I am warning you...if you are 30 years old, or older, you have/will roll your eyes at this article, so I suggest you read something else. I can appreciate that you are past your 20-something years and have made it out alive, but the rest of us are still trying to get through them, with our sanity intact. I tip my hat to everyone in their 30's and I cannot wait for that stage of my life, but this article is for my fellow 20-somethings.
If we are being honest, every single stage of our lives is difficult. Each one brings on new challenges and experiences that we never quite seem ready for. Yet there is something exceptionally difficult about our 20s. Is it the overwhelming amount of freedom we are suddenly given? Is it because all of our friends are somehow at a completely different stage in their lives and yet the same age? Or is it simply because no one gifted us with a "Life-Handbook" and we are freaking out? I think I have narrowed it down to 10 huge reasons why being a 20-something year old is hard, but trust me, there are 1000 more.
1. College
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F11%2F19%2F6361511994933889312054222546_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=396&h=57b7e6a49c3d59227d3ed5be9181b3b70436cd3678d62c753ace02a3e6148024&size=980x&c=136534781 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F11%252F19%252F6361511994933889312054222546_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D396%26h%3D57b7e6a49c3d59227d3ed5be9181b3b70436cd3678d62c753ace02a3e6148024%26size%3D980x%26c%3D136534781%22%7D" expand=1]This one is pretty vague I'll give you that. College is as they say, the most amazing time of our lives, and also the scariest. We go from having to ask to go to the bathroom in high school to learning how to cook, do laundry, wear shower shoes, and how to be on time for class without a bus. You learn a lot about yourself. Through most of high school you have this picture in your mind of how things will be in your twenties and then all of a sudden college changes all of that. Sometimes that many curveballs in life can be a tad bit overwhelming.
2. Handbook?
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F11%2F21%2F636152928608210475-227888548_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=756&h=b495feb1f4fded9dcd560953181ba8414d6974db9a7319d4dffdebf5875aea2d&size=980x&c=3844104281 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F11%252F21%252F636152928608210475-227888548_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D756%26h%3Db495feb1f4fded9dcd560953181ba8414d6974db9a7319d4dffdebf5875aea2d%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3844104281%22%7D" expand=1]Here is a secret...20 somethings have no idea what they are doing 90% of the time. A lot of us may even come off arrogant and we may act as if we know it all, but trust me we don't. There have been so many instances where I think to myself, how the heck did I make it through that? And guess what? That is how I learn the best, trial and error.
3. Dating
Any episode of Sex and the City can tell you that dating is basic, go on a date, wait for a phone call, fall in love. Ya maybe 30 years ago. I don't think dating is even a relative term anymore. When I was little I believed that everyone in their 20s were married with babies and white picket fences. Now I am in my 20s and most people consider dating to be Netflix and chill ... ya that's a thing. The values of commitment are so rare in our generation, relationships are almost impossible. Instead of front porch kisses and first dates, we have people getting "cat-fished" and texting instead of a real phone call. Send me back to the 50s please!
4. Friendships
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F11%2F21%2F6361529267467183441680263613_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=627&h=eb9a2763e34ec3149c970674ce23b346ef995739d8bb8b4a5310d6bd4afecc19&size=980x&c=622751855 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F11%252F21%252F6361529267467183441680263613_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D627%26h%3Deb9a2763e34ec3149c970674ce23b346ef995739d8bb8b4a5310d6bd4afecc19%26size%3D980x%26c%3D622751855%22%7D" expand=1]This is the point in our lives where we will encounter some pretty dramatic changes. You could move across country, travel the world, endure loss, and 1,000 other things. This is the time where it will be crucial to your life to let some bonds go, and strengthen others. What we need to know is that is okay to say goodbye. It is okay to have a small group of friends that you would trust your life with. You will need that unbreakable support system. People change and grow a part and that is okay too.
5. Kids table vs. Adult table
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F11%2F21%2F6361529256672551891438256415_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=416&h=5118378de0b263cc568060ae2a4de7ccae06578378cabcfb3be6b13e65475e8d&size=980x&c=2708769517 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F11%252F21%252F6361529256672551891438256415_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D416%26h%3D5118378de0b263cc568060ae2a4de7ccae06578378cabcfb3be6b13e65475e8d%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2708769517%22%7D" expand=1]I am coming to a close on my 20s and I STILL struggle with this. This does not necessarily mean I am immature, but I do tend to relate better with kids. There a comes a time in our lives where we need to let go of certain things. Thoughts, experiences, memories, even people. Within the past year or so I have come to realize that people are not always as they seem to be. When you are a child, adults hide things from you, not just Santa Claus, but real things, problems. I am a scared of becoming an adult mainly because I do not want to face hidden truths that only adults have to face.
6. Social Media
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F11%2F21%2F6361529367498947461666475090_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=917&h=9a031748b0c80a666c094a9d35d48f4347ddd7015872add3cba2e97258682a01&size=980x&c=916341067 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F11%252F21%252F6361529367498947461666475090_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D917%26h%3D9a031748b0c80a666c094a9d35d48f4347ddd7015872add3cba2e97258682a01%26size%3D980x%26c%3D916341067%22%7D" expand=1]You CANNOT believe everything you see, and yet we still do. As a 20-something we are so in tune with what everyone else is doing and thinking that we barely have space in our brains for our own thoughts. At any given time we can scroll through hundreds of "happy", "blessed" statues that make us re-evaluate our own lives. We could be sitting here sadly critiquing situations that are perfectly fine and normal. We do so much comparing to others we completely forget what we have right in front of us. Yes, people can be happy, that does not mean that you cannot be happy also, and that they do not ever have bad days.
7. I am a Milennial
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F11%2F21%2F636152940879824627-1219071509_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=711&h=f4b77abaefaab93000b51b0c61fec2e813b09dc29f1b504bbc65fa8752c4d9fb&size=980x&c=1906381843 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F11%252F21%252F636152940879824627-1219071509_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D711%26h%3Df4b77abaefaab93000b51b0c61fec2e813b09dc29f1b504bbc65fa8752c4d9fb%26size%3D980x%26c%3D1906381843%22%7D" expand=1]I am not super proud of being a Milennial, but I am one. Our generation has such a bad rep with previous generations and I can see why, but I can also see the greatness of being a Milennial. We are portrayed as lazy, unmotivated, entitled little brats. You know what? Some of us are. But some of us are still hardworking, intelligent, and immensely creative. I hate the feeling of constantly being judged as if I was handed everything I have ever worked for. I do not believe you deserve a trophy if you did not earn it, but I also do not believe in not giving someone a chance to prove themselves just because they are young.
8. FOMO
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F11%2F21%2F636152947651548603-2015837802_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=702&h=689630ee24617b59999708d6e3e0f0e0e5ae7be5597aa40f4df3d0997d324a4d&size=980x&c=3056490467 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F11%252F21%252F636152947651548603-2015837802_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D702%26h%3D689630ee24617b59999708d6e3e0f0e0e5ae7be5597aa40f4df3d0997d324a4d%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3056490467%22%7D" expand=1]Believe it or not the fear of being left out is a very real thing. With social media as a HUGE factor, everyone wants to feel loved and included more than ever. Just like in elementary school when you were picked last or not invited to that birthday party, it still sucks. It might be even worse now that we are adults.
9. Money. Money. Money.
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F11%2F21%2F636152948203131518212233921_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=432&h=bbdec046307ae87cac8ba5aa44e29e3fa571f3d99651e72f78af768ae84baef9&size=980x&c=2182963642 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F11%252F21%252F636152948203131518212233921_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D432%26h%3Dbbdec046307ae87cac8ba5aa44e29e3fa571f3d99651e72f78af768ae84baef9%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2182963642%22%7D" expand=1]Yes, every generation, every person struggles with money. Maybe except Kayne. I believe 20-somethings struggle financially specifically because of the cost of college. We somehow have to find a way to finance a minimum of 2-4 years of schooling by either throwing ourselves into a pool of debt or working countless hours. Oh wait, we need a place to live, with utilities. If you're lucky mom and dad will let you hang out with them for a while, if not welcome to the world of balancing. Balancing your time between work and studying, and balancing your money between bills and life. Did I mention no one ever teaches you how to do all of this??
10. Wait...the world does not revolve around me?
[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F11%2F21%2F6361529485420080871206432725_giphy.gif&ho=https%3A%2F%2Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net&s=145&h=00dc0fe38417be86dcf2dcd46310132dd69d4bab1c8b75a59fb835090c3a59db&size=980x&c=1797102709 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F11%252F21%252F6361529485420080871206432725_giphy.gif%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Faz616578.vo.msecnd.net%26s%3D145%26h%3D00dc0fe38417be86dcf2dcd46310132dd69d4bab1c8b75a59fb835090c3a59db%26size%3D980x%26c%3D1797102709%22%7D" expand=1]That's right. One of the sure fire signs of becoming an adult, is the realization that everything is not always about ourselves. As we get older we begin to find acceptance, peace and even happiness with our current situations. We begin to realize that none of us live perfect lives, and we all actually share similar problems. So by the end of our 20-something years, we try to stop acting like babies.
