There's an expectation that our 20s should be considered the selfish years of our lives. Many of us twenty-somethings believe this is the time to be reckless without worrying about any potential consequences. These are the moments we're supposed to tell our grandchildren about. These are our wild years––from one night stands to impulsive purchases and traveling the world. But, thinking realistically, just how reckless can you be in this day and age?
Logging into Instagram between study breaks, you can't help but feel a bit jealous of your friends who post frequent photos of themselves going on epic adventures in exotic lands. It's difficult to be very excited for them when you're still at the library late Friday night working on flashcards for your midterm.
Before you know it, you've just graduated with a Bachelors Degree. You're feeling ready to take on the world, maybe even join in on the "selfishness" so many have taken full advantage of, the selfishness you haven't had time for. You're still young, why not? Oh, that's right––you have a double shift tomorrow. How can you possibly afford a trip to Europe (or even take off the time) when you have bills to pay and you're starting graduate school next year?
Fast forward a few years, and now you've earned your Master's Degree. But those loans won't pay themselves back, and interest rates are no joke. Oh, and you've got to start looking for a job right away in this economy.
Fast forward again and you're working 9-to-5, coming home to a fiancé and falling asleep before the sun goes down. You're pleased with all the success you've worked so hard to achieve, but can't help but wonder: Did you really waste what are supposed to be the best years of your life studying and working while sleep-deprived?
No. You did not waste your 20s. So stop feeling guilty.
There is no wrong way to do your 20s. Yes, if you've got the time and money, why not travel? Or get that tattoo, or climb Mount Kilimanjaro? The reality is most of us aren't able to do that for many reason: money and career being the main ones. Our 20s are a crucial decade for establishing ourselves in the world, so we truly can't afford to be reckless.
I get upset at these "how to" articles telling young adults how they should live their lives. Quotes seen on sites like Pinterest telling you to, "Quit your job, buy a ticket, get a tan, fall in love, never return" are prime examples of what is wrong with seeking answers on the internet. Everybody has an opinion, this article included, but it's up to you to decide what is actually important for your growth.
This is a fragile time in our lives––with college, mounds of student loan debt, career goals, rent, and overall learning to live on our is all incredibly overwhelming. To add even more stress we're constantly being fed false information that we need to be exploring jungles and having sex with strangers, because now is the only time we can be reckless, and if we're not reckless now, our lives will be forever bland.
Close your eyes and think about your life right now. Think about how you see the next few years going. Tell yourself it's okay if you're not going to be living in Africa anytime soon; that it's all right if renting your first apartment with the money you worked at McDonalds to earn is what you're proud of and looking forward to. Your 20s are about finding yourself and appreciating this new chapter in your life. Enjoy it for what it is. Have fun and don't worry about whether you're living your own life correctly.
You're doing just fine.
