What is Pinoy Quarterlife Crisis?

Exactly what is a quarterlife crisis?

Well, how old do you expect to live? How old is the midlife crisis usually? Well, it was pegged at 50 years old a few decades ago when there weren’t too many factories emitting smoke, less drunk drivers, lower prices of fuel and not too many people were killing themselves (and others) just to rid them of problems in life (many EDSA billboards had been witness to this). Okay, so with my God Giveth and the Lord taketh away mathematical prowess, I assume that quarterlife crisis occurs when you’re around 23 years old until you’re around 30 (at least mine did). It’s the time you wake up on your birthday (or one somebody else’s bed) and question yourself–what have I done with my life?

Yeah, what have you done with your life? Or better yet, what are you capable of doing with your life? In those 20 or so years, what have you contributed to this world (or to make you feel a little better, in our country, your family or to your future at least). Or would you even have a future or just contribute to your early demise?

It’s about re-evaluating your life. Your young and “productive” life. It’s wondering about your self-worth. It’s looking back at your high school and college (I’m hoping you’re out of college already) peers and trying your best not to compare your achievements with them but failing to do so miserably. It’s wishing you had richer parents or were just borne into royalty (lucky you! bastard). It’s realizing that you’re not the most sought after bachelor/bachelorette after graduating from high school now that your world just got bigger coz you’re in college or in the corporate world and now have more competition (don’t worry, I’m sure your GPA is higher than theirs. uh-huh. and isn’t it normal to still have pimples?!).

Are you forever going to rely on your parents? If you are, then give me your address so I can ask your parents if they’re open to adopting a 31 year old guy. If you’re slowly growing a conscience and kicking yourself (not literally! stop that!) for still asking for gas money from “dada,” then you are experiencing quarterlife crisis. If you’re still reading this sentence, then you are experiencing quarterlife crisis.

Yes, admit it. Once in your life or in one drinking session with your best mates, you’ve thought of all those written above (lucky you if you don’t have pimples though!).

I’m not saying or assuming that everyone goes through this phenomena. There are those lucky individuals (go rot in hell!) who just know what to do. Thrust upon them is the knowledge or wisdom that they are bound to achieve in this life. That they just know what to do with their lives. OR are just content with who they are now. We shall call them “the lucky ones.” They are lucky enough to realize at a young age what they ought to do in this life. They know what they want and are already on their way to achieving that. Truly, they ARE the lucky ones.

Each individual has their own goals (growing a full mustache is not a goal, okay?). It may be serving people, buying expensive cars, providing for a family, being their own boss, traveling around the globe or even becoming the president (oh please have this dream come true for someone right now, Lord) but all of us pass through a stage. This stage I will call the “what if” stage.

What if I studied for that entrance exam instead of attending my friend’s birthday party where I wasn’t even able to talk to my crush? What if I trained hard at the sport I was excelling in rather than relying on my dad’s friend to put me in the Philippine Team (the friend died before final the line up was announced?!). What if I took up that offer from my aunt to study abroad? What if I pursued her/him? What if I didn’t let my boss harass me into having this relationship with him? What if I looked to the left first instead of to the right, then I wouldn’t be in a wheelchair now (okay, just checking if you’re still paying attention!).

Forgive the rambling. I just wanted everyone to understand what quarterlife crisis is and to let those that are experiencing them now know that they are not alone.

So, what are your “what if’s?”

This is what this blog is all about.

Our journey to finding ourselves. Pinoy style.

http://pinoquarterlifecrisis.blogspot.com