Do you ever feel like life is passing you by?

[agent817]

I'm 25, still live at home (Though I plan to move out at some point), still don't have a degree (Trying to work on that), don't have a girlfriend (Trying to work on that, but I need to work on myself first), don't have kids (Though I want kids one day). However, many people I went to school with are "ahead" of me while I feel "behind" on some things. People I went to school with have families of their own, already graduated with degrees, etc. Does anybody else feel the same way? I do plan to do some of those things I mentioned, but economic times put a damper on that, not to mention that I don't feel ready to move out and/or have a family yet.

Anybody else the same way?

[Fauxberg]

Nah, mostly because i'm extremely young & have my whole life ahead of me.

[Deleted]

I fulfill the same criteria as you do (apart from the degree. I'll have my Master's Degree in a few months). As long as my grandma is still alive, I won't move out so that there is still someone "responsible" for her there and I hope to have a girlfriend and children one day.

But I don't view these things as being something missing from my life at the moment. I am completely happy with the life I am leading now because it doesn't feel like I miss anything. This will probably change somewhere down the line, but I am satisfied with my life right now.

Of course, others have "passed" me by. But the important thing is how I feel about myself, if I am happy the way things are.

People are different. Some do the things this way, others do them that way. No big deal.

[Deleted]

It's why I try to think about everything but my own life.

[theonetheonly]

All those people who you think are "passing you by" are probably in debt up to their eyeballs and are really way far behind you.

[alabastergrim]

Eh, I'm in pretty much the same conditions as you except I'm 27 and I have no college degree nor money to go to college. But you have to seize happiness where you can find it and not compare yourself to others. I'm trying to become a writer, I play my guitar and I have the equipment to make movies (and am working on that), that's what makes me happy and it's far from a "normal" life. Find what makes you happy and live accordingly and I promise you won't think that life is passing you by.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

No. I find myself wondering what all the fuss about life is anyway.

[rchi84]

bah, if you ever catch those who seemed to have "passed you by" in an evening, you'll be surprised to hear from more than a few of them that they wished they were in your shoes.

I know a lot of people who married early and had kids and kinda wished they hadn't rushed into it and saved up a bit before taking the plunge.

The most important thing is whether you are happy with the way you are living your life. Stop worrying about what others are doing because you only get to live your life once.

[CaptainFall]

As long as you know what you want then it's something to go for. No point comparing yourself to others, you've got totally different goals.

[Deleted]

Eh, I thought that way too. It caught up with me really quick.

["The Bantam" Rob Boss]

There's an old saying:

"Don't waste your life worrying about life."

I used to think "I'm 28 and have figured I probably will never get married, have kids etc. purely because I'm far too immature and I get bored easily." Then I just decided to let go of it all.

Que sera, sera.

[Deleted]

Nope. I'm 30, and I used to think that way sometimes, but really there is nothing that you are "supposed" to do in life.

Hell, if you want to sit on the couch all day watching tv and ordering pizza there's nothing wrong with it, as long as that is truly what makes you happy.

Don't worry about what other people are accomplishing. A lot of people spend their whole lives building from one goal to the next, and they work so hard at accomplishing things that they forget to simply enjoy themselves.

[Hit Girl]

No

Life is different for every person.

There's no set standard of what a life should be.

[Lazy peon]

Yes of course, all the time

[Deleted]

I'm 23 myself (almost 24) and have friends that are ahead of me. I don't let it bother me though, since I am actually working on all of those. I almost have a degree, have lived on my own at the college's dorms but live at home for this year and will commute to school. I have had a girlfriend but don't at the moment (I feel like I couldn't give it the attention it deserves at this time considering how busy I am with school...i'd have to find someone low-maintenance and that understands how busy I am or simply wait until I am finished with school in May).

This isn't to harp on people without degrees or a significant other yet (my own parents don't have degrees and we've lived rather well...not a rich kid but in a nice house with nice things). My point is it doesn't matter if you get where you think you're life needs to be before anyone around you (even if where you both want to be is in a similar spot), just as long as you do, and it seems like you are getting there. That's how I see it. If Joe Blow is working at the local magazine or submitting a book to publishers already so be it. Those are things I plan on doing and as long as I eventually DO those things then it all works. And ya just never know what life has in store.

I agree with what The Brick says, there is no requirement or set standard to when each of those things happen. You're not considered a failure if you haven't moved out by 25. My uncle lives with my grandparents still and he's over 50 (though I personally think he is a failure for other reasons...i'll leave it at that).

Only if I don't have those goals and/or I'm not doing anything to meet those goals would I consider that "life is passing me by" (and I have been in that spot in my life before too).

[Dean-o]

I'm 26 going on 27 next month. I still live at home although my situation isn't due to lack of money but rather helping out family in need. No college but I make 40k a year without any debt to pay off.

The only thing that bothers me is that so many of my friends are already getting married, having kids, etc. I have been dating a girl for almost 3 years but I have no desire to get married or have kids anytime soon.

[agent817]

I will say this, I have been criticized by a few people about my "lack of a life of my own." Also, this co-worker was telling me how I'm at an age where I should have kids already. I thought to myself "Says who?" which is what I should have said to him. He lacks a job and has 3 kids and is the same age as me. I think I'm in a better position than him. I love kids, but I'm not ready to be a parent just yet.

As for college, I guess that's why I even see people in their 30s at the college I go to. Some in their 40s as well.

[Mozenrath]

Aug 14, 2011 17:45:13 GMT -5 agent817 said:

I will say this, I have been criticized by a few people about my "lack of a life of my own." Also, this co-worker was telling me how I'm at an age where I should have kids already. I thought to myself "Says who?" which is what I should have said to him. He lacks a job and has 3 kids and is the same age as me. I think I'm in a better position than him. I love kids, but I'm not ready to be a parent just yet.

As for college, I guess that's why I even see people in their 30s at the college I go to. Some in their 40s as well.

Whoever said you should already have kids at 24 is kind of insane. Sure, you COULD have kids around now, but many parents don't, and many more shouldn't.

[Triwizard Champion]

I do. When I'm not online I basically sit at home all day,every day just trying to pass the time by watching tv or dvds. Unless I have a roommate at the time it's just me and my animals. No friends or girlfriend to speak of so it get's awfully quiet and lonely.

[LadyThrilla]

The only things that really bothers me is the friends or co-workers or whoever criticizes you because you are at a certain age and not married or not this or not that...my point is that if they are confortable with how their lives are why worry about others?

Which brings me to a point that has been mentioned on here already but why is it when everyone of your friends get married and you aren't why do they why to rush you into marriage?



LadyThrilla