This might sound harsh but honestly atleast my life is really underwhelming, no matter what I try.
I have a wife, 2 dogs, an own house but a decently large debt for the house so I actually dont own it yet and a job I love (nightshift nurse)
It feels like I fckd everything up.
10 years ago my wife and I were in South East Asia, traveling,… now? I have to take care of the house, pay my credit, work
Its not the same going to Thailand only 2 weeks a year. I know many ppl cant afford it but I need that escape.
While my life isnt actually bad it just is bland though. I dont do anything other than play Video games, take care of house and dogs, watch movies, cook stuff…
But where is the excitement?
I quit going to gym, I think I should do that but I catch myself esther staring at the wall than searching for a nearby gym.
As a night nurse I have so much time in the day I would like to barista at a cafe but Im too scared to start that.
I would like to play Board games but my friends rather drink alcohol in Clubs and the next DND or Boardgame groups are 40 minutes by car.
See hpw confused I am I cant even structure this post properly.
I know money isn everything but Id travel the world, give my house away to rent, buy a new smaller house in a few years, do more sport, … somehow it feels life is behind a huge paywall and I have enough to have a decent life.
If I go to Thailand next year I have thoughts in my head like: “This money could be used to pay credit debt instead, or yard stuff, kitchen supply,…” With money I could enjoy it more
It sounds like you’re feeling unsatisfied with your current life and what you spend money on, and that you have a lot of ideas for what you could enjoy more but you have a hard time getting started.
Completely changing your life is hard, and you probably won’t go 0 to “move to thailand” in one day, especially not if you are lacking energy. You might need to start with smaller things. Do just one of the smaller things you think you might enjoy. Go to the gym once. Have a board game night once. Spend the 40 minutes on getting to a DND group once. Then keep doing small things that make you happier or bring you closer to something that does.
Also, if you like going to thailand, and don’t like yardwork or getting kitchen supplies etc, budget accordingly. Do the mimimal spend you can on yard stuff. It’s OK to not like that. Talk to your wife and find a compromise budget if you need to.
Stop using social media to prevent FOMO. Use that time to start talks with random strangers outdoors.
Mild to moderate depression. Pretty classic signs. Not getting enjoyment out of nice things (anhedonia), tiredness, difficulty getting yourself to do things even when you might like doing them, pessimism about the future, having difficulty thinking clearly, etc. These are all very common symptoms of depression.
Do one thing every day that scares you
Sounds like some depression.
It seems like a little buyers remorse - the house and what it represents. There’s an adjustment going on and it’s not going well for you.
I’m going through something similar and I’m looking at your post feeling a little envious. A wife? Sounds good. I’m struggling just to make friends. A house? Wow. I’m renting a small room and had to buy a loft bed to make more space.
I’m definitely not saying this to make you feel better by comparing yourself to me.
It seems like you know that your life is good but that you’re not feeling it.
My life is definitely better than it was but I’m definitely feeling the absence of having someone close to me. I know that’s improving but it’s definitely not helping me feel better.
All I can do is try to focus on what I have and on what is going well. It’s really kinda awful because it doesn’t work well. The quiet moments are the worst.
I’m trying to change up a couple of things, such as adding in a few minutes of meditation and physical activity each day. Nothing too crazy, just something small.
But where is the excitement?
Don’t know your age but I think this is what mid life crisis is: people chasing excitement.
When you’re young and experiencing everything for the first time it’s exciting. Then it becomes routine and normal. The problem is when people keep chasing that excitement high forever. I think the solution to that is that you have to take joy in the little things in life.
I can also confirm, after having a job with an international organization where I moved to a new country every year or two for more than a decade, that this also becomes routine. The novelty associated with exploring loses its luster and it grows exhausting to have to make new friends, find new trusted services, and adapt to a new biome for yourself and your partner.
Additionally, if you just move to another country, you might like it more there for various reasons (I’ve lived in Thailand also, and it’s a pretty nice country), but eventually it just becomes the place you live and work and take care of your house and dogs. And there are drawbacks of living anywhere.
So I agree. I think OP is facing is an existential meaninglessness that will catch up to them no matter how far they run or how much of their life they burn down. Things like mindfulness, community, creative expression, humor, compassion, service, gratitude, hobbies, rituals, family, journaling, traditions and therapy might be able to help.
Im 31… dont think Im having a mlc yet?
Man I bought christmas decoration foe 80 euros and was excited to put it up yesterday, I dont think it can get smaller than that
You’re having a midlife crisis. Life sucks, your teenage years were a free trial, but you’ve been playing the game and realized it’s a big old turd sandwich structured to get less fun as time passes.
We all realize it at some point, some people earlier than others. Ultimately, you realize you can either have kids and get a distraction from the recent revelation or, you can suck it up, not have kids and realize it might not going to get much better and try dealing with the debt.
Wait until you hit your 40’s and you start seeing weight gain, joint pains and hairloss. And if you’re really lucky… erectile issues. Some of us see our crisis in our teens, just be happy you were able to stay oblivious as long as you were.
That said, I’m still chugging along knowing all this and I’ve learned it’s far easier to act happy, than be happy. So act happy, hell you might end up believing it.
At least you got into a relationship, have you own place and family. I bet I’m older than you and got nothing of that. You’re lucky
Edit:Yeah, you’re younger. Dude I’m a failed virgin without a place and can’t drive, you can do a lot worse
I’m a failed virgin
I thought you were a really successful virgin?
This might be harsh, but … You need a better attitude towards life. You’re too scared to do things you say you want to do (barista) or can’t be arsed to do them (40 min by car, really?). Do you have anyone in your life who would give you honest advice? Find them and listen to them.
maybe see a therapist on why you want to fill the gaping hole in your life with spending money. i was there once a long, long time ago. it turns out the person i was with was not doing it for me and the overt money spending… ‘experiences’ was covering it up.
i had to learn to appreciate the small things, garner new hobbies and change the people in my life. but ya gotta do the work
Yes, debt can chain a person to years of grind.
I mean I dont even think thats the issue.
If I wouldnt pay the Bank my credit Id be paying the same amount to some random person just to have a roof above my head.
Atleast the debt ends some day, while if I were renting it would be neverending.
Plus my credit debt is only 900 Euro a month, about 250 Euro more than my old rent
I hear you.
Many will likely parse this as hidden depression or an unhappy marriage or a need to find a hobby or something.
I feel like it’s deeper. The whole urban grind lifestyle just doesn’t work for some. They feel the prison bars on their skin. They’re wired for movement and novelty and exploration. And I think that’s perfectly fine. To be celebrated even.
Moreover, I think we’re all like that a bit but find it hard to question modern life which for all of its material gains is, IMO, unnaturally keen to lock people into highly repetitive rhythms and constraining obligations.
