Wow, this is an uplifting post. Especially the ending where you say the best years are ahead of you. I really hate the mentality that the 20s are where it's at and then everything goes downhill after that. Who made this ridiculous rule? It wasn't me or you. And we certainly don't have to follow it. Life is what you make it to be and age is just a number.
Again, great post.

Like a fine wine, we get better with age, right?

The 'Quarterlife' time in one's life is filled with a lot of doubt, especially when you're still unsure of what you really want to do with yourself. I'm almost there (not quite yet) and a lot is still up in the air for me - but when I take a step back, think about what I have accomplished and think about what I have in both my immediate future and over the long term. There is a lot of life left to be lived, and the best days are ahead of me, ahead of us. This time in your life, when you’re trying to figure everything out, trying to make a buck - sometimes it feels like your treading water - but it's important to keep in perspective that every experience helps you grow and become stronger.

Good thoughts - and an optimistic viewpoint on something a lot of us are going through.

I think you are in an entirely different situation JRandom, and I don't think anyone here is discounting the sacrifice and service our soldiers go through to protect our freedoms.

Aw, thanks love. I'm glad it resonated with you... I don't feel so crazy now :-)

I truly believe it's all about finding a balance. I may start to learn to be "responsible" and do the things grown ups should do (and even sometimes enjoy them), but I will always be a goofy little kid on the inside. I hope!

I'm with Generation Xpert--it isn't new, it's just got a catchy new name. I had one in the early 90s, and my mom had one in the early 60s.

I suspect that like so many other things, this is a case in which we're not seeing a new phenomenon, we're just hearing about it more thanks to changes in communication and technology.

Valerie: Thank you for your kind words, I really do have a positive outlook on where we all are and even though I see my friends question themselves and I look at myself wonder what my own life will bring, I just realize that there's a whole new world out there for me to react and respond to. Plus I have til I'm 40 to worry about my life going downhill :-)

Matt: I wonder if the Quarterlife is actually the beginning- the beginning of self evaluation. We kinda have it when we go to college but we just go somewhere and maybe we'll transfer schools once or twice but we'll be happy where we are happy. After college what's stopping us from doubt at age 30, 40, 50? We should always take a moment to see where we are, and not be afraid of doubt, but to see where we want to go.

JRandom: I wonder if those that have those moments delayed by other commitments and life situations won't have those moments at other times- perhaps when a soldier comes back and sees the world is no longer what they are used to. Isn't that feeling the same for a college student who's world is no longer dorms, classes, and parties?

GenerationXpert Suzanne Kart: Totally agree with this phase being a transition- I like to use the word crisis as a joke, unfortunately I do know a friend that is pretty much going through a crisis at his quarterlife.

LiLu: I have you to thank because it looks like a midnight sleep-time rant turned into something a lot of people want to read. One day I hope I can post like you.

KateNonymous: Do you think as generations age we'll have new fangled words for stages of life? We hear that 40 is the new 30- will there be a 3/4-life renaisance?

Akhila: There are a lot of questions we ask when we get out of school- isn't it funny they are often the same questions we ask before we go to school? Sounds like college really helped! I think that fending for yourself does add new depth to who you are. It adds a dimension beyond the playful souls we were in college- we are still those people but we know a bit more because we have to live a bit more.

Never fully grow up...

Your post reminds me of one of my favorite webcomics:
http://xkcd.com/150/

@JRandom42, I agree, and I can understand that. I also think it helps to remember that there is always someone who faces worse problems than you do.

But that doesn't mean that lesser problems aren't problems. The "quarterlife crisis" (or whatever you want to call it) is a common phenomenon, and is part of growing up. To dismiss it out of hand isn't really reasonable, either, IMO.

Patrick, this is a great post, thanks for sharing it.  I really like the fact that you talk about the best years being ahead of us and you paint a great picture for what it means to be in your mid-twenties now with one foot still firmly planted in your childhood and the other racing out toward true adulthood.

I think the reason we see the term quarterlife crisis emerge is because people just grow up later now.  Scientists say your brain is not fully developed until about age 26 because people are now living longer, so we're really not adults until then, but at the same time we're 3 or 4 years out of school and expected to be fully functioning adults.  Also, in the past people were marrying in their early twenties, so adulthood was forced upon us.  Now we're stuck in this in-between phase that frankly, is a little awkward.

Anyway, thanks for the post.

-Ryan

Deadhedge,

You talking about this? Unfortunately, since this was released in 1971, us boomers have already named it. :)

Out here in the fields
I fought for my meals
I get my back into my living
I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven

Don't cry
Don't raise your eye
It's only teenage wasteland

Sally, take my hand
Travel south crossland
Put out the fire
And don't look past my shoulder

The exodus is here
The happy ones are near
Let's get together
Before we get much older

Teenage wasteland
It's only teenage wasteland
Teenage wasteland, oh yeah
Teenage wasteland
They're all wasted

This was such a fantastic post! You and LiLu were both speaking to my soul. I think there is a certain level of comfort in realizing that you're not exactly the same as you were when you were in college and thats okay.

@JRandom and @Katenonymous,
JRandom, the Who classic was not far from my lips and KateNonymous picked the show. Ultimate credit goes to a member of I believe the Lost Generation of TS Elliot (1888-1965)

Hey Patrick,

Nothing much to add other than that I loved the post. :)

Alex

Patrick,
New to the Brazen Network and this was the first thing I read. I'm glad I'm not in it alone. I thought I was the only one having heart palpitations at the grim spectre of aging.
So many bonuses to look forward to. Thank you for the reminder :)

I just turned 25 this year and I too am using the year as a time to reflect on where I am. Ultimately I've decided I'm happy with where I am, but also that it's time to start maturing a little bit. I don't mean to say to "grow-up" but at least start eating healthier and start to establish habits that will help me as I get older.