AS CRAZY AS THIS IS *

-"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 everyone> reading this relates to it. We are in our best> of times and our worst of times, trying as hard> as we can to figure this whole thing out.