Keep your own counsel

iVillage member: cl-trix2001
At 10: My biggest fear was an airplane crashing into our chimney (an overactive imagination!) My happiest moments involved going to stay at my Aunty's house and my biggest hope was that we could be a happy family.

Advice to myself: However much you worry, you won't change things.

At 20: My biggest fear was being found out; I was having an affair with a man older than my dad! My happiest moments involved staying with friends, and my biggest hope was to be married with kids.

Advice to myself: What the hell are you doing?

At 30: My biggest fear was whether we could we afford to pay the mortgage. My happiest moments involved my children, and my biggest hope was our money worries would be over

Advice to myself: However much you worry, you won't change things.

At 40: My biggest fear was getting old. My happiest moments involved my children, and my biggest hope was for my kids to be free of worry and to live happy lives.

Advice to myself: I'm 42, so don't have any advice to give to myself yet - ask me again when I am 50!

And finally: The one thing I have learnt is however much you worry, you won't change things. Be pro-active and do something about it!

iVillage member: dabchick
At 10: My biggest fear was being bullied at school. My happiest moments involved playing cards and marbles with my brother and parents, and my biggest hope was for the bullying to stop.

Advice to myself: Watch and listen to my mother more carefully; she died when I was 11-years-old.

At 20: My biggest fear was the blackouts on the nights when the electricity was off due to strike action. My happiest moments involved being out with my boyfriend, and my biggest hope was to find a good person to share my life with.

Advice to myself: Write down the family stories my grandmother told me.

At 30: My biggest fear was that we would never be financially sorted. My happiest moments involved time spent with my husband motorcycling, and my biggest hope was to be able to gain promotion.

Advice to myself: Enjoy the simple things in life.

At 40: My biggest fear was the realisation that probably half of my life had already whizzed by. My happiest moments involved riverboat trips, holidays and of course time with my husband, and my biggest hope was that I was going to enjoy the new job I was about to start.

Advice to myself: Spend more time with your family.

At 50: My biggest fear was that we were never going to have financial security. My happiest moments involved time out with friends, time with my husband, and my biggest hope was that my husband would succeed with his business.

Advice to myself: Enjoy the moment. Time is precious.

And finally: If there is one thing I have learnt so far it is that no matter what, the clock keeps ticking.

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