Whether you are twenty years old and engaged like me or you are going through college with your high school sweetheart still willingly by your side, you are seeing life in your twenties slightly differently than all of your friends.
I have been with my fiancé for nearly two and a half years, and sometimes it's hard not to wonder what things would be like if I were dedicating my "prime" to only myself and my future. However, I would not change my life for anything, and anyone else in my situation would probably agree with the following truths about being young and in love.
1. You have two amazing families rooting for your dreams.
I am lucky to have both my family and my boyfriend's family constantly cheering for me. In fact, my future in-laws have taken me to New York City two years in a row to perform my poetry at an open mic. They know how much I love the city, and they truly appreciate my art and my self-expression. I have the most fantastic parents as it is, so to have another set of parents cheering for me is more love and support than a girl could ever ask for. I also have soon-to-be sister-in-laws that all make me feel like part of the family!
2. Life suddenly isn't just about you.
As important as it is to love and accept yourself and work towards your own goals, loving someone so young gives you a new perspective. It teaches you to be selfless and make sacrifices. It teaches you what it's truly like to put another person before yourself. Love doesn't mean leaving yourself behind. It simply means walking side-by-side with someone who supports you and feels that same support back. Young love breaks someone down and makes them take a hard look at who they are, what they want in life and how important it is to surround yourself with someone who wants those same things.
3. Time seems to stand still.
When you find the right person at any age, time seems to slow down and the world just fades into the background. In your twenties, everyone is rushing around in a frenzy. In between our venti quad shot lattes, we all seem to be partying into the night and working through the day. Life is all early mornings and late nights. When you are in love, however, things change. You hold onto moments longer and appreciate them more. While all of your friends are surviving another day, you are taking the time to appreciate the tiny, meaningful moments while everyone looks at you like you are crazy and delusional. Little do they know that you are learning very young to appreciate life and love while you have it. Life sometimes makes us forget to breathe and take in what is right in front of us.
While being single and independent is just as healthy and rewarding at this time in our adolescence, there is no need to bash young love. It does not mean we are stupid. We just so happened to bump into fate sooner than expected and wound up learning far more than anticipated. Whether you are twenty-one and getting hitched or you are feeling twenty two and happy, free, confused, and lonely all at the same time, here's to you and the truth life has given you!
