Alpha Female

Question: I'm a woman who has achieved a fair amount of professional success for my age (more than my friends have at least), I'm in business school, I have a nice group of friends to go out drinking with on weekends, I can buy things that I want, and I even have a cute apartment. People are jealous of my wonderful life, but I'm just not happy! Why?

Answer: Whoa there hot stuff! The Answer Meister is also a successful woman, and I think that going to b-school is a badass move. Good for you. In fact, from the limited info you've given me, I see a lot of myself in you. However, I also suspect that you may be barking up the wrong tree looking for happiness, as I once did. The way that I measure happiness today is by the number of people I can have a genuine conversation with. While I know a lot of people who I enjoy talking with and going out with, I count among my friends only the people who have my best interests at heart. There is nothing wrong with buying cool gadgets and pretty clothes, but none of the material stuff stacks up against a friend who wants to hang out with you just to talk with you, not to check out members of the opposite sex, not to see and be seen at a cool hangout. Note that the Answer Meister did NOT tell you to go find a man. Because that is a whoooooole 'nother story. If your search for happiness turns into a search for a man, ooh, that can turn messy. Better for now to focus on finding the kinds of friends who act as mirrors to your feisty but no doubt deep little soul.