Y'know, I feel you.

I spent ten years in the culinary industry and dropped all that when I made a change to literally working at a dump as a Haz Waste Technician. (Working in high end kitchens was an abusive and violent environment and I'd had enough.) Heck, I know folks that are in their thirties that don't know what they're doing.

Keep your head up and try something new. There's this stupid myth that people are supposed to be full grown by the time they're in their twenties, but that's legit not true.

Hey there! :) In no way does being "in limbo" make you a loser, no matter how old you are or where you are in life. And, you're definitely not alone. I was in limbo for about 8 years after I graduated with my bachelor's degree. I had no solid/secure plans after I graduated: I thought I wanted to be a copyeditor or translator (because I double-majored in English and Japanese), but I couldn't manage to land either kind of job right away. So instead, I just got whatever job I could because I needed to work to pay off my student loan. (It wasn't a big loan, but I wanted to pay it off as soon as I could so that I didn't end up paying too much extra in accumulated interest.)

I ended up working as a financial aid counselor for about a year and a half. It was a secure job (and something that I was able to get because it only required a bachelor's degree in any field), but not something I wanted to do forever--but it did make me interested in working in education. (I totally lost interest in being a copyeditor or translator by then.) So that's what I considered next. Did I want to continue working in education administration, but not as a financial aid counselor? Maybe a career counselor? Or a school counselor? Or how about a classroom teacher?

I considered going to grad school for my master's, but I knew that I didn't want to pay big bucks when I wasn't 100% sure yet about what I wanted to get into. So, at a friend's advice, I decided to go to Japan and work as an assistant language teacher; it would allow me to see how classroom teaching is (albeit teaching in Japan is different from teaching in the states) while also earning money to save up for possibly going back for my master's. I ended up working in Japan as an assistant language teacher for a total of five years, and during that time, I had a lot of new and memorable experiences that allowed me to consider and explore my interests (both professional and personal). Eventually, just two years ago (in my last year as an assistant language teacher), I decided that I really did want to become a classroom teacher--hence, I'm now in grad school and working towards my master's to become a full-fledged teacher. n_n (I'm 30 right now, just fyi, lol.)

So yeah, as said, don't be afraid or hesitant to try something new. It really doesn't hurt to explore new/different options--and doing something new/different can lead you to something else that you become passionate about. There are always possibilities and opportunities around. Sure, some of them may be more challenging than others, but you'll never know what you might like until you try. And once you do, it could stir your mind/heart and help you find something new to love to do.

To be entirely honestly, I'm happy with my change. I'm progressing farther in life than I'd ever thought I would.

I'm involved with my Union, I spoke in front of ten thousand people last year and became a tiny bit famous among my states union. I'm actually kinda plotting a course to run for state legislature by the time I'm thirty.

It was worth the exhaustion and the fear of not knowing what the heck I was doing (I don't have a chemistry background and working with potentially volatile household chemicals can be a bit scary). I expected to be dead at sixteen, so ten years later, I'm a little bit like a newborn deer that's trying to figure out the world, but I'm happy to be here?

I dropped out of college after my first year due to a lot of factors, but mostly anxiety and self-isolation, I'm 25 now and I've been in and out of a ton of different transition-to-adult or whatever programs that never seem to fit, and currently I'm living at home and wasting time while applying for disability. It honestly helps to know that theres others out there older than me who are also figuring life out, means I still have time too.

I'm over 50 and I'm still figuring shit out, but life is a lot more fun when you give the universe permission not to make sense.

i have been searching 34 years for my place and where i belong and what my dreams are, i change my mind so often its getting old as old as i am but i am still content. I'm however for sure I'm working the right job and fell its it my calling. I never became a nurse, book keeper or even an administration worker and no longer have the desire to. I still pay monthly for my car, i have never been marries, no kids and have never lived alone. I live and take care of my grandma, we have three dogs together,

, I am in my mid-forties and am still trying to figure stuff out. My dreams have all been crushed or changed at least a few dozen times, but it's not all bad. In some cases, I am so very thankful that one dream disappeared and another took its place. I learned a long time ago that I kind of have to be like the ocean...ebbing and flowing with whatever the universe throws at me. (And it has thrown a LOT my way!)

Right now, I am learning how to take care of ME (for the very first time) and am content with the career I finally chose about 20 years ago, a job I love, a rented roof over my head, and a cat who makes me giggle every day.

You've got time to try, fail, try again, change your mind, and try some more. There is no deadline.

, even at death, you don't have to have everything figured out! ;)

Safe travels and enjoy the beach! It's completely normal to be nervous about flying (especially for the first time), but when it starts to feel overwhelming, just close your eyes, and concentrate on taking long, deep breaths in and then out. (At least, that works for me when I'm overwhelmed.)

37 over here. just high school diploma and i can't handle a traditional job (you know, 9-to-5 kind of thing). The only job i can handle was writing and being a freelance writer was the best thing that happened to me. I'm doing this for about 9 years now, continuously o.o Who would have thought?

the last traditional job i had was as a cashier at a supermarket and it nearly ruined my life and my health. i also only stayed there for 3 months ... it made me realize never want such a job. but since we're also planning on leaving this country, i might have to get a traditional/similar job in the new country as not to keep all my eggs in one basket.

Parents still think i'm a loser for not having a traditional job and family (or better said being in a relationship with a person of the opposite gender. I could never tell them my fiance has the same gender as me, or they could kill me, literally). and having 3 pets with this person sure feels like a family to me o.o

in 2013 i started blogging, and i never wanted be famous ... now things have changed, and i'm about to monetize my blog. well one of them... which is more of a site than a blog (the one with reviews, in blue in my signature ;p).

i also came to the conclusion that we can't follow the same path as our parents or peers because we're not them. we are us, and we are unique, hence we have our unique paths to follow, even if it takes some time to find it. What's important is to keep on searching, trying new ventures until something sticks.

good luck!