"Settling"

The word simples drips with negative connotation. But, just after turning my TaySwift 22nd birthday, I realized, the concept of settling is not nearly as black and white as I once imagined. Embarking into 'the real world' has been challenging in many ways, but the largest of with has come from this notion of settling and being constantly badgered not to do it. "Don't settle for a job you don't want." "Don't settle with him just because you're comfortable." Don't don't don't don't don't.

But, here's the thing, for once it's not just our parents telling us what to do, but indeed it as if today's millennials can't seem to make up their minds about what constitutes 'settling' either.

The truth is, we're all getting to that age where people start making real commits, be they romantic or professional, that baffle half of us and don't surprise the other half. At 22 I have a handful of people I know who are either married, engaged to be married, or certainly heading on that track. Now, many people would say they're just 'settling,' growing up too quickly, not enjoying life as it should be enjoyed. But here's my argument - why is it suddenly so wrong to get married young? People assume just because you've married young in life you're automatically going to a) have children quickly, b) are super religious, or c) are going to get divorced by 30.

Now while any of the three above may be true, they certainly don't have to be. Is it so wrong to want to spend a few years married to the person you want to spend the rest of your life with without children? My one friend and her husband have traversed the world together, which has only increased their bond over time. They are deeply in love and supportive of one another and it truly impresses me all the time. Why should they have waited for a more 'socially acceptable' age to get married simply because society says so?

The truth is your 20's are super complicated. Some of us are trying to party it up like we never left college. Some of us are trying new things, traveling to new places, simply because we're young enough (and maybe dumb enough) to do it. And some of us are getting ready to settle down and start families and create a stable life with another. And all of it's okay.

Wherever you're at on life spectrum of choice's right now is where you're meant to be. It's not our place to judge our friend or peer's life choices because they aren't our own. It is simply our job to be supportive and love one another unconditionally.

Besides, everyone else hates on millennials, so we shouldn't do it to ourselves!