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There is lots written about the quarter-life crisis, but a bunch of friends and colleagues and I have been talking about what happens when you around this age (27ish). We are comfortable with our jobs, have lived on our own for awhile, making a livable salary, possibly in stable relationships. And then at some point, you look around and go “Oh! Apparently, while life was happening – I am an adult.” As in, I can rent cars, have a file with previous years taxes, compare renter’s
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Comments
06.17.09
Fantastic post. I find myself thinking like this all the time - I'm married, have a house, get paid well. My life is pretty darn good. But what happened to my dreams of owning my own company (which I did once), working for myself (which I did a couple times), and doing big things (which I've done once or twice)?
I find myself wondering if I've now just settled for a comfortable life and will simply contribute a portion of my slowly-increasing salary to 401(k), only to find myself finally retired 35 years from now with just enough to not work for the rest of my life.
I'm not giving up yet, but even though I'm still only in my 20's, I certainly feel like my window of opportunity for dreams like I've listed above is closing quickly.
06.17.09
Keeping in mind that your plans and goals may change can avoid feeling discouraged when they don't happen. New things and experiences often tweak our plans and going with the flow can definitely lead to a happy life. I try to remember this every time my plans change.
06.17.09
I am going to be one of those smug folks who is going to claim that I figured out how to avoid the quarter life crisis. But then again, my dreams never included owning a company. I would argue that building a career and stability and starting a company are 2 completely opposite paths.
But anyway, the way that I avoided the quarter life crisis is to dely adulthood. At my undergrad institution, it was pretty common to waunder after graduation. I did the Peace Corps, lived on a commune, and had a subsistance life style where I never owned more than what could fit in a car or bus. I had a gig at a psych facility in my hometown where I could pop in, pick up some shifts, and make some money when I needed to.
By the time, I started grad school at 26, I was ready to settle down.
2 cents poorer,
DH
06.17.09
If you think that's bad, wait till you hit 30.
06.17.09
The thing is - I don't think this is bad. I am actually really happy with my life. This was more about "Well, all of those things I thought I would do eventually - will I do them eventually, or have I really chosen another path? If I decide I am going to do them, why do I suddenly feel I have to do them Right Now?
06.17.09
After meeting someone who became a lesbian after her husband died and traveled around the country as a traveling nurse, I'd have to say that the idea of having to decide on a life path seemed fairly quaint.
06.17.09
So happy to see this! After months of planning and thinking, I quit my job to transition careers as I finish my Master's. This involved not buying a condo I really wanted and living off my savings. Let me tell you, it sounds great in theory, but I cannot say some huge burden was lifted off my shoulders or that I feel like a better person now. To be honest, I feel about the same as I did before I quit:)
I like reading that it's okay to be happy with what you've got, and want to add personally that there is no guarantee that if you stop everything to follow your dream, you will find happiness, either.
06.17.09
I had plans and goals, but I went with the flow -- too much with the flow, in fact, to my own detriment -- and ended up not directly pursuing my goals. At 28 I'm in a nice stable job that doesn't really fulfill my goal and that I don't want to become my career. I still have the same goals as before and still have not made much progress. I've also picked up new goals along the way, but those are probably even less practical and normal.
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