We’ve all heard it from some form or another, “your twenties are the best years of your life. Travel, explore the world, don’t settle.” But, as a 21 year-old, I am at the beginning of what apparently is going to be “the best years of my life”, and I am suddenly feeling an immense amount of pressure from myself to make sure I truly do live it up.
Unfortunately, certain circumstances may stop me from traveling the world or jumping out of my comfort zone. If I had it my way, I honestly would love to graduate college, land a fantastic job in marketing—preferably in New York City, rent a cute—yet updated apartment, and live my life as if I am Carrie Bradshaw in the well-known TV series, Sex and The City. I wish it was all that easy, but it isn’t.
A major block in my head that stops me from taking risks and exploring my opportunities is the constant questions lingering in my mind, “what if my life isn’t supposed to turn out like that? What if I turn down that job opportunity? Will I regret this decision?” Or the reminder that I should just do what is smart, what makes the most sense, and follow the path that is some-what laid out in front of me.
The fear of regret is a cloud that fogs up my mind and actually stops me from doing what I want, and persuades me to do what I should, or what makes the most sense. I have spent hours dwelling on decisions that may seem so small to others, but happen to be so big to me. I listen to advice from friends, family, professionals, etc., but I haven’t listened to my own. I am paralyzed by my own paranoia that my decisions will lead me down a path that I won’t like five years from now.
The pretty typical goals of a young adult flow through my blood constantly. Graduate college, find a killer job, meet my husband, get married, buy a house and have kids. It sounds so planned, but I mean really, at some point, it is what most people want.
Of course I want to travel the world, do things I have never done before, eat food I have never tried, and use my young energy to thrive as a twenty-something-year-old. But, at the same time, I know I need to focus on graduating college, get a well paying job, save money for the unknown economy that lies ahead, and make smart decisions that won’t set me back from achieving the most important goals I want for my life.
As important as it is to listen and take advice from friends and family, it is also important to listen to yourself. I have gotten so caught up in trying to “do what is right”, and trying to make other people proud, that I have almost completely cancelled out my own opinion and what I want to do. Life never works out the exact way we would like it to, but it is important to listen to yourself, and consider your own opinion as well as others, too. Hopefully our twenties are as good as everyone says…
