Ian told me his twentysomething years were like being in the middle of the ocean, like he was in this vast, unmarked body of water. Because he couldn’t see land in any direction, he didn’t know which way to swim. He felt overwhelmed by the prospect that he could go “anywhere” or do “anything.” He was paralyzed by the fact that he didn’t know which of the “anywheres” or “anythings” would work out. Tired and hopeless at age twenty-five, Ian said he felt like he was treading water to stay alive.
