How to handle feeling behind in life?

[Anonymous]

I guess as Christmas rolls around it feels more obvious to me, though this is a year round issue.

I'm 29, and just feel stunted in life. I'm finally working to finish a degree, I have a job, a car and my own place. It's not like I'm bumming through life. But most of my cousins/ family have had degrees, married, etc by this age. And I'm kinda where I was at 23 still.

But it feels like I should be doing better by now. And it really makes me feel bad around the holidays gift wise, because it sucks to not be able to afford more for people. Especially my family when they've helped me out in some pinches financially.

Like they've helped me and I can't afford to reciprocate the way I wish I could.

I know they understand why. I just feel like I'm lacking in life and being the curve where I should be at almost 30 and it makes me extra sad this time of year.

[Anonymous]

Spend your time helping other people. It will change your focus from yourself and your problems to someone else. The people you will work with in doing this will fill your life and change things for the better. Opportunities will pop up all over the place. If you continue to wallow on your own things will just get worse and worse.

[BarryLiverstone]

One way to cope is to understand this season lots of people feel depressed for various reasons so you are not outside of the norm. But you can also focus not on matching all the gift giving and instead on a few gifts for people that mean the most to you.

[oldpigg]

I'm graduating old, but that's because I'm studying medicine, so I take comfort in the fact that I'll be a millionaire when I graduate.