I'm 32, in the exact same DC ecosystem, and I worry that I relate to these sentiments a little too strongly, a little too soon. I think a lot of smart people your age or younger are struggling with a loss of purpose, or a sense that it's all futile so why try too hard? Especially the Type-A strivers and achievers who got great grades as kids, and had teachers and parents who nurtured infinite expectations, only to grow up and find out that the world is a circus, we won't make it better, and we're probably not getting to anywhere especially novel or legacy-shaping - so we might as well cool our jets and do whatever pays the bills. It's sad to wonder if that's the sort of lesson we might pass onto our own kids, and what it says about our broader national mood right now.
Oh completely agree. There's this very juvenile way we talk about careers when we're kids -- you can be an astronaut or a movie star or whatever! But like .. most people don't go around thinking that their job really defines their success in life. And in fact it's really unhealthy if you do do that. We could all stand to have a healthier attitude about why we work and what should actually be important to us, I think.
Hope you're enjoying DC. It's stressful for sure, but it can be a wild and fun ride.
So, I'm 30 (turning 31 in a couple weeks) and I also get this vibe right now. I live in the DMV and never really adopted the grind mindset lots of people have. I think it may be because of millennial cultural differences (I'm a young millennial, not gen z). I've sort of rejected hustling the last 4 years - I'm writing about this in a post in a couple weeks, but I think this mindset you're talking about sets in when you 1) find a job you like 2) find hobbies you like and 3) have a s/o to share a life with. I want to work super hard, but only for instrumental purposes. Give me a fat paycheck, but don't make me CEO, ya know.
Yeah I think the hobbies and having a significant other are a big part of it. There's just more to life that matters! Happy early birthday. Looking forward to reading your post!
I'm 32, in the exact same DC ecosystem, and I worry that I relate to these sentiments a little too strongly, a little too soon. I think a lot of smart people your age or younger are struggling with a loss of purpose, or a sense that it's all futile so why try too hard? Especially the Type-A strivers and achievers who got great grades as kids, and had teachers and parents who nurtured infinite expectations, only to grow up and find out that the world is a circus, we won't make it better, and we're probably not getting to anywhere especially novel or legacy-shaping - so we might as well cool our jets and do whatever pays the bills. It's sad to wonder if that's the sort of lesson we might pass onto our own kids, and what it says about our broader national mood right now.
Oh completely agree. There's this very juvenile way we talk about careers when we're kids -- you can be an astronaut or a movie star or whatever! But like .. most people don't go around thinking that their job really defines their success in life. And in fact it's really unhealthy if you do do that. We could all stand to have a healthier attitude about why we work and what should actually be important to us, I think.
Hope you're enjoying DC. It's stressful for sure, but it can be a wild and fun ride.
So, I'm 30 (turning 31 in a couple weeks) and I also get this vibe right now. I live in the DMV and never really adopted the grind mindset lots of people have. I think it may be because of millennial cultural differences (I'm a young millennial, not gen z). I've sort of rejected hustling the last 4 years - I'm writing about this in a post in a couple weeks, but I think this mindset you're talking about sets in when you 1) find a job you like 2) find hobbies you like and 3) have a s/o to share a life with. I want to work super hard, but only for instrumental purposes. Give me a fat paycheck, but don't make me CEO, ya know.
Yeah I think the hobbies and having a significant other are a big part of it. There's just more to life that matters! Happy early birthday. Looking forward to reading your post!