Anyone just sick of the grind?

I'm now 24, have a degree from a good University, and a job that is meh, but at least I have a job. I have good family, good friends, etc but watching friends get married, have gets, get stuck in a rut that is just a rinse and repeat of so many others:

Graduate high school, go to college, get a degree, take some crappy job, end up not liking your job/field, get married, move up in job/field that you don't like, having kids, get a few weeks off per year, retire....then, um..you can 'experience life'

I just have a hard time fitting in with this. I know my example seems pretty extreme, but from what I have found, it's not far from the stereotypical common case. I really have a strong urge to just get up and travel as I feel that people are meant to explore rather be be cooped up in cubicles.

Will I have tons of money? Well who knows what ideas I may stumble upon whilst traveling. But I will probably be relatively broke. But will have experiences you can't pay for.

Anyone else hit with similar thoughts/outlooks? Or those who have just picked up and done something similar?

 

Define life on your own terms.

Culturally too many people allow themselves to be defined by a career they decided not to like (yes, it is a decision we make). If at 24 you are not tied down by wife, kids, etc then travel... do what you want to do. Explore... put some experiences under your belt.

For me it has been an inner journey inspired by realizing that I was not content with situation after situation then confronting that choice thing--- and addressing the process that inevitably induces discontent with where I end up because I'd been in the habit of fixating on things I didn't have... and not appreciating what I did have.

Everyone is different though but happiness is not a destination- it's how you define your journey and isn't tied in to an income level, status, setting, etc. It's how you look at wherever you find yourself. Conduct yourself angrily or sullenly through your daily grind and those around you will reflect your energy back at you- and make your situation worse.

Think about the people you like being around and how they are different from most other people.

Hope this made at least a little sense.

 

I feel you mang, the exact same thing goes through my mind. but already in the last few years I have become more tied down feeling, so I suggest you do it asap while those thoughts are fresh. otherwise it will be simply a 'i should have' thought.

I'm not doing the wife and kids thing anytime soon, but I'm now up against following that instinct or pursuing a career in law.. which I am drawn to morally. in reality I know I would rather go be a forest ranger out west somewhere. one of my cousins is following his dreams, he just packed his shit and rolled out west from fl. he is now getting certifications to be a mountain guide.

listen to your instincts is all I can say.

 

Yes Im sick of it,life sucks

But if I tell anyone how I feel they tell me Im depressed,Im not depressed they are deluded.

 

I don't think you should feel pressured into getting married and having kids right away. There's not a perfect formula for life. Just think about the things that are most important to you and make decisions based on those.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4"]YouTube- Music and Life - Alan Watts

 

It does become kind of monotonous doing the day to day existing thing but it all just depends on what your definition of a successful life is. Some people just can not be happy without alot of money and stuff while others are content living with less. The more you gather and save the more complicated life becomes. I find working to be a necessary evil as I do not like being broke and become bored if I'm not working, plus without money its difficult to do stuff. To be completely free does not come without a price, as the future looms pretty large you just have to decide what you priorities are. Whats important to you? When I do take time off I just go balls to the wall and have as much fun as possible

 

I'm living, and am going to continue living, I am shaping the grind to my own needs, that not only will I be able to live a more complete life, but so that, if I have children, their life experience may be more complete, more easily.

the grind is not for you, it's for the people around you, if you're single, and plan to remain that way, man, travel, live on the road.

 

you use a lot of commas

 

I said goodbye to the daily grind three years ago. I built up my finances to a certain point and switched to a work from home job that is not full-time. It was one of the best decisions I ever made, but I don't regret that I didn't do it sooner. You have to make some real money at some point in your life and use it wisely, or you will always be poor. I've done many nonstandard things in my life, including a decision not to have kids, because I looked at the stereotypical American middle-class life and decided that I didn't want it. There are just too many meaningless hoops to jump through.

 

I was for awhile. I've been pretty ill for awhile, and got stuck in a crappy routine. Finally my health has let me move out of my parents again and I'm living with a good friend. We're both in the process of looking for jobs and I'll be going back to college here next fall.

I'm sure once I'm working and going to school though it will get a bit boring and repetitive, but I always make sure to do a lot of different things in my life to keep it exciting. Road trips, concerts, and just simple things around town keep life fun.

 

In 1998 I crawled out of a tractor-trailer turned in all my whistles and buzzers and walked into life.I had watched the world through a windshield full of debts and bills on things that would be wore out before they were payed off.Now I live in a trailer 1 block from a river(fishing ya know),plant a garden,2miles from 9000 acres of public hunting,owe no one,have only what I need which is "three meals a day" everything else is only for bragging rights.Found that elusive commodity that everyone seeks,FREEDOM (to be).Once I realized that I am a human being,not a human doing I was able to let go of my bragging rights and lay down that pride which keeps ya humping,"ohh but what will my friends, parents,or other people think",fact is if they are not running ya down for one thing, they'll do it for another."ya can't please everyone so ya gotta please yourself"

 

The grind has been known to cause people to kill themselves...

I never understood the concept of working yourself to death for things you wouldn't be able to enjoy anyway because you're always too busy or too tired to enjoy them.

 

I think you need an older teacher in your life to experience some of the simple things that life has to offer

 

But really, you have your university degree and you can always use that as a safety net. There is no law that you must get married and have kids. That's not for everyone.

You can travel, and you won't be rich but you will at least gain experiences that you seem to want... why put yourself into a life that you don't want? You may regret never doing what you wanted to do. Just go ahead with it. Just be careful and make sure you get enough to eat and have good access to medical.

 

Theres this dude here Red who ran off to Thailand to teach English.

I've heavily thought about it. If it weren't for my film lust, I'd be there in a heart beat. I am not satisfied with an average job, I want to see the world.

 

When I graduated, I only went to one interview for a job, got it and started working there for 2 years. I realised that I never gave myself a chance to look around and see what life experience I could get, so I quit. I hope to go travelling in a couple of months, maybe do some other courses and really give myself the chance to work out what will make me happy. If it all fails, I have my degree to fall back on. But I would rather take this chance, then look back on my life in forty years and have regrets.

 

get some equipment, watch more movies, and make films in thailand?

 

Finding good English actors would be my only concern.

 

Yeah, I want out, but,...

I've had two jobs I was sure I was going to retire from. The first was at a Department of Energy Facility. I wasn't crazy about the job, but after several years, I accepted that it was probably as good/bad as any other job, so I quit looking and just decided to ride it out. Within a couple of years the DOE decided to close the site. Ugghhh! Out on the street. It took me a year to find another full-time job. During that year I found several contract or part-time jobs that provided a decent income, but I couldn't see very far into the future.

My next job was with a good company, large, very stable, etc. The politics in that position were frightening, but my co-workers were a pretty good group. The position afforded me a nice lifestyle. Again, I figured this was my position for life. Eventually the site fell out of favor with the corporate gods and there were some severe funding cuts. Even with years of experience, I was still the new kid on the block as nobody ever left that company. Despite assurances I was safe, I was let go. I'm still pretty bitter about that one, but there's nothing I can do to change it.

I had a very intense, very stressful job search. It was hell, but short. I found a work-from-home position that pays more than my former job. The benefits aren't quite as good, but are acceptable. I've got a fair amount of business travel, but my wife and I have found ways to make that work. All things considered it's not a bad deal.

Where I'm headed with this is that I'm tired of some corporate SOB having control over my life - especially my personal life. No they don't influence my day-to-day private activities, but when you get laid off, especially if you're completely blindsided like I was the second time, you're faced with some unsettling questions. How long will this last? How much will I make? Will I have decent benefits? Will I have to move? If so, where to? Will the new area support the leisure activities I enjoy? Etc.

I'm tired of it. I've got some financial targets I want to hit, but then I'll be happy to sell t-shirts on the beach!