Sue, I had those feelings when shifting to freelancing, esp. since I spent so much money on that 2nd Master's in Ed (SO boring) that I probably won't need anymore.

But it's done and my career shift has been scary but thrilling -- sure, the income hit has been a major trial, but it's like it's freed me from some chains: I work with my body (insomnia, depression, nocturnal body clock) not against it, I'm writing, I don't have to deal with interoffice politics or state-standards. I feel more creative and inspired, we don't have to worry about care or camps for M when he is here.

Things ain't perfect, but my "quarter-life crisis" at about 28/29 was a lot more fucked up for me. (Damn, I have known you guys for 13 years! Holy shit!)

What, acne comes back?

Sometimes it never leaves! I've had acne since I was 13.

One thing I definitely like about getting older is that I'm a lot more confident and secure than I was when I was younger.

But it's done and my career shift has been scary but thrilling -- sure, the income hit has been a major trial, but it's like it's freed me from some chains: I work with my body (insomnia, depression, nocturnal body clock) not against it, I'm writing, I don't have to deal with interoffice politics or state-standards. I feel more creative and inspired, we don't have to worry about care or camps for M when he is here.

Yeah, I am at the scary part still. I am kind of all over the place about what I want to do too, and stressing out about doesn't help me focus my intentions any.

Ugh. I feel I am both more AND less confident than when I was younger. I'm more confident in a "I have experience with this and can now trust myself more if my gut is telling me something, because I KNOW how often my gut has been right", but also less confident in a "less likely to blithely move forward because who cares what my gut says?" way.

I didn't do much in the way of "stupid things" when I was younger, so I don't regret a whole lot. But I'm right now in this place where I'm not yet in a married-have kids-move on with life sorta way, but I'm also not still in the young 20s have fun and party all the time, and I'm just not sure what to do with myself. I mean, I miss the fun of the party all the time, but know that I don't REALLY want that any more (and my body can't take it!). But I want more than what I've got....

Sometimes it never leaves! I've had acne since I was 13.

I gave up at 30 and did the accutane. Looking at my 60+ dad with acne did the trick.

I don't know whether I am more or less confident, but I am much more realistic about my strengths and weaknesses.

I didn't do much in the way of "stupid things" when I was younger, so I don't regret a whole lot. But I'm right now in this place where I'm not yet in a married-have kids-move on with life sorta way, but I'm also not still in the young 20s have fun and party all the time, and I'm just not sure what to do with myself. I mean, I miss the fun of the party all the time, but know that I don't REALLY want that any more (and my body can't take it!). But I want more than what I've got....

I sometimes I regret that I didn't do more stupid things.

I sometimes I regret that I didn't do more stupid things

Me, too. I was really not much with the adventurousness when I was younger, and I regret that now.

We did apparently name this thread in honor of the middle age crazy. Not that into the hookers nd blow myself, but I could be talked into buying Buffistas island and running away!

I sometimes I regret that I didn't do more stupid things

Me too.

ION, my blue crabmeat benedict didn't come with lemon slices. Where's my waitress?

I did enough kinda stupid things that there were no lasting repercussions, but the problem is...I want to keep doing them. Why not? But I just can't get away with that shit anymore. People look at me funny, and my smile isn't as winning anymore.

My manager is frustrating me. One of her programmers won't prioritise, so I'm trying to escalate to her, and she keeps pushing back to the developer, and telling me "she's a professional, she can prioritise". Uh, not she can't. This is why the users are frustrated. *I* don't have insight into all of her projects, so I patently can't prioritise for her.

So this means I have to call her out in a way I didn't want to. I wanted to just nudge this, not say "your employee isn't doing her job". Dammit, can't you take a hint?