I’m a regular guy, I’m about 23 years old, I work at a job with a flexible schedule, the job is more or less acceptable, although sometimes it’s very annoying because of the extra repairs. Lately, I’ve been really wanting to go to festivals with cosplayers and stuff, but time is tight, and because of AI and data centers, there is even less time than there could be. And I never even went on a date, I constantly postponed everything for later, and now it seems to me that everything is lost.
There’s always tomorrow, but you won’t regret doing it today. My 20s were a blur of not taking time for myself, grinding away at a shit job, thinking I’d have more time next week/month/year, and losing touch with friends as they went through the same shock of employment. I can’t truly say I had the resources to do more in my 20s, but somewhere in my 30s, I became notably less anxious and more willing to do things on a whim as I realized time was ticking faster and faster. Not everything needs a full plan. Not everything has to be perfect. Not everything has to be min/maxed. You don’t have to justify your entertainment to anyone.
You’re not out of time. You’re likely at a similar awkward time where you’re still finding your footing as an adult, as opposed to a student. Humans will always continue to party through catastrophe. We wouldn’t be here if our ancestors didn’t. Take a walk. See a concert. Start your cosplay. Try a ren fair. Try a punk flea market. See if anyone wants to meet up.
You have time. I’ve forgotten more than you’ve remembered and I’m still a long way away from being done with this place.