To all the lost twenty-somethings: it’s okay if you’re still figuring yourself out. Whether it’s a future job, internship, relationship, or lack thereof, breathe in, and breathe out. Over the past few weeks of being home and working at my dad’s office to scrap up some extra change, I’ve encountered the, “So, what’s next?” question more than a handful of times. And you know what? It’s cool. I get it; it’s small talk, curiosity, human exchange of communication. As an honest person, I always supply my inquirer with an honest answer, “I have no idea.”
In a time when I’m scrambling to apply to internships that interest me, in a wide variety of disciplines, I’m discovering more and more about myself. I can tell you what I don’t want to do with my life, and I’ve crossed things out through experience. It’s all part of growing up I suppose. However, sometimes it’s hard to ignore the growing anxiety that surrounds the dreaded concept of “the future.” The anxiety simmers just below the surface, deep in my chest, and only springs out through the reminders of internship quests, postgrad life, and evolving family dimensions. Just as a middle-aged career person feels the pressure of their job on their shoulders, so too do the lost twenty-somethings as we try to figure out just what the hell we’re supposed to do.
However, I’ve also come to find, with the help of older siblings, that it’s okay if you don’t find it right away. Whether the it is your dream job or dream guy, sometimes it just takes trial and error. Part of growing is trying out things that may or may not work. Rarely does one fall right into the perfect job, and I’m willing to try on as many hats as possible before I stumble upon the right one. Of course, I always try to weave optimism throughout my journey of figuring it all out. It's so easy to expel negative energy when we're stressed or frustrated, and I've definitely done that more than a few times. However, at the end of the day, being negative doesn't help anyone, myself especially. I’m a mess, but at least I’m a happy one.
Of course we have friends who have their shit together, or think they may, but I guarantee that they’re figuring out other aspects of their future out too. No one has it together at twenty-something. And if you think you do, I’d love to meet you and take some notes. Seriously though, contact me and tell me all of your life secrets, then make an epic Youtube video to help us all. To everyone else- keep breathing, get some exercise into your routine to keep those endorphins pumping, and stay positive.
