With life moving at the supreme speed of light, with everything automated and abbreviated, with acronyms overflowing our colloquial conversations and life lasting longer … the quarter-life crisis is the new mid-life crisis.

I define a quarter-life crisis as the following:

1) Nothing is wrong

2) In fact everything is fine

3) Happiness seems fleeting

4) But happiness is still present

5) You often wonder … is this where I am supposed to be?

6) Stress is self imposed and focused primarily on the future and if you are in a place to get to the future you pictured

7) At the same time.. that future is now fuzzy and growing more blurry with each passing day

You struggle with what you want.. how to get it … and when to go for it…

9) Life is questionable

10) Now what?

I remember a simple time in life. A time of youth when I used 1-800-COLLECT and when prompted to say my name, I yelled into the receiver with “pick me up Dad!” My dad would respond “No” when asked if he wanted to accept the call and five minutes later, he’d be in his white Honda civic, packing in 6-7 teenage girls to drop off. Now, I freak out when I forget my cell phone for the day, I can’t seem to halt texting while driving, even if my drive is 5 minutes.  Everything is go-go-go, and there’s no time to just take a moment and breathe.  I need the internet and not having access to it for more than a couple hours drives me insane.  My crackberry is exactly that.. my crack.  Oh crack.. I love thee. 

Hauntingly, I know I’m supposed to live in the moment, carpe diem, live everyday as if it were my last… but let’s be frank, if it were my last.. would I be blogging?  Since I’ve sworn off men, does my man diet mean I will be that lonely old lady who dies with her cats?  Since I do enjoy my own company, will I be wiping out my own chances of meeting randoms?

Should I put that money in my IRA or spend it on a vacation?
Should I get a bicycle or a car?
Should I buy a house or rent?
Should I stick with this miserable job or get one that makes me happy but pays less?
Should I sign up for another online dating service before I get past my prime?

Struggling with the fear of the uncertain future, I often wonder if this mediocre life is it… Status quo is safe but not always happy.  Change is scary… but I’ve updated the wardrobe, I’ve gotten a new haircut and I’d get my hair dyed.. except I opted to wait it out until my hair could not retain its natural black and morphed to white… so really, I’m putting myself out there! …. right?

Maybe I need a tattoo or a piercing. Suggestions?