The Quarter-life - 6/4/14

Thoughts of the quarter-life.
Working hard to avoid that "may I take your order" life,
Working hard to live that "beyond the border" life.
Life isn't worth living if it isn't beyond borders, right?
That's in reference to the comfort zone.
We're all trying to step out of it,
Yet we're trying to feel at home.
Working hard to set up a future,
Yet trying to enjoy our youth before it's gone.
Trying.
A word that comes up often.
Paying it forward without having what it's costing.
To cope,
We shell out cake just to taste the frosting.
See...
We all have goals and dreams,
But reality can be a bit much.
While we're trying to figure out what it all means,
We tend to end up a bit out of touch...
And that's when we come back to Earth.
Spending our very last on "first things first."
Feels like building an empire out of pennies.
A tiresome task of tremendous tedium.
If there are truly many ways to achieve success,
Struggle seems to be the most common medium.
No one's complaining though.
Not when we have instagram days,
Twitter nights,
And tumblr mornings.
Commenting, liking, reblogging, and tweeting.
Socially involved and aware.
To post is to live, to share is to care.
We vent, we laugh.
We pass around images of things we can't have.
We discuss net worth, we discuss rap.
We skate around being cash-strapped,
Encumbered by student loans,
Blaring reality TV and hip-hop over the groans,
Call it "griping" when someone moans,
Although it's a travesty that mainly debt is what our generation owns.
Such is the quarter-life.
The "although I have two degrees, may I take your order" life.
The "I need good vibes, so I'm a movie and music hoarder" life.
Rambling until four in the AM.
Thinking of dream positions and how no one would pay them.
Meditating on obstacles to our success and how to slay them.
Contemplating life decisions and party attendance.
Relationships teetering because of dependence and persistence,
Friendships swaying because of distance and insistence,
Dating seems to be a mix of maybes and misfits.
Everything seems to be happening all at once,
Happening quickly.
Yet progress is moving both slowly and gently.
Still making moves intently.
In an age where digital and instant are the new waves,
We know there's more to life.
We may be the last to be about that "brick and mortar" life.
Much love to us all,
As we live through the quarter-life.

-A. Lewis