h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think this is interesting: "Did you have an aimless and wasted youth?"
Primarily because I believe it is very important to have an aimless and wasted youth. That's what being young is about; the experience of having no idea where you're going and lacking real structure to your thoughts and goals is essential to being content with your structured, goal-oriented adult life.
I, for one, would be a very bitter adult, if I was unable to contrast the security I feel now about my future with the loss and chaos of my teenage/childhood years.
Being a kid sucks. It's really awful. The adults kids love most are the ones who haven't forgotten what it's like - and how bad it can be - to be young.
Of course, on the other hand, my adult life seems largely wasted and useless at times. Goal-oriented? Structure? My strongest orientation is toward the nearest pub structure with the goal of getting a really good ale.
But at least now I know where I'm headed.

-moth

I had a wasted 20s, does that count?

Well, in my meagre opinion, yes, it does count. As long as you didn't have a kid til after you were done wasting your life.

-moth

Some say "youth is wasted on the young" not at all. Im glad I lived through the 60s & 70s that was a time to be "alive"! In truth though I learned more after I left school than I ever did in it. I would say now that some youngsters waste their youth by being "stoned" out their heads for most of it! I have crammed a lot into my first 51yrs and Im glad I did, as this second half has slowed me down, but I still have my memories some and others.
Smudger.

I was 24 when I had my son, but I still managed to be a waster for a while.

I suppose it is what you think "wasted" is, if you were bringing up your son, that could not be described as "wasted" if you see what I mean. If smeone has spent a lot of time on a project, and it turned out wrong that time has not been wasted, because you have learned some thing out of it. Now to my way of looking at it the term "Wasted" is, spending a lot of time learning, say a skill, then not using it, now that is time "waisted" What do you think?
Smudger.

hmm, well, how about this. I went to a private school - and I was cab driving at the time. Not a huge use of my skills.

OK you have got me there, in the past I have, driven Taxis served behind a bar, and ran my own business for a while restoring and selling 2nd. hand furniture, but that was to provide for my family. So I suppose you got me The only place where I could find work for what I did, was abroad, so I went!
Smudger.

I too am very glad to have grown up in the 60s and 70s. The events of those two decades have HUGELY effected who I am today. I do however remember when I was stoned out, tuned out etc. I don't regret that experience but I'm very glad that my children haven't taken THAT path today. I didn't have my first child until I was thirty and my third was born when I was 39. Smudger- when you went to work abroad, where did you go?

Hi There Kasese, I just had to follow where ever the work went really, so when it dried up in the North Sea, I ended up out in the desert in TurkeyNot a nice place, if you know what I mean. Then I had to go to Russia to a place called Baku another grim place. When I got back I finished up out on Egypt All those places were Then when I returned the oil industry was SHUT, no work. So after a spell of running my own business I retrained and joined the ambulance service. Go to my home page, you can read the lot there Also some short articles Ive written(above my journal in black area)
Smudger.