2022 - Moving forward

jwil

savingholmes said:

Great news all around

Thank you

EssexHebridean

Oh don’t get me started on the “you don’t need to isolate” thing! We’ve popped out most days for a walk and some fresh air, but only on foot, avoiding anywhere we’re likely to see other people and giving anyone we DO see the widest of wide berths. MrEH has worked from home, I’ve been off sick as my job doesn’t translate to home working, but there seems to be a segment of society who think it’s fine to be in and out of shops etc as they usually would even when knowing full well that they are positive! Grrr! 

Glad to hear that things are on the up with you and that little jwil is fine. 

jwil

DH has taken the kids out on their bikes so I've got a few minutes peace to try and tidy round.  I've ordered them new cycle helmets so I'll pick them up in the week when I go to the office.

3 items sold yesterday so they have been packed and DH will drop them off.

I've been watching TOTP specials on BBC2 the last few weeks, they are doing the 90s, so it's the music of my yoof!  I'm loving the reminiscing of what was undoubtably the best time of my life - those few years around college - late 90s.  I was doing a job that I loved, I loved college, had a great set of friends and no responsibilities.  I was in a long - distance relationship, so had a really great balance of being coupled up but also loads of freedom to do what I wanted.  I was doing lots of travelling, I wasn't fat!  Good times

jwil

EssexHebridean said:

Oh don’t get me started on the “you don’t need to isolate” thing! We’ve popped out most days for a walk and some fresh air, but only on foot, avoiding anywhere we’re likely to see other people and giving anyone we DO see the widest of wide berths. MrEH has worked from home, I’ve been off sick as my job doesn’t translate to home working, but there seems to be a segment of society who think it’s fine to be in and out of shops etc as they usually would even when knowing full well that they are positive! Grrr! 

Glad to hear that things are on the up with you and that little jwil is fine. 

It's so frustrating. It's basic consideration for others.   I hope you are both recovering well!

WinterWarrior

I love the reminiscing! I wasn’t fat either 🤣 but there are lots of things I wish I’d know and done differently. I’d have a totally different life now if I hadn’t had to learn everything the hard way (and I mean everything) 🙄

jwil

WinterWarrior said:

I love the reminiscing! I wasn’t fat either 🤣 but there are lots of things I wish I’d know and done differently. I’d have a totally different life now if I hadn’t had to learn everything the hard way (and I mean everything) 🙄

Yes, those few years were the golden years before it all went to ****     

I was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2001 and put on several stone that year from the meds despite being more active as I had to surrender my driving licence.  I was on them for years and put on more each year.  I naively assumed it might come off when I stopped taking them but it didn't, and bad habits, combined with comfort eating etc were well and truly engrained by that time!

I haven't always made the right decisions, but generally I am comfortable with what I've done.   My biggest change would be the finances, as that travelling was the start of my years of indebtedness.  However, it was great fun and I don't regret it.  It would have been nice to get on top of it earlier though.

beanielou

The important thing is that you enjoyed that time of your life & made memories for a lifetime.

You have tackle3d your debt amazingly.  What's not to like.

EssexHebridean

Gentle suggestion - think of how things may have been different without the meds that lead you to put on weight - would you really have had as much additional quality of life from being a couple of stone lighter as you gained from being on the medication to help control a serious medical condition? Also - if you were more active at that stage, then in fact even with the extra weight you were almost certainly still “healthier” than you were at your lighter pre-meds weight. Talk kindly to your body - you wouldn’t turn to a best friend when reminiscing about those times and say to them “and you weren’t fat!” so why would you do it to yourself? (Also - fat - it’s a substance, not an insult! 😉)

I completely agree that being able to look back at a time that was particularly wonderful and balance up the fact that yes - it lead you to debt, but it was also amazing, so the benefits outweigh the costs. I have a few periods of time like that myself when I come to think about it - I definitely wouldn’t change the things I did but like you I wished I’d gained the knowledge of how to manage it better, sooner. The key thing is that we DO eventually gain that knowledge, see the foolishness of what came before, and tackle the situation, but above all, retain those lessons so we don’t dig ourselves back into the same holes in the future. 😁

another_casualty

The '80s was my time , but the '90s were also good . There were hard times then as well , but money still seemed to go further. Everything was much more cheerful than these last 3 years whether we're better off financially or not . I'd say we had the last of fun times , before people of my age are forced to tread on eggshells or be "cancelled " . Who would have thought ? 

This covid malarkey is still confusing to be honest . While I was self isolating and doing eveything as instructed, all of a sudden we are told we don't have to wear masks etc like we used to . It's only in the last couple of weeks that I stopped wearing a mask when having my food shop delivered. Then on the other hand , I have to go to post office tomorrow and will wear a mask out of respect / common sense . 

Can't say I have many regrets over the years . We've all done stupid things / make the wrong decisions etc but I'd say my life is planned out for me anyway , and the "keep calm and carry on " mantra seems to be the way forward .
Oh, and don't look back - look forward 😼

jwil

beanielou said:

The important thing is that you enjoyed that time of your life & made memories for a lifetime.

You have tackle3d your debt amazingly.  What's not to like.

Thank you, very true

EssexHebridean said:

Gentle suggestion - think of how things may have been different without the meds that lead you to put on weight - would you really have had as much additional quality of life from being a couple of stone lighter as you gained from being on the medication to help control a serious medical condition? Also - if you were more active at that stage, then in fact even with the extra weight you were almost certainly still “healthier” than you were at your lighter pre-meds weight. Talk kindly to your body - you wouldn’t turn to a best friend when reminiscing about those times and say to them “and you weren’t fat!” so why would you do it to yourself? (Also - fat - it’s a substance, not an insult! 😉)

I completely agree that being able to look back at a time that was particularly wonderful and balance up the fact that yes - it lead you to debt, but it was also amazing, so the benefits outweigh the costs. I have a few periods of time like that myself when I come to think about it - I definitely wouldn’t change the things I did but like you I wished I’d gained the knowledge of how to manage it better, sooner. The key thing is that we DO eventually gain that knowledge, see the foolishness of what came before, and tackle the situation, but above all, retain those lessons so we don’t dig ourselves back into the same holes in the future. 😁

Thank you for the wise words, much appreciated and very true   

I do actually use fat as a descriptor - not an insult.  I'm trying to claim the word back   I can't deny it, I am fat.  I don't apologise for it, I'm not ashamed of it (though I would like to be less fat!), it's no one's business but mine.  It's my way of trying to accept who I am and recognise that I am not a lesser person because I am fat.  This is me and I have as much right to be here as anyone else.  I've been reading stuff from the body acceptance movement, and from health at every size.  

It's a long, hard lesson for me, but one I've been working on for the last year or so.  However, I would never use the term to describe others as I know people don't see it the same way.  I don't pretend that there aren't health risks and issues from being fat, but equally I shouldn't spend my whole life waiting until I lose weight to live - and that has been an issue since I put on all the weight!

another_casualty said:

The '80s was my time , but the '90s were also good . There were hard times then as well , but money still seemed to go further. Everything was much more cheerful than these last 3 years whether we're better off financially or not . I'd say we had the last of fun times , before people of my age are forced to tread on eggshells or be "cancelled " . Who would have thought ? 

This covid malarkey is still confusing to be honest . While I was self isolating and doing eveything as instructed, all of a sudden we are told we don't have to wear masks etc like we used to . It's only in the last couple of weeks that I stopped wearing a mask when having my food shop delivered. Then on the other hand , I have to go to post office tomorrow and will wear a mask out of respect / common sense . 

Can't say I have many regrets over the years . We've all done stupid things / make the wrong decisions etc but I'd say my life is planned out for me anyway , and the "keep calm and carry on " mantra seems to be the way forward .
Oh, and don't look back - look forward 😼

I think the whole cancel culture is a difficult thing.  Times are changing so quickly, and it takes people time to catch up and people should be accepting of that and take time to explain things. 

I think that attitudes need to change on certain subjects, but certain groups are so quick to shut down anyone who doesn't think like them, and they don't allow other opinions.    The whole debate around what JK Rowling thinks of trans people is an example of that.  Her thoughts, whether one agrees with them are not, are not coming from a place of hatred or ridicule, but from her own abusive experiences and concerns.  It's something people should be talking about and considering how a place can be welcoming to all people, rather than just trying to shut her down because of one tweet.

I do tend to look forward, but love to look back at the good times