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Ever have those nights where you just can’t sleep? The ones where you replay every cringeworthy thing you’ve ever done, times you’ve swung and missed with a girl (or guy if that’s what you’re into), what you could have said during that interview or something else that you just can’t get out of your head?
Generally, I’m a good sleeper. But lately, I’ve found I’ve been having these days where I’ll fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the night and be stuck awake. Through a hectic schedule, it’s really hard to find time to decompress my thoughts. Really, the issue lies in the fact that there is never any time to do so. Get up, shower, drive to work, work all day, come home, make dinner, play some mindless videogames and finally get to bed. Sure you can say video game or TV time should be the instance to settle down but really, all I want to do is unplug and vegetate.
If you look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, getting to the point of “self-actualization” is a chore. Sure, “physiological” things like food, water and shelter are somewhat easy to attain but they definitely take a toll on things higher up. Safety? With the way the media portrays the world, I sleep with my AR across my chest (just kidding, kind of). Love and belonging? well it’s harder for some than others, and we all have our fights.
To actually get to self-actualization is a long journey that must constantly be traveled. I think a lot of us get past the easier ones, but cutting a big rent check, spending money on half decent non-processed garbage food you have to spend time cooking and making friends as adults is sometimes daunting. Jumping right into the job market (if you can find one in your field) never really gives you time to process that college is over and you’re making a great leap forward in life.
At the end of the day, I’m usually so burnt out that it’s hard to actually sit down and think about what I want. Recently, during an interview, the interviewer asked me where I saw my life and career going. I haven’t thought of that in a long time and it disarmed me, because at this point, I’m living by the “give me a paycheck and I’ll be there” mentality. There is a log jam in my field because the people ages 35-45 that should be moving up to middle and upper management don’t get to do so because our parents won’t retire. They’ve got years more experience than me so it’s no surprise when I check back a few months after an interview and see someone with salt and pepper hair or kids in first grade have taken a job I didn’t get.
Our generation of millennials (I hate that word) gets the short end of the stick a lot. It’s well documented and many of you live it, so I won’t bore with details but there’s a lot to be desired. A lot of us were born in the 80s and grew up on the precipice of a somewhat golden time, only to see when we got older, right before we went to college, the economy went into an absolute swirl down the shitter and Titanic-style broke in half.
In the end, taking some time to think about yourself, what you want, letting the past go to rest or whatever it is bugging you is important. The thing about life is that the sun will rise tomorrow, with or without you. Getting stuck on things you could have done, missed opportunities, and “shoulda, coulda, wouldas” are frivolous. What is important is not making the same mistakes and being reflective of yourself. It’s like when you remember fondly an ex, only to forget all the shit times, the times you cried, fought and wished you could dig a hole in the ground and hibernate for a few weeks. We all have those nights lying awake – it’s human nature – but what is most important to keep in mind is the times you caught a break, said the right thing, got an opportunity when you thought you failed or were in the right place at the right time. .
Respond
Madoff
I specialize in damage control, being the drunkest at any and all functions and social assassination. Always appreciate a strong gif game. Follow me on Twitter. Sometimes I put up cool stuff about golfing at the local dirt tracks.
@BLMInvestment
Having just gotten my heart shattered after a 3 year long distance breakup, I needed to read this. Thanks Madoff.
The Lord will beer you strength.
Angela wasn’t worth it bro, Erin is the real gem – You go get her buddy.. Narddog always bounces back.
Depression is living in the past while anxiety is living in the future. All we can do each day is our best to make tomorrow a little bit better.
Oh, and life is kind of like golf: You don’t have to hit a great shot every time, just try to minimize the ones that take two to recover from.
I like that a lot.
Has your coworker Duda read this part?
“It’s like when you remember fondly an ex, only to forget all the shit times, the times you cried, fought and wished you could dig a hole in the ground and hibernate for a few weeks.”
These columns save my mom a lot of time on the phone because it buys me multiple days before I have to call and vent to her about my life
Another great read, let’s see if ATLguy comes out of his hole. Maybe the PGP Gods heard our prayers and kicked him out.
First thing I thought of when I saw that our beloved Madoff post was how much I want to tell ATLguy to go fuck himself. Damn I hate that guy.
Was waiting for you at Hartsfield wearing a 1995 Braves World Series hat
Wrong guy, shit licker. I’ll be back next month though.
Let me know if you need a throw away gun, I got you.
lol at shit licker
You sick son of a bitch. I will find you – and when I do, I will take a Nike Big Bertha driver and tee-off right into your testicles.
Point of order: The Big Bertha family of club is Callaway. Nike actually just quit making golf clubs about a month or two ago. However, ATLGuy is in fact a sick son of a bitch and is worthy candidate for a testicle tee-off
It’s like the old mirror things we did as kids, if you say his name, he will appear. Let me save him some time and pretend to be him:
“I don’t get why people like this hack’s writing. All he does is try to be relatable while showing us what’s wrong with the world and then trying to tell us to focus on what is right. Do less, Madoff. Just give us a list of things you hate.”
I’m sorry Y’all it’s my fault he resurfusaced
and that I can’t spell for shit today
The amount of 35-year-olds stuck at the same seniority as me is terrifying. Where is there to move up?
That part really hit me. All of us are waiting to move up, but can’t.
It’s really a structural problem, and it probably won’t get better soon. All those people who say that the percent of people in the labor force is dropping due to retirement are full of it. Really, older people can’t afford to retire, and there are not enough jobs as it is. It’s mainly younger people opting out (what they do for money one can only imagine).
Hit the nail on the head about Millennials getting the short end of the stick, people not retiring & creating a log jam, & hating the word millennials.
But as always, who cares what I think
See, that’s much nicer. Although you still kinda proved my point by being in no way positive.
I mean there’s not much positive about this article, which is why it was probably received well by me
Shut the fuck up you dildo.
Dildo is such an underrated insult. I have no idea why but I had quite a few belly laughs at this comment.
Worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but it never gets you anywhere.
Progressive muscle relaxation helps. So does therapy.
Went to therapy for the first time a few months ago because I was just at the end of my rope. Therapist told me that I was ADD, and I was like “Whatever, lady.” Actually did some research on the type and all, and sure enough, I buy it. I had recently made a career change, and my old job was well suited to the way my brain works (periods of hyper focus and then “down” time). My new job isn’t (very procedural and structured), and when I wasn’t naturally good at it, that stressed me out a lot. Anyway, just writing this to say that it’s changed my entire approach to life, and you never know where that much needed kick in the ass will come from.
Good read but shit this was depressing.