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Reconciling with the fact I wasted my 20s

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duhamelski
Posts: 3842 - Karma: 192
Hey. Expecting some troll posts. Bring em on! I love this community for it's degenerate immaturity and that's why I came back here.

Anyways, this is going to be a somewhat more serious post than most. I'm turning 29 in one week exactly, and looking back on my 20s, I'm wondering WTF I've been doing all these years. By many measures, I'm what many people would consider "successful". I got an engineering degree from CU and spent the last 7 years bouncing between high paying tech jobs in the Bay Area. I've gotten a chance to travel to amazing places, have a small but close group of friends, and still go skiing nearly every weekend in the winter. However, looking back, I still can't help but feel like I wasted the past decade. I didn't grow up. I feel like I've just been faking some alter-ego to please some master which I signed all my time over to in exchange for money. I could have stayed true to myself and focussed on the things that really matter: friends, purpose, and love.

I guess I must have had unrealistic expectations. Back when I was a teenager, making posts here which guarantee I'll never hold an elected office (not like I'd ever want that anyways), I always thought that inevitably I'd do something really great, like starting a fortune 500 company while living in the mountains and going backcountry skiing every day. I used to have really cool hobbies, like graffiti, robotics, etc. I was naturally creative. Now, that's all gone. I spend hours in traffic each day commuting to/from work without any sense of purpose and cover up for that by drinking too much on weekends and occasionally stuffing my body full of drugs and listening to aggressive music. It feels empty.

So next year I'm turning it all in, quitting my job, moving out of my apartment, and traveling full time. I have enough money to last a few years, but I don't have any idea what I'll do when I eventually go broke. I'm imposing a no-u-turn policy on myself. I'll try to make some money as a freelance programmer, and maybe give a shot at a few startups. I realize the odds are stacked against me and at some point I'll probably miss the comfort I've gotten used to. Just trusting that somehow things will work out.

Just posting this since it seems like there's still some old-timers here who might be able to relate.
Dec 9 2018 3:19PM
31 0
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3635 - Karma: 8,774
McNocheWhose the one stupid cunt that downvoted my comment?


Now theres two. Fight me
Dec 17 2018 7:06PM
1 0
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McNoche
Posts: 1731 - Karma: 3,661
DirtYStylENow theres two. Fight me


Bitch I would love to throw hands with you. Just me know brotha
Dec 17 2018 7:17PM
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Young_patty
Posts: 3238 - Karma: 36,713
Came here expecting a "F me man I spent my 20's skiing and now am nowhere in life" but instead found a "I graduated, got a good job and still ski every weekend". What sucks dude? you got a degree, got a good job, and still ski but don't like that you have to put on a face for work? boo-hoo quit feeling sorry for yourself and be thankful for the life you made doofus
Dec 17 2018 8:38PM
2 0
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everlast
Posts: 1130 - Karma: 1,269
Young_pattyCame here expecting a "F me man I spent my 20's skiing and now am nowhere in life" but instead found a "I graduated, got a good job and still ski every weekend". What sucks dude? you got a degree, got a good job, and still ski but don't like that you have to put on a face for work? boo-hoo quit feeling sorry for yourself and be thankful for the life you made doofus


He never mentioned anything about pussy. So maybe he is upset about that.
Dec 17 2018 8:44PM
6 0
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Young_patty
Posts: 3238 - Karma: 36,713
everlastHe never mentioned anything about pussy. So maybe he is upset about that.


if he wanted pussy he shouldn't have been an engineer
Dec 17 2018 8:45PM
4 0
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everlast
Posts: 1130 - Karma: 1,269
Young_pattyif he wanted pussy he shouldn't have been an engineer


I mean that really just depends on how badly you want it. Like if you love pussy, you will find a way to get it whatever your situation is.
Dec 17 2018 8:52PM
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sniper_6
Posts: 1919 - Karma: 1,573
Wow, this is a good thread. I've been on this site for 14 years and was pretty active on here in high school and college. Throughout my 20s I would drop in to NSG ever few months or so and see what was going on. Rarely posted. This is the first time I've posted in 3 years. Didn't realize there were so many people on here in their late 20s/30s still lurking. Not sure if I have any sage advice, but here is my story.

I'm 31. I grew up in upstate New York, skied every weekend in the winter. After college, I joined the army and spent 7 years as an army scout pilot. I went to Afghanistan at 24, spent a year in Korea, got married at 27, and moved 7 times in 8 years. After the army I went to business school. Now I'm an investment banker in New York. I like my life and I'm proud of the things i've accomplished, but it definitely isn't perfect. First, I don't really ski anymore. I was always a very driven person and the lifestyle I've chosen (both army and finance) didn't allow much opportunity for it. Its okay, but I wish I could have both. Secondly, I'm going through a divorce now. My wife an I have been together for 11 years. We met in college and continued dating throughout my whole time in the army and got married in 2015. The lifestyle/careers I've chosen have take a toll on our relationship. I love her and we get along, but we've grown apart and neither of us is happy in our relationship and have both decided to part ways.

Life is full of choices. Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I think about how we speed through this thing and only get to do it once. I don't regret any of the decisions I've made, but I think its important to realize that you can't know how things will turn out. You can make the right decision for the right reasons and have it end poorly, or you can make a rash decision with little information and everything will work out. I think having long term goals is important, but trying to plan out ones life like a road map is futile. Do the best you can with the info you have and enjoy the ride. That's what I'm trying to do. We'll see how it works out.
Dec 18 2018 2:43AM
2 0
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,356
sniper_6Wow, this is a good thread. I've been on this site for 14 years and was pretty active on here in high school and college. Throughout my 20s I would drop in to NSG ever few months or so and see what was going on. Rarely posted. This is the first time I've posted in 3 years. Didn't realize there were so many people on here in their late 20s/30s still lurking. Not sure if I have any sage advice, but here is my story.

I'm 31. I grew up in upstate New York, skied every weekend in the winter. After college, I joined the army and spent 7 years as an army scout pilot. I went to Afghanistan at 24, spent a year in Korea, got married at 27, and moved 7 times in 8 years. After the army I went to business school. Now I'm an investment banker in New York. I like my life and I'm proud of the things i've accomplished, but it definitely isn't perfect. First, I don't really ski anymore. I was always a very driven person and the lifestyle I've chosen (both army and finance) didn't allow much opportunity for it. Its okay, but I wish I could have both. Secondly, I'm going through a divorce now. My wife an I have been together for 11 years. We met in college and continued dating throughout my whole time in the army and got married in 2015. The lifestyle/careers I've chosen have take a toll on our relationship. I love her and we get along, but we've grown apart and neither of us is happy in our relationship and have both decided to part ways.

Life is full of choices. Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I think about how we speed through this thing and only get to do it once. I don't regret any of the decisions I've made, but I think its important to realize that you can't know how things will turn out. You can make the right decision for the right reasons and have it end poorly, or you can make a rash decision with little information and everything will work out. I think having long term goals is important, but trying to plan out ones life like a road map is futile. Do the best you can with the info you have and enjoy the ride. That's what I'm trying to do. We'll see how it works out.


If I flew a Kiowa one time I would pack up and call it a good life! It's cool to see that there are a couple other Army dudes lurking on here still, doing pretty well, and having no ragrets.
Dec 18 2018 2:57AM
1 0
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cool_name
Posts: 4295 - Karma: 3,131
sniper_6Wow, this is a good thread. I've been on this site for 14 years and was pretty active on here in high school and college. Throughout my 20s I would drop in to NSG ever few months or so and see what was going on. Rarely posted. This is the first time I've posted in 3 years. Didn't realize there were so many people on here in their late 20s/30s still lurking. Not sure if I have any sage advice, but here is my story.

I'm 31. I grew up in upstate New York, skied every weekend in the winter. After college, I joined the army and spent 7 years as an army scout pilot. I went to Afghanistan at 24, spent a year in Korea, got married at 27, and moved 7 times in 8 years. After the army I went to business school. Now I'm an investment banker in New York. I like my life and I'm proud of the things i've accomplished, but it definitely isn't perfect. First, I don't really ski anymore. I was always a very driven person and the lifestyle I've chosen (both army and finance) didn't allow much opportunity for it. Its okay, but I wish I could have both. Secondly, I'm going through a divorce now. My wife an I have been together for 11 years. We met in college and continued dating throughout my whole time in the army and got married in 2015. The lifestyle/careers I've chosen have take a toll on our relationship. I love her and we get along, but we've grown apart and neither of us is happy in our relationship and have both decided to part ways.

Life is full of choices. Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I think about how we speed through this thing and only get to do it once. I don't regret any of the decisions I've made, but I think its important to realize that you can't know how things will turn out. You can make the right decision for the right reasons and have it end poorly, or you can make a rash decision with little information and everything will work out. I think having long term goals is important, but trying to plan out ones life like a road map is futile. Do the best you can with the info you have and enjoy the ride. That's what I'm trying to do. We'll see how it works out.

You were able to spend 7 years in the army, but only 3 years as a married man?
Dec 18 2018 7:16PM
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sNaubi
Posts: 1633 - Karma: 2,357
TL;DR

But i turned 24 like 2 months ago, and I already feel the pressure....
Dec 19 2018 5:53AM
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