[ZZtop]

i can totally relate to your situation. i am 30 years old and i spent the better part of my youth with a bad attitude. i just didn't like it here and i was in and out of jail and being a general sore on society's arse.

i have to say that you, at 24, are lucky to be arriving at these questions now, so young. i just begun this searching for myself a couple years ago at 28. i finally calmed down and stopped acting out. i think the most important thing is to really think about and form a vision for yourself. how/where you want to be in the future and what you want to be doing. this can be easier said than done because, take me for example, i just did not feel like i fit in anywhere and there was nothing for me to do. it took me a little while but there are things i want to do. i don't mean just a career but what do you really want to do? even if it is just travel or something like that. once you have that vision then the pieces start falling into place. but, like me, if you just stay in a negative, bad attitude, kind of mentality then that is all that will manifest.

i made the mistake of caring about what other people were thinking/judging about me and it really held me back. it kind of ruined my youth. it took me a long time to come to the point that i don't care anymore what other people think about me or what i am doing. and i now feel free to listen to my heart and follow it where ever that happens to be.

i can tell that you are a good person and a smart guy. you will make it.

cheers,
foo