Courtesy of Harrison Pierce
- I just turned 27 and have been reflecting on my life post-college; it looks nothing like I expected.
- I have lost contact with my college friends, and my career isn't as stable as I thought it would be.
- I get to travel the world for work, which I love, but I wonder if I made the right choices.
I thought turning 27 would feel the same as every other birthday, but that couldn't be farther from reality. On that day, I woke up and was immediately hit with a wave of emotions.
I realized that the person turning 27 is completely different from the person who turned 18, 22, or 25 in every way imaginable. My priorities, friendships, and career trajectory would be unrecognizable to the older versions of myself.
That's not to say that I don't love my life. I feel so fortunate to be a digital nomad and a travel writer. I've had more once-in-a-lifetime experiences over the past few years than I can count.
Even so, I've reflected more over the past few months than I have at any other point in my life. Almost daily, I analyze all the decisions I've made that led me to where I am. I can't help but wonder if I've made the right choices, and if I'm on the right path.
My social circle has changed
It's been almost six years since I graduated from college. I remember thinking that my college friends would be with me for the rest of my life, but I barely talk to most of them. We once imagined we would be in each other's wedding parties, and now I am congratulating them on their marriage in a social media post, where I found out at the same time as the rest of the world that they had even gotten married.
I realize that the distance is largely my fault, which is a tough pill to swallow. I set off as a digital nomad almost five years ago. While my friends were building their lives in whichever city they chose after college, I was bouncing from hemisphere to hemisphere, constantly in a new city and time zone, which made it difficult to stay in touch.
After so many years apart, the people I once considered my family are now just acquaintances. I hold a lot of regret for not putting more effort into nurturing those relationships.
My career has its ups and downs
I've found a lot of success in my career, and for that, I'm very thankful. However, I find it nearly impossible to stop comparing myself to an idea of myself that never existed.
Without realizing it, when I started my career, I created a version of "late-twenties me" who would have everything figured out — robust savings, a retirement account, investments, and a clear path for professional advancement. Although that person was never real, I mourn the loss of the ideal version of myself that I haven't yet been able to create.
At the same time, I'm comparing myself to all of my peers. I see friends buying houses, having children, and climbing the corporate ladder, and it's hard not to feel inadequate.
Plus, when you see someone farther along on their journey, it's easy to feel like you're falling behind and you aren't quite good enough to ever catch up.
My day-to-day is filled with reflection
I feel so lucky that I get to travel the world for a living. I've made dozens of cities my home over the years, and I plan to do so for a very long time. I've even met amazing friends and a wonderful partner along the way.
However, almost daily, I spend time analyzing the decisions, actions, mistakes, successes, and relationships that led me to where I'm currently sitting.
I realized only recently that what I'm experiencing is a quarter-life crisis. Although far less discussed than the midlife crisis, this phenomenon is common among people in their mid- to late 20s. Many people feel a sense of hopelessness in their careers, relationships, or general life direction.
I feel like I've been swimming through my 20s, and when I came up for air on my 27th birthday, I didn't recognize my surroundings.
This quarter-life crisis has been challenging
I'm in the thick of my quarter-life crisis, and it's made me acknowledge my successes while also identifying areas for improvement.
I miss the friendships from my early 20s, and I hope to rekindle some of them in the future. Although I don't have everything in my life and career nearly as "figured out" as I'd hoped, I'm settling into the uncertainty and working to build my confidence.
I'm also realizing that there aren't necessarily right or wrong choices — just decisions we make along the way that help guide us.