NationStates Jolt Archive

its my big 2-0 today, and I am realizing that more or less, i have not done anything useful with my life. Please tell me that Im not the only one. :(

I had my 17th bday two weeks ago now and I've done nothing with my life but I don't care yet.

I'm too young to be able to do anything productive in my life and I'm pretty sure you're the same way.

As long as you're in college you'll be fine for the future. (just be glad you weren't born on Friday the 13th like me).

One time I saw this worm on the sidewalk, and it was like 96 degrees F, so I poured some water on him and put him in the grass so he could survive.

Sometimes I'm amazed at what a good samaritan I can be.

Nothing. Not for lack of trying either, but I am pretty useless. :P

its my big 2-0 today, and I am realizing that more or less, i have not done anything useful with my life. Please tell me that Im not the only one. :(

You're only 20!

Meatloaf himself said, "A wasted youth is better by far than a wise and productive old age."

Don't sweat it. :)

You're only 20!

Meatloaf himself said, "A wasted youth is better by far than a wise and productive old age."

Don't sweat it. :)

Only?? 20 years ago the Berlin Wall was still up! :p 20 years ago, lethal weapon came out! 20 years ago, men had women's hair, and wore spandex!

Boy how life changes in 20 years :p

I went through the same depression on my 18th birthday. Then I got lazy and stopped caring that I've done nothing. At least I have a cult at my school with Grade 9's worshipping me.

Only?? 20 years ago the Berlin Wall was still up! :p 20 years ago, lethal weapon came out! 20 years ago, men had women's hair, and wore spandex!

Boy how life changes in 20 years :p

Only. Do you know what I accomplished with my life before I was 20?

Well, actually a lot, but most of it will end up disqualifying me from ever running for public office. :p

However, between 20 and 34, I joned the Navy, finished college, went to work for a major corporation, quit in boredom, became a clown, got married, punched out three children and invented a taco that cures cancer. Unfortunately, I ate the only prototype and all my research was lost in a mudpit. :(

Nevertheless, at 20, the really productive years are yet to come. *nod*

One time I saw this worm on the sidewalk, and it was like 96 degrees F, so I poured some water on him and put him in the grass so he could survive.

Sometimes I'm amazed at what a good samaritan I can be.

if that counts I'm gtg hehe. I've saved many a bug. Bees .. sure.. no problem.. They usually find their way or stay near the door they come in through.. I open the door stand there ... thinking come on! it's your only chance.. if you don't get back out there you will die. They buzz out. Spiders.. I try to catch them in a paper cup or something to set them free. Flies.. well luckily haven't had to deal with them too much. But of course if I can I will get them out unscathed. But I will kill a fly if it stays around and will not leave. A bee I will not kill. It's not going to hurt nothing anyway. I want it to live. A Spider I really don't want to kill, but if I have to I will. A Flea is dead if i can catch it, luckily not really had to deal with those. An ant.. I will feed .. and it leaves. I think they come in for water.. only see them during dry periods a few little bitty piss ants hanging around the bathroom sink. I give them a tiny piece of a cookie, sprinkle water on the screen and I usually don't see em again.

Now lady bugs.. funny thing. They only go into one room in this house.. I don't know how they hell they even get in, window is not usually up. It has a window unit AC, but so do most all rooms in the house. But they go in there.. and I find them dead on the window sill. :sad: Once had as many as 10 dead. I never see them flying around, never see em sitting on the ceiling etc in rooms, but there they are dead in window sill. Even during winter months. During summer before it gets too hot I raise almost all my windows. So far haven't seen any dead. <3 lady bugs. I'd of course save them if I can.

its my big 2-0 today, and I am realizing that more or less, i have not done anything useful with my life. Please tell me that Im not the only one. :(When you're ca. 27 you'll have a major crisis over just that.

When you're ca. 30 you'll realise the only achievements that matter, is that you have as much fun as you can, help (or at least don't prevent) others do the same, and try to satisfy your fantasies and curiousities.

If you can, I suggest you skip ahead to after the latter realisation. Life's way more fun after that.

Meatloaf himself said, "A wasted youth is better by far than a wise and productive old age."


His name is Robert Paulson!!

Bob. Bob had bitch-tits.

At least I have a cult at my school with Grade 9's worshipping me.
... and a cult on NS with spammers and JuNii worshipping you.
:D

... and a cult on NS with spammers and JuNii worshipping you.
:D
STRAUGHN! *tackles*

Being worshipped is fun. ^.^ I'd probably enjoy it more if my teeth aren't in throbbing pain right now. >.< Guess who just got her wisdom teeth plucked out of her? :headbang:

its my big 2-0 today, and I am realizing that more or less, i have not done anything useful with my life. Please tell me that Im not the only one. :(Erm, what responses do you expect from the NS crew? :p

Seriously though, there's a lot of decent folks around here for advice.
Don't sweat it. Don't worry that much about making other people happy, and don't cost others very much in making yourself happy.
Find what you're good at, and try new things regularly, and even if you don't feel like you've "accomplished" a lot, like a trophy or whatever, and you are still likely to feel a fulfilling and meaningful existence. Believe me, i know how hard that is sometimes.

... and a cult on NS with spammers and JuNii worshipping you.
:D

:eek:

Well, I bet you don't get death threats. Sometimes its good to not have done much in the last 20 years.

I volunteer in the hospital every Saturday. Although, 3 of the 4 hours involves sitting around the lounge and doing nothing. The productive hour is spent pushing patients out the door or delivering a specimen of someone's feces to the lab.

STRAUGHN! *tackles*

Being worshipped is fun. ^.^ I'd probably enjoy it more if my teeth aren't in throbbing pain right now. >.< Guess who just got her wisdom teeth plucked out of her? :headbang:

:fluffle:
That wisdom teeth thing ..... hoo yeah. That made, iirc, one of my more favourite anecdote posts. :)
I got my first root canal this past year too, WooT!
The infection was making its way to the more important and tender parts, and my nerves were stinging with each pulse by the time i took a dose of penicillin. The nerve behind the eye, the temple, the jaw hinge, the chin, and the nerve next to the nose were working in concert to let me know the consequences of waiting out surgery .... sweating, stinging, and a considerable lack of focus. They, of course, scolded me for taking the penicillin, but it still was taking another two days before they'd work on me.

*consoles*

It doesn't matter what you've done. what are you doing?

I reckon everything one does until one is 25 is just in preparation for doing something with your life.

Nope. 43 years old, and not planning on doing anything anytime soon.

It could be worse, a lot worse. I've had several really bad ideas I very nearly did.:rolleyes:

It doesn't matter what you've done. what are you doing?

Exactly. I had the same thoughts on my 20th so I decided to take up skydiving and now i'm captain of my Uni skydiving club and have got my category 8 (me jump good). Just look forward to the things you're going to do

Here's some good advice :p

http://www.lovstrand.com/Quotes/Sunscreen.html (I bet everyone's real sick of that bit right there...)

But seriously. I've just hit 20 too and all you have to do is try and be as happy as you can (and don't hurt people too much in the process).

Don't let the whole performance culture thing get to you!

Woah, wait a minute. The Brevious was Straughn?

I'm 14. I can't really have done much with my life. I mean, sure, I've done donation and charity drives some times, but still.

Here's some good advice :p

http://www.lovstrand.com/Quotes/Sunscreen.html

I liked this bit:
"Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth."

Can't agree about the sunscreen, though. We're all going to grow horrible green hairy warts from that stuff. Wear a bloody hat.

Woah, wait a minute. The Brevious was Straughn?

:eek:

EDIT - I suppose I should actually reply to the topic: no I've not really done much with my life, though I'm not very good at recognising achievements.

Only. Do you know what I accomplished with my life before I was 20?

Well, actually a lot, but most of it will end up disqualifying me from ever running for public office. :p

However, between 20 and 34, I joned the Navy, finished college, went to work for a major corporation, quit in boredom, became a clown, got married, punched out three children and invented a taco that cures cancer. Unfortunately, I ate the only prototype and all my research was lost in a mudpit. :(

Nevertheless, at 20, the really productive years are yet to come. *nod*
QFT. most of my "accomplishments" have taken place post-21......

(other than that one kid who I birthed at 19, but she is still a work in progress)

I became a teacher.

(other than that one kid who I birthed at 19, but she is still a work in progress)

Like..what...you're still in labor?

Like..what...you're still in labor?

I haven't decided if she is an accomplishment yet.....she is being persnickety today.

its my big 2-0 today, and I am realizing that more or less, i have not done anything useful with my life. Please tell me that Im not the only one. :(

I got into university somehow... that's about it

I've Rocked.

(obscure 80s hair-band ref, meaningless intraweb cookie to identifier of same ;))

Yes, there were times, Im sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I became a teacher.

/wins thread. A noble calling in a time when it is undervalued. Teachers and pop culture celebrities should have their roles reversed.

its my big 2-0 today, and I am realizing that more or less, i have not done anything useful with my life. Please tell me that Im not the only one. :(

You've only become an adult, don't sweat having to be "useful"; that's for chumps. Enjoy your life while you're young because you've got the rest of it to be useful and responsible. They say that youth is wasted on the young. Prove them wrong and enjoy it before you have to care about insurance, credit ratings, budgeting to pay rent and all that other adult jazz that is none of your concern until its your time.

Trust me, when I turned 20, I had jumped ship on one academic programme for another and was back at base one. It's no biggie. People have different ways of becoming productive for their later years.

I've done a lot of stupid crap in the 4 years since I turned 20, but I don't care because I wanted to.

I'm 25 this year. I have graduated from Harvard law school, i work in the district attorney's office, i am happily married. What i'm doing with my life right now is working towards running for the US house of reps in the next 5-10 years as well as building my personal fortune. It was at 1.5 million dollars when i inherited it and it is 2.4 million dollars now.

On a personal level i'm happy with where my life has gone, i'm happy, i'm comfortable, i have the future planned out etc. As for what good i've done in the world, that's more a subjective term and open to opinion. I'd like to think when i die i've done my part to improve the world.

I'm 25 this year. I have graduated from Harvard law school, i work in the district attorney's office, i am happily married. What i'm doing with my life right now is working towards running for the US house of reps in the next 5-10 years as well as building my personal fortune. It was at 1.5 million dollars when i inherited it and it is 2.4 million dollars now.

On a personal level i'm happy with where my life has gone, i'm happy, i'm comfortable, i have the future planned out etc. As for what good i've done in the world, that's more a subjective term and open to opinion. I'd like to think when i die i've done my part to improve the world.

Just dont turn to corruption and you will improve the world.

Happy Birthday!

im at a loss for why a 20 year old should have done anything with their lives. you are in college, you are planning a life serving god. what more do you want?

Just dont turn to corruption and you will improve the world.

Well i support campaign finance reform. Andi have a deep hatred for bribes and going into politics based on agendas. And that is one reason i support Obama, over 90% of people who have donated to his campaign have given $100 or less. So most of his money is from the middle class and special interest groups.

I plan on pretty much ignoring lobbyists. When i became a congressman i will be able to do my own neutral research on issues, i don't need somone who has been paid by the NRA or a cigarette company to tell me what i should think.

Happy Birthday, Zilam! :)

Well, I guess most of my accomplishments up to this point are hopefully building up to later accomplishments. Like all of the AP classes I'm taking and the one I passed in 9th grade, and my grades, which I am very proud of. I'm only 17, so I think I'm doing a fair job of enabling myself to have a good future.

Well i support campaign finance reform. Andi have a deep hatred for bribes and going into politics based on agendas. And that is one reason i support Obama, over 90% of people who have donated to his campaign have given $100 or less. So most of his money is from the middle class and special interest groups.

I plan on pretty much ignoring lobbyists. When i became a congressman i will be able to do my own neutral research on issues, i don't need somone who has been paid by the NRA or a cigarette company to tell me what i should think.

That is great man. We need more people like you.

Just dont let money get over your head. Many people go into politics with strong convictions but end up getting changed by power.

I've made it into college, been published in the crappy campus newspaper and literary rag, had two emotional meltdowns, punched some guy named "Charles" in the face because I hated his shorts, and two nights ago I won Steamband. I also woke up and came to work this morning, in spite of it being Saturday and my having a hang over.

Maybe your problem isn't that you haven't done anything, but that you're setting your standards for "having done something" too high, not everyone can be this guy (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/02/AR2007040201570.html). For one thing, there isn't near enough room on Mount Kilimanjaro.

That is great man. We need more people like you.

Just dont let money get over your head. Many people go into politics with strong convictions but end up getting changed by power.

I was born into a wealthy family. I inherited a lot when i turned 18, i wouldn't accept bribes for the pure fact that i don't need bribes. I'm rich enough, and at the end of every financial year my accountant tells me i'm richer then i was the year before, so i'm fine with bribes.

And about power, people can get drunk with power as easily as they can get drunk with alcohol. But a person that uses power wisely and uses his power to benefit his country and his world won't be changed by power.

I haven't decided if she is an accomplishment yet.....she is being persnickety today.

Remind her that you gave her life, and if necessary, you can take it back. :D

Well I'm 18 and I haven't done anything major in my life, except that time when I went on holiday to India and spent 2 weeks among the extreme poor (living on the streets and such) so as to understand what that world was really like. It isn't pretty :(

its my big 2-0 today, and I am realizing that more or less, i have not done anything useful with my life. Please tell me that Im not the only one. :(

Happy Birfday :)

don't worry, i'm 22 and i'm still drifting. i'll probably still be drifting when i'm thirty to be honest.

Nothing...yet.

What's with the cult of 'doing something with your life'? Why must we succumb to the idea that we must make some major impact on the world around us in order to make use of our lives? Whatever happened to just enjoying life? It's short people, just go out and enjoy yourself.

A life of meaningless obscurity, is just as profound as one of momentous impact.

What's with the cult of 'doing something with your life'? Why must we succumb to the idea that we must make some major impact on the world around us in order to make use of our lives? Whatever happened to just enjoying life? It's short people, just go out and enjoy yourself.

A life of meaningless obscurity, is just as profound as one of momentous impact.

Yeah, I agree. Althrough I do want to achieve something major in my life, I want to do it because I want to, not because of others.

In my opinion, after you´re born, your life is just yours. You dont own anything to anyone and is allowed to do anything you want as long as you want to and feel good doing it. If you just want to enjoy life and have an easy ride, great.

its my big 2-0 today, and I am realizing that more or less, i have not done anything useful with my life. Please tell me that Im not the only one. :(

Nope. I'm just as useless a lump of flesh as you are. Possibly even more useless because unlike you I never go out in public at all.

What's with the cult of 'doing something with your life'? Why must we succumb to the idea that we must make some major impact on the world around us in order to make use of our lives? Whatever happened to just enjoying life? It's short people, just go out and enjoy yourself.

A life of meaningless obscurity, is just as profound as one of momentous impact.

When I was 16, I was working for our local council auditing council facilities. One day, I was at this old people's home and I still remember the main room, with a small TV at one end, and all the old folks sitting in chairs around the edge. They were put there each day from 7am to 9pm, then taken to bed, and few did anything other than stare at the telly.

It horrified me - I can't imagine anything worse than sitting each day, knowing it's too late for me to do anything and thinking of all the things I didn't do... I don't need to change the world, or get written into the history books; I only need to make sure that all my years are stuffed to bursting with living.

its my big 2-0 today, and I am realizing that more or less, i have not done anything useful with my life. Please tell me that Im not the only one. :(

Me? Do something useful? Most of the time I'm trying to avoid being yelled at.

its my big 2-0 today, and I am realizing that more or less, i have not done anything useful with my life. Please tell me that Im not the only one. :(

usually the Mid Life crisis arrives... idunno... MID LIFE?

of course you haven't done anythign useful with your life at 20... because around 20 is when you start getting your chance to do something useful. GO OUT THERE AND LEAVE YOUR MARK ON THE WORLD.

just make sure the marker you use isn't 'dry erase' :p

Apart from what I've done within my mind (developing a rampantly misanthropic, semi-nihilstic and semi-hedonistic philosophy as well as the beginning of a closely connected ideology), I've thus far (at age 18) got into software development in my freetime and over a couple of years got very skilled at what I've done as of yet (the not all too large extent of which is my real weakness here. one which will quickly shrink in the coming years). I aim to become a mad computer scientist, and the latter part of that is what my future studies will go towards. As for the former, I've already got it down - in the sense in question.;)