Taylor Swift’s song, "22," is all about having a good time and living life to the fullest at such a young and fun age. So of course, when it came time for me to surpass the age of 22, I was a little unsure of what the year would bring. I mean, the only song I’ve ever known with the mention of the age of 23, is Blink-182’s "What’s My Age Again?" The lyrics literally say “no one likes you when your 23,” so you can’t blame me for being skeptical. But after being 23 for roughly 8 months, I can tell you that while there are some negatives to being almost a quarter of a century old, there are also some positives too. I thought of 3 not-so-fun things that 23-year-olds have to deal with, but found an amazing silver lining to each one of them. So take that, Blink-182.
1. Some people your age actually have their lives together, making you feel like a hot mess.
There's nothing that makes you feel like you have no idea what you are doing with your life than talking to someone your own age who acts like they have it all figured out. Some 23-year-olds have graduated college and landed a super-successful job they seem to love immediately, while others, myself included, are struggling to finally finish that last semester of undergrad or are in graduate school. I cannot tell you the number of times per week I think to myself, "what the heck am I doing with my life?!?!" This is usually after one of my nightly Netflix binge-watching sessions, #dontjudge.
Silver lining: Truth- NO ONE, I repeat, no one, has it absolutely all figured out. Everyone is just doing the best they can, and some can hide the fact that they are lost better than others. 23 is a perfectly acceptable age to be confused about your major, your job, or just life in general.
2. Facebook timelines are starting to be full of engagements, weddings, and babies.
While I love all of these things, I still do not feel old enough to know people my own age that are married or have kids! Yes, I do understand that this is the time in our lives where people are settling down with that special someone, and I am more than happy for all my friends who have done so and are doing so. But, when you are single it's hard not to wonder or be anxious about your own future.
Silver lining: Everyone does things at their own pace. Just because you have friends who are engaged or having kids, does not mean that time is running out for you. Your 20s are for doing things that make you happy, your selfish years. So if getting married to that guy you've been seeing is something that makes you happy- go for it! And if you've always wanted to travel the world or move across the country, why not? Or are perfectly content with being single and having a big group of friends to go out and have fun with, then that's cool too. In other words, you do you. Things have a way of working themselves out, so you may as well relax and have a good time.
3. The harsh reality of student loans hit.
Now that you are beyond your college years, the financial burden of school starts to weigh down on you. All of a sudden, post-grad life greets you with a huge stack of bills and you have to start budgeting your money. All at the same time, you are trying to balance all the expenses with somewhat of a social life, which for most of us involves meeting friends for dinner or drinks, and sometimes even spending money on gas to visit friends out of town. Each month there's the struggle of choosing to buy responsible, needed items like groceries, or treating yourself to a night out.
Silver lining: One of my favorite quotes sums this topic up- "Now is the time for small paychecks and big memories." Yes, always stressing out about money sucks. Not having a lot of extra money also sucks. But as much as saving money is responsible, it is okay to spend your some of your hard-earned, saved money for something that is going to be a fun, memorable experience. Traveling is the perfect example of this. I studied abroad in Europe during the spring of 2014, and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made to date. Traveling is not cheap, but the memories I made are worth far more than any number in my bank account.
So, in summary here are three main pieces of advice for making 23 your best year yet:
1. Being an adult is basically googling how to do things.
2. Don't compare your beginning to someone else's end.
