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It's so true. We took our parents at their word when they said, "The world is your oyster."

But I think the twentysomething crisis is not a result of there being too few good options, but too many.

Globalization, advancements in technology and reproductive science, redefined gender roles, etc., has ushered in an age of cross-continental cubicles, smashed glass ceilings, encouraged paternity leaves, children when you're 40, etc.  All these new tools with which to engineer 'the life you imagined.' (to quote Thoreau)

My friends are banking in India, freelancing in Argentina, studying in California, and accomplishing impressive amounts from tiny urban apartments everywhere. We’ve inherited a world in which we’re able to climb ladders and cross oceans with new ease, which makes us increasingly hesitant to tie ourselves to one job, one location, and yes, even one partner.

And yes, the recession has dented our bubble, but a year of financial panic or a bad term of unemployment can’t beat twenty-seven years of feeling like the world is yours to go out and get. No matter how pitiful my bank account becomes, I still evaluate professional options according to their “happiness quotient.”

And so the burden becomes that we love all these career, lifestyle, and personal options so much that we can’t bear putting any one of them down. We figure there is nothing worse than leaving something behind only to realize later that it is exactly what we want. 

Just spent the last year turning this subject around in my head to write a book (http://thechoiceeffect.com/) and I'm convinced that ours in an over-choiced generation. We love choices and hate choosing.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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