Adulting: Growing Up at Thirty Speed


When I was a child, I wanted to be an astronaut, an author, a soldier, or a firetruck. In that order and maybe even all four. I couldn't wait to be an adult. Then I grew up a little and was told that I would never have those opportunities and the purpose of life is to be as miserable as possible while maintaining a little dignity. I really struggled to identify any occupation that would provide sufficient misery but being insufferably shy in my teenage years led me to the conclusion that I should work in customer service.  The pay was nice and low and the public is always looking to take their own frustrations out on a captive audience so I was perfectly suited to be miserable. 

Working at the Indiana Crowne Plaza
     I’ve worked quite a few jobs over the last decade, but I’ve spent the most time in the hospitality career field as a front end operational manager and in accounting. I felt like I'd sort actually gotten a real adult job. No health insurance or 401k but hey a salary! As I found success and promotions I became more and more miserable, a sure sign that I was heading in the right direction: Up until a few years ago when I decided to stop going with the flow and try to really find myself. So I did what any burn out does, I bought a camper van and traveled the country. Eventually I had to return to the real world and spent some time bouncing around the same hospitality jobs all the while trying to really “find myself." You know the popular millennial adage "find your passion!"

Arrabella Parked at Duckhorn Winery- Napa, Ca

Then one day I looked around and realized that I’m in my thirties. Most of my friends have passed me by with long term careers, partners, children, houses, dogs etc. I even had friends grow up so quickly they already have a full blown American Dream™ with a wife, multiple kids a picket fence and job with a pension at 22.  Meanwhile I'm still answering questions like "so what are you going to do for a career?" "When do you think you'll settle down?" "Are you going to have kids? Wait are you even dating anyone right now?" "How do you even date in your 30s? Is it hard? Hows the tinder scene in Anytown, USA?" I have no idea but I always answer these questions very confidently. I’ve unfollowed more high-school acquaintances feeds since they filled up with thousands of baby pictures, toddler birthday parties, complaints about school districts and vaccination requirements.


Meanwhile, yours truly sits here at 32 going back to college to try yet another career change.  Don’t get me wrong, my life has actually been pretty great, and I’ve had many adventures and good times and made a lot of friends along the way. But sometimes life seems like it’s going by so quickly while I’m moving so slowly. I don’t know what I want out of life still and many times it feels like everyone is running laps in a race while I’m on a scavenger hunt. How fast am I growing up and running laps? Oh definitely a 30.
 



Thirty Speed!

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 1, 2019 at 9:33 PM

    Hi Chris,

    I really loved your blog post. It was honest and witty. I think it is easy to feel like everyone else has it all figured out, but I think everyone is a little lost in one way or another. What's the fun in having your life perfectly in order anyhow? Keep going 30 speed.

    - Julia Moluf

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  2. English 305WFebruary 4, 2019 at 4:33 PM

    I also liked your blog post, and loved the ending you added with the images. Leaving your job was a bold move, and it sounds like it was the right one. I don't think there is any single perfect age to achieve goals--and sometimes our experiences in-between are the things that give us the goals that matter.

    Erin

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