I have ALMOST had a lot of things. I've ALMOST missed my flight because of my incapability to respond to alarms, I've ALMOST gotten a questionable tattoo at 1 a.m., and I've sure as hell ALMOST had a relationship with the person I most wanted to. While most of these almost occurrences did not become definite for good reason, some of these "almost-s" almost make me want to rewrite some pages of my own story. As sad and pathetic as that might sound, I have become quite accustomed to the bittersweet taste of almost, and I have a strange sensation I may not be the only one...

The time we spend in our 20's are some of the most formative years of our lives (i.e. you might want to pay attention to how you spend them and more importantly, who you spend them with). Although I am only approaching the second year of my 20s era, I have learned an invaluable lesson more than once: PEOPLE ARE INHERENTLY SELFISH. Keep this key piece of information locked and loaded in the back of your mind at all times, people! Whether it be your best friend who needs to be reassured the sun does in fact revolve around her, or your hookup buddy who's on the verge of defining the awkward "what are we" crossroads, this lesson proves itself to be undoubtedly valid, every. single. time.

I'm not necessarily bashing the idea of making yourself the center of the universe while you still can. What I am saying is that we all need to take a step back and look at our lives from another perspective from time to time. I am the first to admit my selfish tendencies, I can't even share my french fries for God's sake! However, I would like to categorize myself as someone who can look at a situation from all angles. Someone who may not like what they see, but can empathize with certain people's standpoints that differ from my own.

It is nearly impossible to reduce the amount of "almost-s" we cause others to experience because of our selfish nature. After all, we're just making the most of the decade we're given, we have to be this way in order to attain success... WRONG! If we all fall into the 20s trap of self-absorption, we won't ever make an authentic connection with anyone we meet during this fragile time of our young lives. It is vital to remember that time isn't the only fleeting component here, people are too.

Just as we aren't guaranteed time on earth, we aren't guaranteed the people we meet along the way. You're not obligated to stay, just as I am free to walk away. All too often, we take for granted the people we are given, we seem to think they'll never leave, that they will always be present whenever need be.

However, they won't.

They'll simply grow tired of how you only seem to chase the endeavors you think will remain a priority after these ten years are complete. They will ultimately damage both their head and their heart trying to force themselves into a life they were never designed to fit in. They will almost stay for you, but chances are, they won't.

I am someone who has put myself in compromising positions because I was seduced by the prospects almost had to offer. I have almost allowed people to determine who I am. And I have almost fallen for those who were too blind to see all I had to give.

Almost is a danger to those who fail to take a step back and truly look at life for what it is: a series of limited experiences shaped by a finite timeframe. The people we fatefully meet are who make this life worthwhile. It would be a travesty to one day reflect upon our roaring twenties only to find that we didn't cherish those with whom we created those timeless memories with. The same people who almost were ours.