but fairly happy with my job, my wife and haven't two young kids under 7. Happy with the mates I have and the best I've experienced in terms of supporting my football club this season, potentially being in the playoffs to get promoted to the Premier League for next season. Slightly out of our hands before next season but been so happy with them this season whatever the outcome is.

What happened 11 days ago was me being assaulted after having a few drinks with three of my mates before walking to the taxi to get home. Ended up with having a trauma to my skull, which hasn't been a massive trauma but struggling to get my head around what happened and have had some sort of headache since every day since then. Seems as if the police aren't able to charge the person who did it and it's difficult to get back into a normal life at the minute, so yeah, hoping it isn't too long to get back into being normal but can't say when that will be.

Feels a bit odd saying what's happened to people who don't know me in any way but prefer just getting to how I normally am in a short time

That’s a horrible thing to go through. Best of luck recovering, physically and mentally.

And we might just be a bunch of internerds who haven’t met you in the real world but we are humans.

[Gavin]

I doubt anyone knows anything about me apart from the car I own, but I'm feeling a bit shit at the minute. I was feeling not 100% until around 11 days but fairly happy with my job, my wife and haven't two young kids under 7. Happy with the mates I have and the best I've experienced in terms of supporting my football club this season, potentially being in the playoffs to get promoted to the Premier League for next season. Slightly out of our hands before next season but been so happy with them this season whatever the outcome is.

What happened 11 days ago was me being assaulted after having a few drinks with three of my mates before walking to the taxi to get home. Ended up with having a trauma to my skull, which hasn't been a massive trauma but struggling to get my head around what happened and have had some sort of headache since every day since then. Seems as if the police aren't able to charge the person who did it and it's difficult to get back into a normal life at the minute, so yeah, hoping it isn't too long to get back into being normal but can't say when that will be.

Feels a bit odd saying what's happened to people who don't know me in any way but prefer just getting to how I normally am in a short time

That's unpleasant. Gws.

Indeed, it is not the injury itself, from what you are saying, but just the fact it happened at all. May well be stress but a concussion can last for weeks as it is essentially a brain bruise (as it was described to me after a paint related head injury a few years back) I had headaches for a couple of months and struggled to drive in the dark.

As to living "my best life" I get what you are saying, especially when someone so young dies. I am happy at work, I am happily married (21 years and counting) have swapped our mundane cars for fairly fun ones in the past year and regularly see my huge family as we are able to afford fuel to get to Hull, Aberdeen and so on.

Sometimes living my best life is reading a pulp novel whilst filling my face with Bombay mix and drinking cup a soups.

For me, at 47 that does make me happy. Would I be happier with a bigger house, faster car etc, not if it went hand in hand with a more stressful job I think. Happiness and contentment for me are where it is at.

[mik]

@KevH18 sounds awful sir - get well soon.

[DeskJockey]

@KevH18 sounds awful sir - get well soon.

Very much this.