Quarterlife Crisis: Making Happiness a Choice

People regularly seem to make conscious decisions to be unhappy, to focus on only the negative, to point out the faults of all those around them. Is it possible to do the opposite? Can you choose to be happy?

Quarterlife Crisis: Crisis Resolution(s)

In the past, I’ve pledged to do things like get in shape, be on time, call family and friends more often, actually save money (and keep it saved), and whatever other simple things I know I should be doing anyway. Despite the year I made that particular resolution, I still need to do all of those things. But I want something new for 2010. It’d be great to make all of those things real. But I want something very specific and new for this new year.

Quarterlife Crisis: Old Soul (a.k.a. You’re Only 25?)

I’m not trying to put a negative label on mid-20-somethings but when people are shocked that I’m only 25, I’ve decided to only take that as a good thing. Granted, they could just be saying I look old but since I disagree, if that’s what they mean, to hell with them and their opinions. I’m only embracing the positive. The older you get, the closer to 19/undergrad-ish 25 sounds. I get that. I am, however, no longer on that level. I grew up quick (seemingly voluntarily) and have no desire to go back. Although, every now and again, I’ll give in and have a Halloween Ho moment. I am afterall only 25. I’m allowed. Haha.

Quarterlife Crisis: Young Professional

At 25 1/2, 3 1/2 years out of school, in the business arena, I am considered a young professional. As a young professional, I amexpected to dress and play the part. But few people expect me to really know what I’m talking about. It’s an interesting conundrum. I’m being paid (entry-level pay, but pay nonetheless) to be a relative expert BUT most people consider me to be a younger/newer version simplyregurgitating what someone more seasoned has already said. And while it’s true that we all learn from the more experienced, that experience is relative to the topic and may be no more than a few months of experience. In many cases, I may in fact be the expert but my familiarity with pop culture, ability to stay up all night andwrinkle-less face all largely discount anything I have to say.

Quarterlife Crisis: THEORetical Weekends

Now what am I going to do? For more than 3 years, I have not had weekends. I mean they came around every week but I was still working. Mon-Fri I was at a desk, writing press releases, calling media, monitoring news. Sat-Sun, I trolled cement floors in a sparse retail store folding, straightening, helping half-naked customers in the fitting rooms and trying on clothes when we were slow. While I rarely enjoyed a day off, the work was easy and the people were cool.

Quarterlife Crisis: Giving Up the (615)

Two months into my stay, I got a speeding ticket and had to get a TX license to qualify for defensive driving. That was pretty painful but legally required. Not having a real choice makes it easier to choose. Since then, I’ve done pretty much all things Austin and Texas. I’m still waiting to purchase my first pair of cowboy boots but give me time. The one thing I hadn’t done was change my phone number. Somehow 512 just didn’t sound as good as 615 to me. 8 years is a long time to have a relationship with anything. In this digital age, your cell phone number and email address are really a part of your identity. I preferred to remain identified with Tennessee.

Quarterlife Crisis: Halloween Ho

I never did the teenage/college Halloween Ho thing. I’ve always been covered and warm. For whatever reason, the outfits never really caught my attention. I mean of course I noticed that attention they did grab but somehow I was above all of that. This year, I wasn’t above, below, beside, behind, or anything else. I was indifferent and thought “what the hell?”

Quarterlife Crisis: Meeting Me at the Airport

I’m not saying that my family and friends aren’t excited to see me. (At least, I’d like to believe they are.) I just think we don’t feel the need to do more than the minimum. We can hug in the car. Catch up as we’re driving home. When I pick people up at the airport, I don’t ever park and wait (unless their flight is running late and then I just wait in the parking lot). We all just pull up to the curb nowadays. What’s up with that? Are our relationships not worth getting out of the car anymore?

Quarterlife Crisis: Reminiscing: A Double-Edged Sword

With karma making itself entirely too comfortable on my couch, I’ve spent unnecessary hours reminiscing; when things were good, when my life sucked more than it does now (or at least it felt that way at the time), when someone made me feel loved, when someone (or the same person) made me feel pathetic, when I had friends forever and new enemies everyday, when I liked the way I looked, when I couldn’t stand to look in the mirror, when I was smart, when I felt stupid. It always amazes me how much I remember and how much of it I wish I didn’t.

Office Appropriate: Laid Off…Now What?

The outpouring of support from (most) people has been heartwarming and appreciated. But being laid off just sucks and there’s nothing that I can say about it that hasn’t already been said or anything that they can tell me that’s going to make me feel better about losing my job, my position, my source of income, my stability, my career. Plus, I’m still dealing with this. It’s less than 12 hours old. I’m sure I’ll be elated, depressed, excited, scared, relieved, and anxious all at some point. At this point, however, I’m just numb. I’m going through the motions, or at least what I imagine the motions to be.