Hate Your Full-Time Job? Be Thankful

I have the good fortune of having been able to get paid to do what I like to do (for the most part) for the majority of my career so far. I'm only 25, so it's just a small dent of the career to come. Right out of school, I jumped into the workforce head-on, didn't take a year off to travel or explore, just got to work. I saw an opportunity for some job experience right out of school in Chicago and took it. I didn't know if I would get a chance to learn like that again anytime soon. From there, I've been fortunate enough to be able to be on my own, pay all my own bills and be self-sufficient. I know I've been blessed in that regard, especially in the rough job market people my age face now. I figured anyone my age in the same shoes would recognize their good fortune. Turns out I was wrong.

I read this article by Taylor Cotter a while back about her struggles of not struggling. She has a steady job with enough income to not only pay rent but also pay for a car and even save up for a 401k. However, it's not enough for her. She regrets she grew up too quickly, that she took on adult responsibilities (at an adult age...) and didn't have a "starving artist" period. She weeps for her early success.

I weep with her. Poor kid. If only she could struggle like most of the people our age who would kill to be in her position.

Our generation gets a lot of flack for feeling entitled. Either we aren't in the jobs we want or - in Taylor Cotter's case - we're in our dream job that we worked hard for but wish we had to struggle more. Articles like the one I read only feeds a stereotype that I know isn't true for a lot of folks my age.

If you are a Millenial and are employed but hate your job...be thankful. With only half of graduates in the last 6 years finding employment, you are literally beating the odds. There's something to learn from every experience, no matter if you're working in a seemingly dead end job, unemployed or have the career of your dreams. It's all only temporary.

No matter how bad you think you have it, there's someone out there that would give anything to be in your shoes for one day.

What do you think? Does Taylor Cotter have a point in wishing she could struggle more? Weigh in here or in the comments below.