So...
Hi, I'm Anna.

I've snooped around Glitter occasionally, and you all seem like cool people.

Which is awfully convenient, since I have a really dumb ass rant/question and I hope you guys can relate and stuff.

I have no life. I believe I had one at one point. Now I just have work. I am an Americorps volunteer and I love my job. It also gives me the opprotunity to design and paint murals all over San Jose schools. But I don't do much else. I have to work so much. I have no car to go anywhere. I'm broke.

I live with my boyfriend,so it's like built-in company. He is also a volunteer, but he knows what he loves (he's a musician), and he has the energy to pursue it. The boy ends up working 18 hour days and he's happy. I love him a lot, but right now he's the only extra--curricular activity I have and that is very unhealthy, and i need my own damn life.

So, what do people do? How the hell do I figure out my passions? These are stupid questions but I'm stuck. I've been out in the real world since I was 17, and two years later I can't figure out normol modes of entertainment/socializing. It's really pitiful.

I don't know.

<shrug>

If you want to hijack this thread and save it from a 19 year-old's angst, maybe just list your passions.

hello!

i sometimes feel that way also. ecept i dont even work now. so i read book and try new things out.

a while ago when i was working i picked up some night time classes...one in pilates and one in french. so that tended to break up the week quite nicely i think. and i really lliked learning languages and am going to pick up a another one or two.

to find what your passionate about is not instant. it can take some trial and error. but generally getting yourself out of the house and out there experiencing different things would be a good place to start.

maybe you could get a bike and go on rides? its good exercise and also you get to see a lot of your area and may discover things you hadnt found before.

i know exactely how you feel. good luck :)

I think the idea about going for a bike ride on your own was good.

I think just setting aside maybe a half hour or an hour to be alone. Have a mug of tea, take a walk. That will get you thinking, and perhaps in the mode of doing for yourself. Take a walk if bikes aren't your thing. Once you have a bit of alone time, you might start thinking about what you would like to do. Then, just make a bit of time every day, or week, to do it!

As for me, my alone time activities are going for walks in the woods and making jewelry. I also do some online shopping and watch tv, which aren't the best ways to spend time, but are terribly convenient. Oh, and I currently don't have a vehicle at my disposal either, as one of ours is in the shop. The walking is also a good way to get out and take care of random things you need to do during the day while clearing your mind and exercising you!

the other girls gave great ideas.

i myself am a musician (just started calling myself that, after an almost-argument from my s/o) so that can take up a lot of time. i also do tons of crafts, you name it, i probably do it. i also love to read and i like to take walks, and bike, though my bike is in another state right now.

where do you live? you could always post a get together with us, here, even if its not crafty. i know i for one could always use more friends, since i just moved.

good luck!

sounds like she lives in san jose.

there are a lot of glitterati in the bay area, and several in the south bay. all the ones i've met have been awfully nice, smart, and fun people.

Yep. Downtown San Jose.Which is dead.

San Jose is the largest city in Northern California and it has one grocery store in the downtown area. No nightlife if you're under 21, also. The census has changed the region's name from the San Francisco Bay Area to the San Jose- San Francisco- Oakland Metro area or some shit like that. Which is pretty damn odd.

I'd definately like to meet people. Fun crafty people, not unfun homicidal maniacs, btw.

I would also take volunteers for service projects for our program, for people who want to try their hand at murals.

I guess that is also the problem, all my friends are coworkers.

questions i ask and things i do to save myself from death by monotony:

imagine yourself being really happy, content, excited, glad. what are you doing? where are you? what kind of furniture are you sitting on? who are you with, or are you alone? what's the weather like? are you teaching, or being taught? are you active? who are you helping? are you proud of yourself? are you outside? are you in america? what are you wearing? what color is your hair?

go to the library, and let your gut tell you what kind of book you're interested in. which section makes you want to pull all the books off the shelf and read them right there? fiction or non? trashy romances? biology? fashion? animals? social work? going to a physical library would be ideal, but if you don't have time go to amazon.com and start looking around, reading peoples' reviews, etc.

is there a part of your health you've been letting go? find a doctor, some specialist, and get to work. it feels good to invest some energy in yourself that way.

i ditto the above suggestion about taking a class or two, college or not. a couple of classes this past semester saved my head, and hardly demanded any out-of-class time.