FOMO

FOMO = Fear of Missing Out

Do you have FOMO?

Are you always saying yes to invites subsequently obliging you, yourself and your plans, stretching yourself thin in order to be everywhere with everyone at all times? Are you a full-time party-goer from the time it begins until the time it ends in that you are one of the few guests left closing up shop and/or at times helping to set up?  Are you left wondering, late into the night, pondering the outcome of an event that you just did not have time to attend? Do you mentally beat yourself up for not being able to clone yourself and be in three places at once?  Do you forgo your night of short-distance marathon training because you were invited to an outing at the last minute?

Then you might have FOMO:

Symptoms may include:
- The tendency to say yes to dinner, drinks, or a happy hour invite although you have a hard-pressed date with the gym later. 
- The nagging feeling of jealousy which could progress into spite if you are unable to attend an event but you know people who are there?
- Last to leave the party even when your eyelids are clearly getting heavy or perhaps you have fallen asleep standing up/sitting up/maybe even laying down (some might refer to this as 'passing out', but I beg to differ).
- You attend all outings/events/soirees/shin-digs/hoe-downs/get-togethers/parties/kick-backs/meet-ups/meet-cutes/dates invited to such as dinners, lunches, breakfasts, happy hours, brunches, birthdays, anniversaries, showers, sprinkles, weekend getaways, stay-cations, vacations, goings out, out, and out again.
- The worst of them all: do you stay out until the EON (end of night), closing time, or the party's end time sometimes and most seemingly past your body's approval?

You are definitely not alone!  Although it may be worse than you realize.  But stop for a moment and think to yourself: what would you be missing out at that time of night anyway?  What good really is going to occur after midnight?  Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  Zero.  Nil.  Pack yourself up, politely say thanks and farewell and see yourself to the door.  The creature in you does not need to come out and you do not need to see the other creatures.  Goodnight and good luck. 

I used to be like that and I am still recovering from a few of those symptoms.  But it gets better with each day, each party, each passing year of wisdom.  I turn 30 in less than a month and so begins the reflection.