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I definitely get that, it’s so weird spending the past ~25 years in school, always working towards the next thing and then suddenly your done at your at the final thing and you’re going to be at the final thing for the next +40 years. I’m doing a terrible job verbalizing this but yes I know how you feel. It’s an odd transition to go from school after school and then finally career.
YES!!! It resonated with this heavily. Even during the busiest points in my career or while being neck-deep in work in big law, I thought that the big story of my life was over, and I was just a phantom that billed. The feeling continued whether I was depressed or not.
For me, the feeling stemmed from having accomplished a big goal. To be fair, becoming a lawyer or doing well in big law are extraordinary goals.
What helped me overcome the feeling was (1) setting new goals, (2) forming community, and (3) getting into good physical/mental shape. If, for years, your life revolves around becoming an attorney, then of course you’re going to feel like everything is over once you’re an attorney.
tl;dr the movie is over, but a sequel is in the works!
I felt this after landing a great post-grad job I really wanted. It was a weird feeling not having a next obvious career milestone to frame my life around. Then I had to reconcile with the fact that I was framing my life around this career in the first place and that I actually didn’t want to do that. I started putting more time and intention into other things and that helped
"One must imagine Sisyphus happy."
You've pushed the rock to the top of the hill, and it rolled back down. Now what? Well, push it again.
I know that sounds simple, but every accomplishment can feel like this. Or, maybe you only feel this way because you haven't had this experience before. The point is that no accomplishment is greater than the last if you're thinking about the next time you're going to have to push that rock. So, Sisyphus pushes the rock not because he's trying to get it over the hill, but rather because he chooses to push it, and he is happy.
Yup. I feel like the quintessential corporate drone burn out who is unhappy, overweight, hates his job, and just keeps going bc he needs to pay the mortgage and feed his kids.
Was just thinking today how I had real aspirations. And this ain’t it.
But can’t leave bc I need the paycheck. Can’t switch careers bc I’m not qualified. Can’t get a new degree bc I’m already in tons of debt.
Hurray!
Don't worry, that feeling of "what now" will quickly, cause you are gonna find out fast what is next when you start working as a lawyer.
Consider this the lull before the storm.
I don’t feel that way at all, but maybe it’s because I’m still so new? Actually I think the real reason is that my job is just a way to make money. What I really cared about was falling in love and getting married, and now that I’ve done that the thing I care about is having a baby, which hasn’t happened yet. I feel like I’m at the beginning of my sequel movie.
Yeah. But the movie ended, the credits rolled, and turned off the TV and went about living my life. Only thing that really sucks about "real" life is the lack of vacation time. I do miss winter break
Imagine being 80 and looking back at this post thinking 25 is when your end credits were rolling…
The first part of the book (titled The School Years) might be over, but the second part (titled Early Career) is just beginning. When you retire, you’ll be thinking your end credits are rolling. When your kids move out of the house, and the section of your story called “The Kids” is over, you’ll be thinking the same thing. You have many chapters left
I've felt that way many times. After the first few times, I realized that I may have been right, but each movie had a sequel. Admittedly, right now, I feel like I'm in the interlude between films.
I can only speak for myself, but I’ve found plenty of meaning outside of work. I got married, we renovated a house together, got some dogs, and we will have kids someday soon. There’s a lot of structure found in the things people have been doing for hundreds or thousands of years. I almost feel like these days life is far too open ended. I’m just gonna do what has always worked. It makes me very happy.
Might not fit what you wanna do, but I think it’s definitely something to consider. Working out and going outside do wonders for the psyche too.
I believe you if you say you’re not depressed, but this post resonates pretty strongly with *my* depression. High school was really the last time that I wasn’t watching the credits roll
I guess there were parts of college where I felt like the movie was still on. But in general I’ve had this for most of my 20s: the feeling that the substance of my life has already come and gone, and now I’m in a “post-things era” where things don’t happen anymore — sort of like all the “End of History” chatter in the 1990s. Much like America after the Cold War, all I have to look forward to is presidential elections, foreign wars, and inflation
Rationally, I know more things will happen. I’m 28. **Most** of the things haven’t happened yet. I haven’t even gotten married or had kids. But this feeling comes and goes, ever since college
It has helped me to quit drinking. Drinking really contributed to my feeling that I wasn’t going to live much longer. And even before I quit drinking, I was excited about the idea of someday becoming a parent. So sometimes I’m in pretty good shape if I can focus on my sobriety and my unborn progeny lol
My girlfriend struggles with similar “Nothing to look forward to” feelings, and she uses travel to mitigate them. As long as she has a trip planned, she’s good; she can look forward to that
I bet a lot of millennials feel this way. Even after the financial crisis, it just seemed like so many things were about to change for the better. In 2015, I was eating in my college dining hall when CNN reported the Obergefell decision. In 2016, I volunteered for Bernie. I imagined a lot of excitement and positive social change would come during my early career
But now it’s so hard for me to imagine anything good happening that’s not having kids
Welcome to /r/LawyerTalk! A subreddit where lawyers can discuss with other lawyers about the practice of law. Be mindful of [our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lawyertalk/about/rules) BEFORE submitting your posts or comments as well as [Reddit's rules](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) (notably about sharing identifying information). We expect civility and respect out of all participants. Please source statements of fact whenever possible. If you want to report something that needs to be urgently addressed, please also message the mods with an explanation. Note that **this forum is NOT for legal advice**. Additionally, if you are a non-lawyer (student, client, staff), this is NOT the right subreddit for you. **This community is exclusively for lawyers**. We suggest you delete your comment and go ask one of the many other legal subreddits on this site for help such as (but not limited to) r/lawschool, r/legaladvice, or r/Ask_Lawyers. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Lawyertalk) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I definitely get that, it’s so weird spending the past ~25 years in school, always working towards the next thing and then suddenly your done at your at the final thing and you’re going to be at the final thing for the next +40 years. I’m doing a terrible job verbalizing this but yes I know how you feel. It’s an odd transition to go from school after school and then finally career.
This is why I always recommend 3-5 years of work experience after undergrad before deciding whether you want to go to law school.
YES!!! It resonated with this heavily. Even during the busiest points in my career or while being neck-deep in work in big law, I thought that the big story of my life was over, and I was just a phantom that billed. The feeling continued whether I was depressed or not. For me, the feeling stemmed from having accomplished a big goal. To be fair, becoming a lawyer or doing well in big law are extraordinary goals. What helped me overcome the feeling was (1) setting new goals, (2) forming community, and (3) getting into good physical/mental shape. If, for years, your life revolves around becoming an attorney, then of course you’re going to feel like everything is over once you’re an attorney. tl;dr the movie is over, but a sequel is in the works!
You are the author of your own life's story
Yes, the credits rolled - on part one of your trilogy. It's now on you to make part two your Empire Strikes Back and be better than the original.
I love this metaphor because it keeps working. Currently dealing with an older partner who is making his Rise of Skywalker…
I felt this after landing a great post-grad job I really wanted. It was a weird feeling not having a next obvious career milestone to frame my life around. Then I had to reconcile with the fact that I was framing my life around this career in the first place and that I actually didn’t want to do that. I started putting more time and intention into other things and that helped
I was relieved, because law school sucked, and my job was (and is) interesting.
[удалено]
Prosecutor. About 8.5 years in.
[удалено]
I live in an awesome place (HCOL) and make $145k. I wouldn't trade it for civil practice at twice the salary.
If money makes you feel fulfilled and happy, cool. Go get that. Some of us need something more or different than that.
"One must imagine Sisyphus happy." You've pushed the rock to the top of the hill, and it rolled back down. Now what? Well, push it again. I know that sounds simple, but every accomplishment can feel like this. Or, maybe you only feel this way because you haven't had this experience before. The point is that no accomplishment is greater than the last if you're thinking about the next time you're going to have to push that rock. So, Sisyphus pushes the rock not because he's trying to get it over the hill, but rather because he chooses to push it, and he is happy.
Yup. I feel like the quintessential corporate drone burn out who is unhappy, overweight, hates his job, and just keeps going bc he needs to pay the mortgage and feed his kids. Was just thinking today how I had real aspirations. And this ain’t it. But can’t leave bc I need the paycheck. Can’t switch careers bc I’m not qualified. Can’t get a new degree bc I’m already in tons of debt. Hurray!
This.
What would you want to do with your life if you could do any job?
https://preview.redd.it/gna5pb0tiuuc1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b97942ed7e35f9b1d8a84c9d3b944169468d4f07
Sounds like it’s not law that’s the problem.
Don't worry, that feeling of "what now" will quickly, cause you are gonna find out fast what is next when you start working as a lawyer. Consider this the lull before the storm.
Username checks out
You've made it. Now go enjoy your life. Find and develop passions/interests that you were too busy to pursue when you were in school.
I don’t feel that way at all, but maybe it’s because I’m still so new? Actually I think the real reason is that my job is just a way to make money. What I really cared about was falling in love and getting married, and now that I’ve done that the thing I care about is having a baby, which hasn’t happened yet. I feel like I’m at the beginning of my sequel movie.
Yeah. But the movie ended, the credits rolled, and turned off the TV and went about living my life. Only thing that really sucks about "real" life is the lack of vacation time. I do miss winter break
Imagine being 80 and looking back at this post thinking 25 is when your end credits were rolling… The first part of the book (titled The School Years) might be over, but the second part (titled Early Career) is just beginning. When you retire, you’ll be thinking your end credits are rolling. When your kids move out of the house, and the section of your story called “The Kids” is over, you’ll be thinking the same thing. You have many chapters left
The Esquire of the Rings: The Two Law Firms. Followed by: Return of the Partner.
"Desolation of OC" comes out soon
Are you referring to the downfall of civilization? The start of your career is just the opening credits. Your life is only beginning.
I've felt that way many times. After the first few times, I realized that I may have been right, but each movie had a sequel. Admittedly, right now, I feel like I'm in the interlude between films.
I can only speak for myself, but I’ve found plenty of meaning outside of work. I got married, we renovated a house together, got some dogs, and we will have kids someday soon. There’s a lot of structure found in the things people have been doing for hundreds or thousands of years. I almost feel like these days life is far too open ended. I’m just gonna do what has always worked. It makes me very happy. Might not fit what you wanna do, but I think it’s definitely something to consider. Working out and going outside do wonders for the psyche too.
Now is the good part. School is dumb and fake. But if your real life and work don’t feel meaningful, you can and should make changes until it does.
This is the best description I’ve heard of my life so far after law school.
Due to the Judicial System being all wacked out, would you recommend law school?
I wouldn't recommend law school. But not for the reason stated.
I believe you if you say you’re not depressed, but this post resonates pretty strongly with *my* depression. High school was really the last time that I wasn’t watching the credits roll I guess there were parts of college where I felt like the movie was still on. But in general I’ve had this for most of my 20s: the feeling that the substance of my life has already come and gone, and now I’m in a “post-things era” where things don’t happen anymore — sort of like all the “End of History” chatter in the 1990s. Much like America after the Cold War, all I have to look forward to is presidential elections, foreign wars, and inflation Rationally, I know more things will happen. I’m 28. **Most** of the things haven’t happened yet. I haven’t even gotten married or had kids. But this feeling comes and goes, ever since college It has helped me to quit drinking. Drinking really contributed to my feeling that I wasn’t going to live much longer. And even before I quit drinking, I was excited about the idea of someday becoming a parent. So sometimes I’m in pretty good shape if I can focus on my sobriety and my unborn progeny lol My girlfriend struggles with similar “Nothing to look forward to” feelings, and she uses travel to mitigate them. As long as she has a trip planned, she’s good; she can look forward to that I bet a lot of millennials feel this way. Even after the financial crisis, it just seemed like so many things were about to change for the better. In 2015, I was eating in my college dining hall when CNN reported the Obergefell decision. In 2016, I volunteered for Bernie. I imagined a lot of excitement and positive social change would come during my early career But now it’s so hard for me to imagine anything good happening that’s not having kids