the weight of waiting when regret sets in
i've been carrying around a sense of regret for the past year or so, ever since i finally found myself in a comfortable and secure career path. on the surface, everything seems great good job, good pay, nice benefits, etc. but beneath the facade, i'm constantly second guessing the choices i made earlier on.
i'm 32 now, and i often find myself wondering what my life would be like if i had taken a different route. what if i had pursued that passion project instead of playing it safe? what if i had moved to new york after college instead of staying in my hometown? the "what ifs" haunt me.
the thing is, i feel like everyone around me has figured out their lives by this age. they're all married with kids, or have found their dream job and are thriving. meanwhile, i'm still trying to find myself and figure out what i truly want out of life. it's hard not to compare my own progress to theirs.
i know it sounds selfish, but hearing from others who might be going through something similar would be incredibly comforting. has anyone else out there felt this way? am i just having a quarter life crisis, or is this a common experience for people in their late 20s and early 30s?