[almakic88]

25 is a rough age. I've got my life ahead of me but sometimes I feel like I don't know what to do with it. It sucks being young because I'm so impatient and there seem to be so many obstacles. Sometimes I feel like I'll be so much happier when I'm older. Older people seem like they have this kind of...settled...quality about them, like they have certain things figured out and have reached a point where they are sort of contented with themselves.

I hope I will get there one day.

~Alma

[redbandit]

Yeah it is tough, I'm 27, I feel the same way. It's just really hard growing up. Idk about other people, but I feel like I should be more mature and successful by now.

feel the same

my problem though is not knowing what i want- not so much age

though thinking about it, a lot of people my age have had experiences i never got to have. so hmm

[Lmats]

I'm 19 and in school right, still not 100% certain about what I want to do with my life, so I kind of understand the way you feel. There's this kind of a pressure like, you know that these are supposed to be the best years of your life, only they're not because you're too stressed out about figuring out how to make these the best years of your life, if that makes any sense at all.

[Thunder Bow]

I am 66 and still don't have every thing figured out, and I never will. That is an adventure in it self.

[ba.ll.oo.n]

25 and moving from 'the city of my dreams' back to my parents' house way back in the country. No permanent idea of what and who I want to be but damn if that's gonna keep me down. I firmly believe (because what's left then) that there are possibilities for us just round the corner. And it's usually that corner you've yet to walk past that they hide behind.

I turned 31 in August.
For a long time [especially from about 23-28] I was really focused on this concept of "getting on with life". Kind of like, mapping out my path, setting up points to hit along the way.

It seemed really important that I do specific things. School, for example became an integral part of my being. Frankly, it became pretty absurd.
I also became hyper focused on the long term relationship I was in, convinced that we would eventually get married- which we did often talk about- and have children, which was also discussed. But, they were like... trail markers. Once I had decided A, B, C... I was doing a, b, c, dammit.

Then I kind of fell off the map entirely. Essentially I burnt out. Of everything. The relationship was not what I needed or wanted, school keeps making my brain melt. I realized, if I have children- that is ALL I will be able to do. I won't be able to pursue anything else in addition, I just know that about myself.

Now I'm kind of on this meandering path, but I have basically cleared my life of all this excess crap that was weighing me down at least.

I've established what and who make me happy for the most part; I definitely know what and who don't. I seek out the former, take pains to avoid the latter.

I make connections with worthwhile people, I paint because it is good for me, right now I'm working on submitting a research paper for a conference because it is also good for me, but it is something I love to do. I try to enjoy whatever I pursue and have a general path. I try to just trust that I will find the right opportunities if I look long enough. No one really has it all figured out. Maybe they do... maybe a few of them who do are happy. I really think a lot of the individuals who "have it all figured out', though have figured out that they can be some sort of secure and some sort of moderately content in a way doing something they can tolerate.

Which is good for some people, and I'm not knocking it.

But the way a lot of societies are set up- we don't value the life-long learner, explorer. The person who continues to grow.

It's unfourtunate.
Don't limit yourself because everyone else wants to decide on an entree before they even get to the restaurant.

I feel you have to know what you are getting into, experience a lot of life, before you know what you want out of it.

[tealBumblebee]

25 and been home last two years since I graduated. I completely understand. I wish I had some insightful answers to offer you

[wiltedxdaisy]

I am 27 and feel the same way -- I always thought I would have things more "together" at this age, but I feel like I have accomplished next to nothing with my life. I know a lot of this is my mental illnesses speaking but somehow that doesn't seem to make it any better. BUT. You are not alone, Alma. None of you, no matter what your age, are alone. We are all different, and all need and do things at our own paces. Society seems to say we have to do this and this and this at this age or this age, but that is sooo not reality!

[NWgirl2013]

Hang in there. My absolute favorite age was 36. Dunno why, I just felt like things had finally fallen into place.
And Thunder Bow is right. You never really figure it all out.
It's the journey...

[TombE]

I'm 23 and feel like I should be somewhere completely different in my life. My parents were married, owned a house, and had kids by this age. I'm still broke as dirt, living at home, going to school, and getting by with my job, but not making enough to be able to afford living on my own. It all seems like a big mess. I feel like our age group has it pretty rough in this society.