I will be 21 years old in less than a week, not that I’m counting or anything.... But as my birthday approaches, I can’t help but be nostalgic about my first year of my 20s. I spent so much time in my teens looking forward to my 20s, and they got here a lot faster than I anticipated.
Sometimes I feel like people get so used to looking forward to the big 2-1 that they forget about a very important year that goes by way too quickly — their 20th.
The first year of your 20s is a year that is special, whether you realize it or not. Even though you’re only one year past being a teenager, there’s something about it that changes you.
My 20th year taught me many things that I didn’t realize until recently. The first thing this year taught me was to be more thankful for what I have instead of what I don’t have. It’s so easy to compare what you have to other people. What car you drive, what clothes you have, your talents, your relationship with your family compared to others — the list is endless. It’s human nature to compare your life to someone else’s, but when it comes down to it, if you spend your whole life comparing what you have to others, you’ll never be fully content. And who wants to live a life of envy? What you have is so precious, and it’s yours — no one else’s. Be thankful for the beauty in that.
The second thing that I have recently learned is to stop focusing on boys. I’ve heard the same phrase my entire life, mainly from my dad, when he said, “Don’t worry about boys right now. You’ve got plenty of time for that later in life.” And, like most things, he is so right. However, this advice is the type where you have to learn it for yourself before you can fully embrace it. The majority of young adults can't help but be girl crazy or boy crazy, especially at the college age. But after a personal lesson well learned this past year, I see that my dad couldn’t be more right. I grew up thinking that after high school, I would go to college, earn my education and find a husband. I learned that this is not the case for everyone, and specifically not for me. I’m only 20. I literally have my entire life to find my soulmate and settle down, but what I don’t have my entire life to do is be in my 20s.
The third thing that I learned is that I am not in control of my life. I am a planning freak. I plan my weeks, days and sometimes, even my hours. It drives me crazy to think that I can’t perfectly plan out the rest of my life. I have realized that only one who controls my life is God. He has already planned out my beautiful life for me. I am sure it is filled with plenty of ups and downs. It’s nerve-racking yet comforting knowing that He has complete control of my life. The sooner I realized that, the better off I am.
My first year of my 20s was filled with meeting new, wonderful people, a lot of laughter, amazing concerts, travel, learning new things, bittersweet moments, dealing with loss, new additions to my family, lifestyle changes, trying new things, heartbreak and adventure. I never expected one year to have the capability to teach me so many things, but I’m glad it did.
I have very high hopes for my 20s. There will never be another time when I can be this spontaneous, selfish and free. I will never have another time when I don’t have to fully consider anyone else but myself when making decisions.
It’s scary how fast the past year flew by, but I am thankful for everyone who has been a part of it and has contributed to the lessons I’ve learned. I am looking forward to my 21st year of life and what it will teach me.
