Have i missed out in life?

Question

Help here please. I'm a 24 yr old male. I am currenlty engaged, have a motrgage and dog, a decent paid job and i don't hardly go out.
I feel like i'm 50 yet im only 24. I joined the Navy when i left school and as a result i feel repressed as when everyone else was out having fun and taking drugs i never got to take the chance to do this. I have just left the Navy and don't know what path i should take now. I feel like a total overhaul of my life to replace what i missed but i don't want to look like a pathetic 24 yr old trying to rebel like an eighteen yr old. Should i follow my life long dream of becoming a movie director or should i accept the situation i am in and be happy with what i have got even though i hate it?

Answer 1

I can understand that feeling. Growing up my siblings got to be wild and crazy...smoking, drinking, doing drugs, partying. I was always the "Good one". I got married at 22 years old so when others were out partying and dating I was being a house wife. I think you should get married as planned but you should still pursue your dreams. Just make sure you got something else to fall back on. Just make sure you don't have a kid now either or that will make things worse. Good luck and God bless

Answer 2

First of all realize that 24 years old is still very young! You've got plenty of years ahead of you to find your direction.

Secondly, you seem to have this impression that after high school everyone was out partying and having a good time...everyone but you. Not so! Plenty of people were out there working hard and studying too.

Not everyone knows what path they want to follow in life. Some people figure it out while they are still young while others try different things. There nothing wrong with either method.

If you feel like you missed out on some fun, give yourself a timeframe, say a month, to go out party and try to make up for what you think you missed six years ago. Chances are you will eventually realize you missed nothing at all! After that month is over, make a commitment to re-examine your life, your likes and your dislikes and seriously consider what you may want to do. It's not an easy decision. Take a class or two at your local community college. Doing this may point you in a direction you may not have considered.

Lastly, remember that life is to short to go through each day unhappy. Follow your dream, you may not ever become a movie director but in the process, you may find out more about yourself and discover a completely different path.

P.S. - I speak from a experience! I was a "lost" 20 year old, spent my 30s raising a family and wondering what to do with my life. After much trial and error, I went back to college at 39 and on to medical school! Don't put so much pressure on yourself...and don't worry about your age! Good luck to you!

Answer 3

Follow your dreams. If you don't take that chance now, you will look back and wish you had. You are only 24, your life is not over. You don't have to act out like an 18 year old, but there's no reason why you can't still do what you want with your life. If directing movies is your dream, go for it. Have no regrets!!

I did the acting out thing for about 2 years right after high school. It's not all it's crack up to be. I am glad I figured things out before it was too late. I had my first child when I was 21 and I wouldn't change what I have for the world.

You need to do what you want and feel like you should. If you don't like the way you life's course has gone, you are the only one that can change that.

Don't end your engagement, unless you don't feel it's right, just to go to Hollywood. If your fiance is a decent person, she will support you and back you up. Only you know what is right for you, your family will support you and if they don't then it's up to you to decide whether you still want to persue your dreams.

Good luck!!

Answer 4

You are not alone! It is very common for responsible, high-achieving people to feel that they have "missed out" on the "fun" their peers having been having. You should be extremely proud of what you have accomplished to this point. You may be having second thoughts about marriage. This could be the root cause for your sense of urgency to "enjoy" life. The reality of married life may be overwhelming you right now. Don't rush into marriage. Take your time. You're are feeling stuck as it is. Check into some classes at your local university that could lead you toward your goal of becoming a director. Don't quit your job yet. At this point, you could take some night classes, see how you feel about the movie business after you stick your feet in the water a little, then make decisions from there. If you decide to pursue that goal, when the time is right--relocate to LA--enroll in film school there. If you fiance isn't with you in your goals, then she may not be the right girl for you. P.S. You can still have fun while pursuing your dreams without drugs, alcohol and excessive club-hopping. Find healthy ways to have fun.

Answer 5

Follow your dream. You're already way ahead of the game. You've served in the military, you've bought a house. Now it's time to do something for yourself.
Go back to school. Take a variety of classes. Maybe something will really excite you. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

Ask yourself one question- those people who took drugs and had fun and never studied, how are they now? Are they leading a great life? Are they HAPPY? they may have not missed out on things at that age, but look what they're missing out on now!... Only through ones hard work you may reap good fruit.

If you have your own dreams then try fulfilling it! But the only problem is, what if yo aren't successful? im not being negative, but I wouldn't want you to loose everything you have. talk it out with your fiance... see what she thinks about it.

Answer 7

You are still very young and have your whole life ahead of you. If you are unhappy with your life, change it. You can end your engagement and move to LA and give yourself a year or so to see if you can break into the movie industry. Otherwise, you may regret it. Now is the time to follow your dream.

Answer 8

Follow your dream or you will resent what you already have and hate.