Another year...

Every year, I assess my life. But I've discovered no good metric to make me feel like I've accomplished anything with my life.

The usual metrics is: If you aren't married you have a good career and make good money. If you are married you have a good marriage and maybe well behaved children. A bonus is awarded if you have both. You should also own a house or have chosen, for valid reasons, not to buy one.

By that metric my entire life is a failure. And every year I'm reminded of this metric. So I need a new metric. But I don't know what it is.

I have a secure job that I'm good at but many would sneer and say I am "just a secretary." I know better than that but it's a hard stereotype to shake. I'm employed which is better than many right now. I'm not working for minimum wage and I have insurance and benefits. That's a great blessing.

I have a BS and an EDM, both hard earned but so far not paying their way. I still have $52K in student loans to pay off (almost the same amount as last year...why doesn't it ever go down). But I have no credit card debt (well, $35 until I get paid for June). However, I'm paying my parents back for paying off my credit cards. Although I'm making regular payments, that amount doesn't seem to be coming down either. I can't blame the interest on that (there isn't any), I keep ending up borrowing more to get by on.

I am grateful for my friends and family. They are also a great blessing for me. I know that I have them to depend on when I need them.

So what metric measures all of that? Good or bad, I think I'm way ahead of many in this game.