Quarter-life Crisis... is there such a thing?!

I copied this from someone's facebook note, but I think it needs broader publication...

ON BEING TWENTY - SOMETHING
They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis." It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job... and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and that scares you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't.

One minute, you are insecure and then the next, secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person.

One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.

You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself...and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that every twenty-something relates to this. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

Instant Inspiration

I am not a poet by any means. In fact, the following is more "spoken word" than poetry. In any event, I authored what I like to call "Instant Inspiration" in my favorite coffee shop out of the blue. And like Erykah, "I'm sensitive about my s***t!" Enjoy!


I am consumed with thoughts of he
Who does not return my gaze.
His face looks familiar and I see
The striking resemblance is not physical
But all a part of the mind.
Searching for similarities, I find none,
But my own.
So much like me that I can’t fathom how
We’d ever make it.
Too stubborn to move, too
Spoiled to compromise, too
Cynical to love.
Attraction afire and we both know, but
What looks like glitter ain’t always gold, and besides
I ALWAYS get the last word and the last say.
SAY, how could he not requite my attention?
PAY ATTENTION!
OR ELSE!
Or else, what? he chuckles…
For he knows my wrath when met
With nonchalance is just
An idle threat.
You will SWEAT me, he thinks.
I think the same.
Thus, we miss a good thang and it’s no one’s fault but
Our own…