A Quarter Life Crisis Journal Entry from 26-Year-Old Me
Lindsay Emerson
5/31/2023
Recently I came across this journal entry I wrote when I felt like I was having me "quarter-life crisis" at 26. It's always so interesting to read your own thoughts from years previous. Little did I know the transformative changes I was about to go through. Enjoy!
A couple of years have passed, and here I am, a much different person. Iâm now 26, no longer in my undergraduate program in San Antonio, and much less naive. This was such a fun outlet as I was finishing my degree to become a teacher before I really knew what adult life had in store for me. Itâs crazy to think that my only worry was âWhatâs next?â I was able to spend the money I made on the side, live freely without rent, and just enjoy the ride of college. Now, almost three years later, I have so much I wish I could tell myself back then. âSave your moneyâ âDonât get a credit cardâ âEnjoy the freedom while it lastsâ âALWAYS go out of your way for people; itâs who you are meant to be, so start now.â Iâve learned that my 20s have been meant to be spent selfishly, learning along the way. You learn your âbig pictureâ goals and life plans.
Though, I donât believe that any life plan is truly up to you. You can hope, but there is no way you have any control over how things actually turn out. I have found so much joy and friendships within the past three years. Independently, I have made a life for myself (of course my parents taught me and supported me all along). One of my dreams, since I was very young, was to have my own pug. We had a family pug growing up, Oliver, and I always loved him so much that I felt that one of my own would be loved even 10 times more. I started Graduate school at The University of St. Thomas this fall (2017) for my Masterâs degree in Educational Leadership; I am in my third year of teaching middle school English. To say the least, starting with Hurricane Harvey, this has been the craziest semester of my life. Only two weeks into school, which started two weeks behind schedule, I learned that I would be adopting my very own pug puppy.
Now, I thought I knew exactly what I was doing, as I had grown up with Oliver the pug. However, I didnât know just how much I could love this puppy. I did so much research, shopping, and dreaming for the two weeks leading up to her âgotcha dayâ. My life now revolves around Opal the pug puppy, and I wouldnât do it again any differently. I may not have been truly ready for her, especially on my own in a one-bedroom apartment, but who is really? You donât know until sheâs home that she is now your universe. I never truly even wrote much on this blog page, to begin with, especially nothing of depth, but Iâve decided to begin sharing Opalâs adventures and all of the events of puppyhood that can help anyone out there as first-time doggy owners.
It has been such a rollercoaster. I wish I would have had a blog to revisit describing the ins and outs of getting a pug puppy and training her all on your own. So this blog has now shifted to puppy central, lifestyle, and all things teaching and education. Everyday life with a pug, what to expect, the highs and lows of education as a profession, tips and tricks I've learned along the way (and continue to learn!), but more importantly, the ride along the way. Cheers to new adventures! Won't you join me??