In the past few months, I’ve had several conversations with younger friends, most of them fresh out of college who are uncertain about what they really want to do in life.
One of them had been featured in our podcast actually. In the Happy Yuppie Podcast episode #004, Ace told the story of how she compared herself to her peers who were making more money and were having the things she wanted for herself. Listen to the story and learn how she got lost and stuck in this quagmire called quarter-life crisis.
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Here’s a song for y’all young people who have yet to find out what you really want in life. It’s a U2 original but covered by one of my fave metal bands, Disturbed.
Resigning from Work, Next Destination: Unknown
Then just last month, Jhayr, a friend of me, told me about his plans not to renew his contract with the DSWD after working there for three years. Although his boss didn’t want to let him go, he felt that three years had been long enough in that line of work. As of this time, he feels called to work full time in remote areas and places while he’s still young.
Take note that Jhayr is very passionate about reaching out to the poor and the marginalized. And this is an outgrowth of his faith.
And so I told him:
“you know, that’s okay. Actually, your 20’s is the best time to accumulate as much experience as possible. Then slow down a little bit and be more definite in your direction towards your late 20’s and early 30’s.”
And he replied: “Masyado na akong nasa comfort zone kuya. Di ko alam kung abnormal ako.”
Probably, a lot of us, yuppies, feel that way–whether in our early twenties or early thirties. Heck, probably even those in their 40’s can still relate with this. But, really, it’s not abnormal. In fact, it may be becoming the new normal.
I also have another friend, Bibang, whom I called a “serial volunteer” at one time, because after working for a Christian media company two years ago, she ended up doing volunteer work that took her to different places in the Philippines. One recent experience of hers is serving with the First Response Radio, which brought crucial information to people affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
Really, if you’re in your twenties, you shouldn’t be too worried about your path. If you’re in your thirties or forties and you still don’t know, then you should probably be worried!
Here’s a great reminder from that poet Ma. Rainer Rilke:
“I beg you, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”
A kind of restlessness for our generation
And you may be able to relate with my last text to Jhayr:
“Okay lang yan. There’s a kind of restlessness sa generation ngayon. A desire to help and make a difference at mahirap ma-box-in. Ang kelangan mo lang eh mabalanse yung long term plans mo and sustaining your life, pati na nung magiging wife at family mo… at malamang may balak kang mag-asawa no?”
The challenge for you now is to live an exciting life, pursue your passion, and engage the world.
Of course, along the way, your passion won’t be enough, and even the desire to make the world a better place won’t be enough. You will also need to figure out a way to sustain your life.
Have you found what you really, really want to do with your life?
image credit: Pritesh via Flickr