Being in your twenties is filled with fun and trying times. It's a time where we feel we are supposed to get our lives together, figure out our future, and make a pathway to success. But what if we aren't there yet? What if we are just wading in a pool of uncertainty? Don't worry. You aren't the only one, and you definitely won't be the last. See, we feel this way because the world is a complex place, filled with those try-hards who think they have it all figured out. No one gave you the "How to Twenty" book when you slid out of your teens. There is no handbook or timeline to follow when to finish college, how to get a decent job, or who your significant other should be. You're simultaneously worried about trying to get your shit together and just saying eff it and going back to bed. So, without further ado, you feel "stuck".
You are baffled at how your friends have their lives figured out, (or so they think). Facebook is filled with countless scrolls of engagement pictures, pregnancy announcements, and bragging statuses of new job opportunities. You aren't sure what you want for breakfast, let alone a career. Your parents don't get it, and honestly, they aren't going to. See, their lives were by no means "easy", however, the times surely have changed. No longer is it acceptable to graduate high school, get married, and land a job you'd be with for the rest of your life that sends you home with a pin and a gift basket. You may have even chosen a major, but you still aren't sure you can see yourself doing this for the rest of your days. Your parents expect more of you, and you expect more of yourself. But, here you are, stuck in the mud of life.
This generation questions everything, and rightfully so! "Who am I?", "what do I want in life?", "what do I believe in?", the questions go on and on. Life in your twenties is more than just a social life. It is no longer a football Friday night or a sleepover with the besties. It's job applications, scholarship essays, rent, and the decision between buying groceries with what little money is leftover or paying your Netflix bill. You may even find yourself with a dark cloud hanging over your head. Ah yes, the wonderful depression cloud.
You aren't even sure about your significant other anymore. You question whether or not you can see a future with them. You try to create that picture in your head of waking up next to them or picture them holding your kid. And sometimes, they really just don't make the cut. This generation is so obsessed with the idea of what the future holds, that we simply forget what's right in front of us! So here you are, once again, stuck between making the decision of what's comfortable, and what's right for you. Honestly, it is in your best interest to make yourself happy before trying to make someone else happy. It sounds selfish, but if it's the right thing for you, that's all that matters.
Sorry to tell you, but you just read this entire article, and I don't have the solution to why we twenty-somethings go through this. But, I can tell you that you aren't alone, and it is completely normal. Surround yourself with supportive friends and positive vibes. Make a list of short and long term goals, no matter what they are. Go on a road trip, join a yoga class, or talk to a therapist or doctor. Whatever you do, do what is best for you. You aren't going to feel this way forever, even if it feels like this quarter-life crisis is a life sentence. You don't have to do what everyone else is doing. What's the fun in that?
