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I think the word "crisis" is way over the top. Many of the things that callers and posters have mentioned are just a part of life in our particular moment in time. These "difficulties" are specific to our culture of abundance and are problems only for people with so many choices and opportunities. Right now in Spain, a country I visit regularly, they have 25% unemployment; people in their 20s have practically NO hope of getting even a menial job any time in the near future. They often live with their parents until they are in their 30s, which would be unthinkable in this country. And Spain is a relatively successful western democracy, not so far from the U.S. standard of living. In many other places in the world, people struggle with getting enough to eat, suffering disease/war/rape/genocide. So I think that our young people who think they are "suffering" a quarter-life crisis should take stock of how fortunate we really are in this country, hunker down, stop whining, and take an active role in making something of their lives. I know this sounds like one of my mother's sermons, but a little perspective is in order.

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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