A struggle with freedom

Published 11:21 am Wednesday, September 1, 2010

I think I may be going through a quarter-life crisis.

Last week, I celebrated my birthday. I can’t say I’m old, but I am definitely becoming more aware of the fact that I will not be young forever.

It’s possible I suffer from Peter Pan Syndrome. I’m single, and I really don’t own anything of great value, aside from my bike, new couch and 2003 Kia. The valuable nature of the Kia is arguable. Basically, aside from graduating from college and working in my career field, I think of myself as someone living in a perpetual state of childhood.

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On any given day off, I have limited obligations and consider spending a whole day at the beach perfectly acceptable. Others, I have noticed, have moved on to concentrate on their families and homes. It’s not that I feel sorry for myself — I really love my life. But on the day after my birthday, as I sat on the beach after a solo bike ride, I began to realize that the way I live may soon become just plain weird. I also realized that this life I enjoy will not last forever. That’s when it hit me — the quarter life crisis, I mean.

In a few years, my life could be extremely different and these days could be the last I have to behave like a child. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited for every season life has to offer and am open to the transition, it’s just that I happen to enjoy where I’m at right now.

Since that day on the beach, I have decided to soak it all in, before I am hoisted into the world of full responsibility. My first act of insanity? I’m spending the weekend camping out, probably by myself. It may not be what most people consider to be wild and crazy, but for me it will work just fine. It’s spontaneous, it’s somewhat dangerous and it may help me feel like I’m soaking in the last few years of carefree behavior I may have left.

Maybe next weekend I’ll wake up and take a road trip to somewhere I’ve never been — just because I can.