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Scared of 25: Cubicles, Lumberg, and Monotony

6/7/2010

2 Comments

 
Dude, part of me having a “quarter-life crisis” is the fear of monotony. Right now, being a student, my life is fairly spontaneous and fairly eventful. It was even more eventful in undergraduate; endless fun. As I get closer to graduation, everything is getting realllll serious. Internships, interviews, butt-kissing, I’m expected to super-professional ALL THE TIME. Can’t be myself without being corrected. Some of my friends who have already graduated and are in the workforce say that the money is good, but they barely have time to spend it because they spend most of their time at work. They complain that when they finally get home from work, their busted and often hit the sack. If they try to go out after work, it seems like it’s no time before they have to head home. The weekends go by too fast, there aren’t enough hours in the day and vacation time is few and far between. Does it matter what shift you work? Nope. Not according to them. From their perspective, 40 hours a week ALWAYS translates into 8 hours asleep, 8 hours at work, and 6 hours to yourself ( the other 2hrs are spent getting ready for and driving to work). 6 hours goes by fast (and you get EVEN LESS than 6 hours to yourself if you have children).
 I imagine that things can get pretty mundane when your schedule is that predictable and repetitive. One of my friends posted a Facebook status that said “School, work, church….over and over and over… which is why I’m bored out of my mind with life…”

Among the other complaints about the daily grind is the shortening social circle. Everyone you knew before you got in the workforce is either in another state or just as busy as you are. Everyone at work you either have nothing in common with or there’s a limit to how close you can get to them because of professional ethics. Speaking of “professional ethics,” remember when I mentioned having to be super-professional ALL THE TIME? Well, if you spend most of your time awake at work, then that means you spend most of your time being the “professional,” you and not yourself. How suffocating and frustrating. What kind of life is that?

Now, the remedy most people offer for avoiding monotony in work is “finding something you enjoy.” But how many people REALLY get to do that? My biggest fear is that no matter how hard I try, I’m going to end up with a job where I dread getting up in the morning and I’m bored to tears with life. Ever see “I Think I Love My Wife” with Chris Rock? I’m afraid of being his kind of bored LOL. Ever see the film “Office Space”? I’m afraid of feeling that kind of suffocated and unhappy without any relief. I’m going to go insane! For me, that’s what turning 25 equates to: a cubicle and/or office prison with a jerk for a boss (i.e. Lumberg from “Office Space”) and no time for myself. Yeah, I’ll have way more money than I have now and that would be great, but at what cost? I would like to believe that I’d be “different” and I won’t end up in that situation, but I don’t know. I don’t know what my chances are at breaking the mold and LOVING my job while I make money. I’m so scared that I’ll end up with a boring career/life, that I wrote a song about it. Most of my friends say it hits right on the nail and they share my same feelings. I feel like pulling a “Van Wilder” (yet another movie that reflects my career crisis) and keeping myself from graduating so I won’t have to become a “real adult.” Most people are excited about graduating and getting their hands dirty in counseling. Me, I’m like “Get me outta here!!” Can’t I just be 21 again and be 21 forever? I guess I see why there’s a chain of clothing stores called “Forever 21” and not “Forever 25.”

 


 
2 Comments
Catana Jones
6/14/2010 02:44:22 am

a chain of clothing stores called "Forever 21 and Forever 25" lol. that's hilarious.Pretty much everybody wants the good job that they love to wake up to everymorning; I know I do. I've work with a lot of women who are in their 30's and 40's and they tell me all the time that they wouldn't pay to go back to their twenties because the 20's are basically the "lost age." Everything we do is a struggle and a battle to find our place in life. Dating is a hassle, finding what we like to do is and where u want to do it is a hassle. when does the journey ever settle? I was told by the age of 30 you will find your way but my question is,"Do we ever find what we want or do we just settle for what we can get(In all aspects)? I really feel like entertainment plays a big factor into why "the 20's" are so hard to deal with.I think that entertainment world really hinders us from the reality.Therefore, its hard for us to get it together because the majority of the 20's have raised themselves,never had a positive influence, strong foundation or motivation to step outside the box and get it together. My advice to you is to know that everybody has their own story and although some are similar doesn't mean that your story will exemplify everybody elses.Follow your gut feeling and let the rest takes its place.I truly believe that life is what you make it regardless of your job, living situation and circumstances.Ok, so that was my philosophical wiew on the 20's, lol. Now here is my statiscal view on the "quarter life crisis." I believe that its just an iniation into life really but everybody just adjusts differently to the cubicals and 40 hour a week jobs.statiscally, there's only a certain amount of people who will actually find a balance of satification and happiness in their career, love and social life. Everybody is not going to have that balance because everybody will not grasp the wisdom and knowledge to obtain that balance; or opportunity to get that great career unless determination is off the charts and shit amazing.lol.

Reply
M. Johnson
6/21/2010 02:33:35 am

I totally feel you on that quarter-life crisis. It's the primary reason I quit my cushy corporate job and moved to ATL before my cubicle even warmed up. The thought of a mundane and mediocre existence frightens me.

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