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Beyond FOMO: The Other Missing Out Attitudes
Denial Of Missing Out (DOMO): You can do everything. You can work a full-time job. You can write a novel on the side. You can travel to music festivals, start a podcast, play the jazz trombone at nightclubs, get nine hours of sleep, read ten books a month, and learn how to dance Brazilian Zouk at a very high level. You can do all of this while having strong friendships, a smoldering romance with your soulmate, and eventually kids. You will never have to compromise or make hard choices. Life is long, and there is plenty of time, right? Right.
Surprise Of Missing Out (SOMO): Wait, what just happened? While you were busy writing your manuscript, Sharon had a fancy cocktail party with a bunch of interesting writers and musicians. Did you miss a WhatsApp invitation? How the hell did this happen?
Nausea Of Missing Out (NOMO): When it sinks in that you missed out and there’s no going back, you will throw up.
Grief Of Missing Out (GOMO): You will enter a deep malaise. It’s not just too late for cocktails, it’s also too late to be a precocious novelist. It’s too late to be an astronaut. It’s too late to attend the Electric Zoo EDM festival. Tickets sold out weeks ago, ya doofus. Also, to Zouk dance gracefully, it’s better if you start in your teens, or better yet, take both Jiu Jitsu and ballet lessons as a child for the…
