Your life

[slick]

Very good question.
Financially, I'm alot worse off. The cost of living goes up every year but my salary doesn't reflect that and can't keep up. However, I have a comfortable condo with a wonderful view of the river (which I tend to take for granted until I get visitors ) and my mortgage will be paid off by the time I retire.

Jobwise, well, I'm just counting the years until I retire....9 more to go. I don't much like my boss and the work is OK. I've been with my present employer for 23 years and in that time my job has grown leaps and bounds and I've had to grow/change along with it and that's a good thing (says Martha).

Physically, I'm worse off....older, fatter and of course the cancer will never go away.

However I have to thank the cancer that lies within. You see "Mr. Cancer" has forced me to look at my priorities. My outlook on life, my overall mental well-being, and my attitude have changed drastically. Little things no longer bother me. I look at life in a different way. I'm now a "half full" kind of gal and I'm very optimistic about my future.

One last thing I have to point out is that 5 years ago, I had acquaintances, but no real, true friends. Now, and thanks to PT (take a bow Karen & Paul) I have many dear friends whom I love and am fortunate enough to experience not only deep and fulfilling friendship but a sense of belonging that I never felt before. The void has been filled.

With all that, how could I not be a happy person and better off? Life is good!

[moosmom]

Well, considering 5 years ago I was living in Michigan, I'd say I'm better off. I have a roof over my head, my furbabies and I'm close to my friends and family again. I wish I could predict where my life will be in 5 years, but I can't. I can only live my life one day at a time, at this point.

[Medusa]

I can only live my life one day at a time, at this point.

Sometimes that's all we can do, Donna. I find myself at times living from moment to moment and not just day to day. Life can be raw.

[moosmom]

Mary,

Life can be raw

VERY!!!

[lute]

In a few things I am better off now than I was 5 years ago and I feel I will only be more successful in 5 years from now. In others I wish my life would be as simple and care free as it was 5 years ago. Or even 2 years ago. I believe everyone goes through one BIG bump in their life and I just happen to be going through mine at a younger age. I do believe still today that everything will turn out the way it should and everything will be good once again.

[Suki Wingy]

That is a difficult one. I was only 13 years old, so I had a LOT less to think about or be reponsible for. Right now I have a good job, but I still don't get enough hours, and just today I ran out of gas on the way to work because I simply didn't have enough money to fill up. I have the best barn and trainer and horses to ride that I've ever had, but that costs about 90% of my paycheck.
Right now I have about a month to decide where I'm going. I had a plan lined up but I'm starting to have second thoughts. I'm leaning towards finding a live-in groom/rider job at a top show stable and doing that for a year.
I don't think I can judge what time was better since they are so different.

[Laura's Babies]

I am better off financially that I was 5 years ago. Everything is finally paid off, nothing now but month to month bills. The state of the economy has be really worried and I am scared of what is ahead...