Have you fulfilled your potential?

I would point you toward CAB. You would be an asset to them - knowedgable, articulate and forthright.

Sex chat line!?

Good luck, Galen. Lots of options still available!

Silverline - or indeed, CAB - would be my choice for you.

I shall cogitate profoundly on all your sage advice!
For now

I know I could gave done better at school. I hated maths, if only I had tried harder I could have passed my 11 plus. It might have made all the difference if I could have sat GCE's. As it happens I had a very satisfying career as a RMN specialising in care of the elderly mentally ill. I don't regret a single day of that, but having no school qualifications to enter on application forms was rather embarrassing and may have held me back.

Have I fulfilled my potential? - it is difficult to know what one's potential is or might have been. I've done lots of things that I am proud of: brought up a family, shared my love of music with others through running choirs and workshops and sparked that enthusiasm for lots of people, had two different careers that I think were worthwhile.

My biggest regret is not learning the piano - well, I had a few lessons, but then had to choose between that and the singing lessons, which won.

I do look back and think that I should have appreciated my good health while I had it, as life is a bit of a physical decline at present.

Whilst there are things that I would like to have achieved and haven't, I do think that we cannot achieve everything and I feel pretty content with what I have done.

Galen - might you consider becoming a phone person for Silverline, or is that not your sort of thing? You can do this sitting down. I am sure that with your background you could be a valuable person on any advice line. Having increasing physical limitations is so very frustrating - you have all my sympathy.

Not a lot I can do about it anyway! Bit flippin' late

I'm not sure I had any potential to fulfil. how does one know?However I am happy enough pottering about, still have DH which means a lot, and family and friends.

eBay, no, I'd have problems with th inland revenue

Galen you know that the tribunal work will stop in a year's time so as others have intimated, now is the time to start something else. I personally think that you need to meet like minded people, you do not want to be staring at 4 walls in a year's time.

Medical law would be fascinating and you could break it down further as that is very broad, to a specific medical subject which you enjoy.

You could try selling your handiwork on ebay, Galen, and donate the profits to a cause of your choice?

Stop being bored and do a course like something with the OU. Try doing some art. When you are feeling better perhaps you could do some volunteer work like reading to someone or teaching someone to read etc.

There are loads of causes what are your personal favourites? Mine is children so I would see if a childrens' charity is interested in it. Mind you it is rather lovely.

I suppose my main problem at the moment is boredom. I HATE being bored.
I'm reading 1-2 novels a day. CBA to take up a new crochet project and have been too ill with combination of this urti and arthritis flare up to go to archery.
I'm trying to find some cause that would like the throw I crocheted to raffle?
The wool cost £80. So I don't want it raffled for £30!
Any ideas?

Well, I'm pretty happy with what I've done, most of it probably mundane, and frequently dictated by circumstances.
I couldn't have been a Dr. (my mother's choice of career for me!) I was too fed up with academia by the time I left school.
Possibly I might have made better choices, who knows!

How do you know what your potential was?

Another cheery thread.

On the face of it I feel I did not reach my potential. There are paths I wish I had not taken, and other paths that I only now know were possible, with hindsight.
Oh to have a wise head on young shoulders.

I recall divorcing at 46 and my son who was at uni, encouraging me to consider a uni course. However with a home to keep and having a job I was sure of, and a son to look out for....... It seemed unattainable and was pushed to the side.

But we do not know if reaching our potential would equate with happiness.
And perhaps wishing and dreaming of what our potential might have been depends on how content we are at our present time of life.

I don't expect that I have but I'm not particularly bothered. At the time I could have done things it was generally the wrong time. I wish I had done more when young but I was too shy, you can't change that- it improved with age. It is never too late anyway - if I wanted to do things I could now.

Well - what is stopping you taking up your interest in law now? Even if physically it is difficult you can surely realize that potential - there are courses you can do from home - look at the OU. Doing a course with the OU will of course get you in contact with like minded people.

Look at a year in March as a challenge and plan and begin to fill your life up with other stuff. You have so much to offer and I am sure there are groups who would love your help.

The only thing hindsight is good for, in many cases, is beating yourself up

It's sad that you feel that way Galen, although understandable why, when ill health prevents you doing many things. Maybe something else will pop up to replace your tribunal work? You clearly have many valuable skills, are there other ways you could exploit them, arthritis permitting?

You sound really low, which is sad x

I certainly feel you've done a great deal in helping others *Galen, which is not of inconsiderable worth. You also display lots of fortitude, which is not to be sniffed at.

Sometimes I feel what you've expressed. From a poor education and unhappy childhood, I set my expectation bar very low. Fortunately, I turned it around and worked in an area which made complete sense. Those sad days still hover, but as I grow older I find increasing pleasure in the minutiae of everyday life. It is as it is. Onwards........

Looking back, some would say that there was no way that I would be in the situation I am now. Two alcoholic parants (if you can call them that) Father went to prison for GBH, lots of violence.
Then at 18 fate took a hand. Fast forward, my OH and myself were able to retire at 55, buy a house abroard, sell that, buy our Motohome, see most of Europe and meet some amazing people.
So yes, I've reached more than my potential.

No! I feel that when DH died 12years ago this month. I went into a decline! I should have socialised more, taken up my interest in law, that sort of thing.
Now I'm practically chair bound I'm really regretting it, and dreading when they tribunals stop a year in March!

My only regret was not having our children earlier, we married young, but due to ill health on my part we had to put off starting our family until quite late. But there was nothing we could do about that, so just fate.

Yep I feel the same. The trouble is it is so easy to look back with hindsight.

Blimey galen you are the same age - more or less as me I haven't nearly reached the end of my life ! and neither have you sod it!!!