20 Something 20 Everything

I was having one of my usual days, what book is going to make me feel better, or at least “normal”, and decided to venture off to Borders! It’s one of my favorite places and I love the smell of coffee (imagine that)! I stumbled upon a book entitled 20 Something, 20 Everything, by Christine Hassler. It pretty much describes how women in their early twenties to early thirties are experiencing what is now being called a “quarterlife crisis”. Most everyone has heard of a mid-life crisis, but the quarterlife crisis happens to young women who are unsure of their goals and purpose in life. We are expected by society to be a multitude of different things and most of us have been told since we were little girls that we can be anything we want to be. It’s wonderful that women now have the opportunity to make that happen. We are expected to be mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, career wife, etc. We can have it all! That is the stressful part. Most of us don’t know who we are, what we want or how to get it. This book gives specific examples of women who are going through the same circumstances. It also asks that you participate in a few exercises (not physical ones!) to help better guide you in your time of “crisis”. If you are unsure if you are experiencing a quarterlife crisis, take this quiz that is provided in the book:

1. Do you feel a need to “have it all”?
2. Do you feel older for the first time in your life?
3. Do you feel pressure to grow up and get your adult life in order?
4. Do you often feel depressed, overwhelmed, lost, and maybe even a little hopeless?
5. Do you ever feel that time is running out when you try to figure out your career and decide whether you want to get married and/or have children?
6. Are you stressed out by choices that seemingly will affect the rest of your life?
7. Do you feel that you have failed because you don’t know what you want to do with your life?
8. Do you over analyze yourself and your decisions?
9. Do you ever feel guilty for complaining about your life when you’ve lived only about a quarter of it?
10. Are you embarrassed that you have not figured out or accomplished more?

If you answered yes to five or more, welcome to the club sister, you are experiencing a quarterlife crisis!!!

I failed this test miserably and it was nice to know that I was not alone! This book actually made me feel like I was somewhat normal and that I am not the only woman experiencing these feelings of self doubt. We don’t have to have all the answers now, or ever for that matter. I truly recommend this book to any woman who feels that it may be able to help them in some way. I got Liz to read it and hope more of you will also. (Oh…and the book also has a section on “red-flag men”!!)

Peace, Love and Happiness!

Janice