[life_goals]

Hi, I'm new to the forum so apologies if this is in the wrong section.

Sometimes when I wake up in the morning I just think to myself what is the point of all this? It's not that my life sucks, it doesn't. I go to a decent uni, my family is generally caring, and although I don't have a lot of friends I maintain an okay social life and am not a recluse. My field of study most likely means that I won't end up with an insanely high-paying job, but I'm okay with that. In fact I could probably get away with not working for the rest of my life but still be able to live a decent life as I have been lucky enough to have inherited a significant amount of money.

However although my parents have never said to me directly that they want me to make loads of money and be 'successful', I know that this is what they both think. In essence I know they would be disappointed if I ended up doing something other than getting myself a traditional, 'respected' job after I graduate. The thing is, although I obviously wouldn't mind raking in the cash, I absolutely HATE the idea of sitting in an office for the better half of my life. Both my parents work office jobs in the most conventional sense of the word, and although my dad seems pretty content with his job my mum hates it and finds it incredibly boring, which just makes me even more confused as that is precisely what she wants me to do?

My parents aside, my ultimate goal for life is travelling. I absolutely LOVE it and would not mind doing it for the rest of my life. This might be different from what most people want but I quite like being alone and personally would not mind not being married or not having a partner. At this stage (2 years from graduation) I am just wondering whether I should just gather up my money after I graduate and just go somewhere else.

I guess what this comes up to is that I just don't really see the 'goal' of living anymore. For many people this might mean something like making loads of money or doing something productive for society, blah blah blah, but to be absolutely honest I just don't really give a shite about things like these. Ultimately it feels that I've been living the past 18 years for nothing, as everyone I know seems to be focused on making as much money as they can. It also seems that everything education-related boils down to money: When you're 13 they say 'get good grades in your Common Entrance exam so you can get into a decent school'. When you're 15 they tell you you have to get good GCSE grades to get into a good uni. Then they tell you the same bollocks for A-Levels. Now that I'm at uni they're telling me to get a Firsts so I can get a decent job. What is a decent job you ask? Why, that's a job that pays you loads of £, that's what! The question is, then, what to do if you already have enough £ - what then? Is living pointless after you get enough money to live the rest of your life comfortably?

I know I might be sounding like a depressed and angry c*** at this stage but do please forgive me, I'm just trying to describe my life as accurately as I can.

This is honestly the first time that I've told anyone about this. I hope I didn't bore all of you and thanks for reading this!

Hi… welcome to the forum! No you didn't bore me. And personally I think the point of life is to love others.

[Fuzzybear]

Welcome to pc. You didn't bore me. I agree with Dax's post, this is the purpose of life, imo - to love others

[subtle lights]

It's okay to be depressed and angry. And you didn't bore me either, I like to read stories (when my mind works haha)
And I think it's also good to realise what you love and don't love.

I think what might be the most frustrating is the contrast, between what you feel inside about what matters and then looking around you and seeing something completely different.

So then there is this conflict. Am I crazy, are they crazy. They (some) seem happy and content. But some are not. Still, nothing is changing and the pressure is high to conform.

I guess, there is no answer here...I'd advertise self love (still do) but I'm not practicing it a lot myself lately.
So, what you have is self awareness, know what you love, and try not to forget it, maybe? Even though it might happen in the darkest moments, and that's okay too.

[whisperingskye]

You have to do to what you want to do, not what you think your parents want for you. Honestly I'm not sure what the point is in life, but doing something you enjoy would hopefully make it more worth it. So if you want to travel then travel. I tried for years to do what was expected of me, what other people wanted me to do or suggested to me and it just made me miserable, or at least more miserable than I already was.

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by whisperingskye

You have to do to what you want to do, not what you think your parents want for you. Honestly I'm not sure what the point is in life, but doing something you enjoy would hopefully make it more worth it. So if you want to travel then travel. I tried for years to do what was expected of me, what other people wanted me to do or suggested to me and it just made me miserable, or at least more miserable than I already was.

I tried to do this as well for many years.. to do what was expected of me ..... it didn't work (one parent had NPD and the other had NPD or severe co dependency )

Travel can be wonderful (if I'd left the house to travel and / or get my own place at age 18 and maybe never gone back.. I hope nobody in this thread has "regrets" like this ever


But it's never too late to leave (in my case the whole thing was "too messed up" but in general I'd advise leaving "before they throw you out" )

This is to no one in particular. I'm an old bear now, howling at the moon

[eyesclosed]

Yep gotta do what you want to do. If you like to read the book"" Mans Search For Meaning" Man meaning everyone. He was a holocaust survivor. What makes it interesting is he was a young psychiatrist and learned some of the things he was taught weren't true.

[Clara22]

Hi
Your parents don't know that the situation has changed. You can study and get good grades and yet not to get a good, steady job. Job market is volatile nowadays. Sectors that are important and more relevant are changing, as well. The other day somebody told my nephew (who did not finish college) that today grades and certificates are not that important anymore but skills and results you can show you have achieved. And personality traits. Beyond that, entrepreneurships will be more and more important because people with money do not want to pay for social security or health insurance. They don't want to have you as their employee they just want to hire your services. To me, this is awful but it is what is happening, so...
Languages are good for you, traveling is good for you, enriching yourself and getting soft skills is good for you.
And beyond if you are employable or not, there is life to live.
A president from Uruguay once said: "The poorest is the one who needs a lot to live"
Poverty is sometimes relative and subjective.
I wish you the best and good luck with everything