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JJL
09-29-2005, 02:05 PM
I thought I had my quarter-life crisis a year ago, but it has continued on for longer than anticipated.

I graduated university in '02, landed an awesome corporate job in community relations, and got engaged to my high school sweetheart, all at the age of 22. Life was grand. We got married the next year and I loved my fast-paced job, despite the fact I was working for a passive aggressive boss who constantly made me feel bad about myself.

I have suffered from mild depression all my life, but in university, I went on meds to control it. I would have episodes where I couldn't get out of bed, would cry all day, etc -- but the meds seemed to be working.

Fast forward to after the wedding. My husband was offered a contract overseas and I decided to stay at home and continue with my good corporate job. It wasn't what I wanted, but it was the best thing for us.

My husband returned 6 months later (i got to visit for a while, which was awesome) but things had gone sour at my job. My boss was making my life a living hell and my health was suffering. I was having panic attacks and was hospitalized with severe heart palpitations. I quit my job, thinking that if I could get out of this situation, I would be fine.

After spending the summer of '04 moping around, feeling down because I was unemployed, my husband had an opportunity to move down south to work. We packed up everything we had and drove down there, just for him to be let go after 3 weeks. We gave up everything we had and suddenly, we had nothing but ourselves and our cat. We drove home with our collective tails between our legs and moved into my parents basement.

Since now my husband was more depressed than I was about life, I went on the offensive and landed a 6 month contract at my old corporate company. We found a new apartment and moved out of my parents basement. He sulked for a couple months while I worked hard, keeping the bills paid, and finally, landed an awesome job.

When my contract was up, I decided to take a job in the non-profit sector, thinking that a change of pace from the corporate world would be good for me. I've now been here for 6 months and I'm miserable at the tender age of 25.

I don't know why.

All I want to do is travel. I want to be anywhere but here. I love my husband and our life together (we now have a cute little house) and dream about having a family together, but all I want to do right now is get the hell out of here. I don't want to work in an office for 8 hours a day, even if it is for a good cause. I don't want to worry about money or anything -- I just want to go out and explore the world.

I should be so happy. I have a great partner in life, a wonderful home, an income, a great education, but I hate working. I hate it with a passion. I spent 4 years working so hard in post-secondary for what? To be miserable?

Has anyone else been through something similar? How do you get through the days?

shimmer728
09-29-2005, 02:18 PM
I think a lot of us feel like you do. There are many, many days where I fantasize about taking off for parts unknown and working some "fun" job.....and I like what I do for a living. But still, I can't help but wonder what that would be like.

Like the tagline of Office Space says: Work sucks. ;)

Welcome to the boards!

Adam Strange
09-29-2005, 03:20 PM
Welcome to the boards, JJL. I'm just out of college and don't know how people do it, either. Office life fills me with such a sense of existential dread. You and your husbands are lucky to one another though. Consider that a blessing.

temptation
09-29-2005, 04:05 PM
How do I do it? I never allow myself to stop learning. I take courses outside of work. I read a sh*tload. I do things that I've always wanted to do during my spare time. I travel whenever it's feasible.

Call a friend you haven't spoken to in a few years? Sure. Learn how to speak a new language. Why not? Get in the boxing ring and start swinging. Yup. Read some book by an obscur philosopher. Let's give it a shot.

The key for me is continuous growth. My career may not be moving as swiflty as I'd like but that doesn't mean life stops. My career does not define me...everything for me is a stepping stone to something better. And what if it doesn't get better? That's a question that I never even consider.

tina1979
09-29-2005, 04:09 PM
I think a lot of us feel like you do. There are many, many days where I fantasize about taking off for parts unknown and working some "fun" job.....and I like what I do for a living. But still, I can't help but wonder what that would be like.

Like the tagline of Office Space says: Work sucks. ;)

Welcome to the boards!
I agree with Shim. Alot of us still feel lost and wonder why we aren't doing certain things. You take the path you feel is best for you at that point in your life. You make adjustments as you go.

Welcome to the boards!!!

lawya girl
09-29-2005, 04:14 PM
I have and am experiencing very similar feelings. I have a fantastic husband, went to law school, a great job, yada yada, but I just can't seem to bring myself to enjoy the work I went to school for so long to do. I don't have the freedom to quit my job (well, I did quit my last job but don't have the freedom to take a lower-paying job) so I'm stuck in this field for a while. It all seems so tedious - go to work, come home, sleep, go to work, repeat. My husband has also been traveling a lot and that's very hard. We both work a lot of hours. Like you, I'd rather be traveling or going to grad school to get a PhD that would incur more debt and present few job opportunities. Sigh...
I don't know what to say except feel free to PM me and welcome to the boards!

paiger81
09-29-2005, 05:31 PM
I should be so happy. I have a great partner in life, a wonderful home, an income, a great education, but I hate working. I hate it with a passion. I spent 4 years working so hard in post-secondary for what? To be miserable?

Has anyone else been through something similar? How do you get through the days?

Hey there, I'm in marketing and have recently determined that the business world just isn't what I thought it was gonna be. So, in January, I'm starting a part-time Registered Dietitian program since nutrition is something that completely interests me. I figure my marketing degree will be able to help me set up my own office once I get the degree. I have always loved talking with people(one of the reasons I went into Marketing to begin with); and really feel this is the right course for my life right now.

I think the fact that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel is what is keeping me sane at work for now ;) Good luck in finding what you love!

winneythepooh7
10-06-2005, 06:49 AM
Hi, and welcome. I think many of us have been, or are in your shoes. What I have found is that sometimes it takes a go around with several sucky jobs before you find a good fit. That is what just happened with me, and I never realized I could be so happy. You don't have to give up the degree you went to school for, but explore all kinds of options and areas of things to do with it. Keep sending out the resumes, keep networking. You never know when a great opportunity will pop up. I know that sounds cliche but I think it is really true. Again, welcome to the community :).