Let's face it, when we were younger all that we could think about was growing up and living this perfect little life that we had created in our minds. Then, once we actually became legal adults, we had no idea what we were doing and probably still don't. I know I fall into that category and it can be scary sometimes, but when we finally hit that 20-year mark, that is where it at starts to change.
We see people we went to high school with beginning to have families and all that other jazz and then we begin to doubt ourselves and worry about our futures. We think that we are not "normal" because we aren't doing that with our lives, but you shouldn't feel that way at all. Everyone has a different life path to follow and that is okay, especially during your twenties.
Some people are still pursuing an education, some are already involved in a serious career that they enjoy, and there are even some that have absolutely no idea what they are doing and are just winging it. All of the above are perfectly understandable scenarios and just because you may not be doing what everyone else is, it doesn't make you a bad person.
Your twenties should be your "selfish years," as most people refer to it, to allow yourself to do the things that you have always had your heart set on, but you never really could do because you had other obligations. To be completely honest, I don't think that is being selfish at all. Just because you want to focus on yourself and not a relationship, college, career, or anything else related, does not mean you are a selfish person. You are simply embracing what you want to do with your life and that is something to be proud of.
You have plenty of time still ahead in your life to worry about finding the love of your life, getting married, having kids, and everything else in between. I know it may not seem like it, considering everyone seems to be starting that part of life sooner than what it used to be, but it's true.
Your twenties are your prime years where you are old enough to be an adult, technically, but you are still young enough to do fun and stupid stuff from time to time and still get away with it. So, why would you try to ruin that by focusing on anything else, or anyone, besides yourself?
Of course, you can still make time for your friends and family. I am not saying to completely disregard everything and everyone in your life, but don't forget about your wants, needs, and desires. If you want to go travel to a new country, go do it. If you want to go back to pursue your education even further after taking some time off, go do it. Whatever it is, as long as you set your mind to it and it makes you happy, you can achieve it and definitely do not feel bad about it one bit.
You shouldn't have to seek approval from others to go after what you want in YOUR life. Sure, you can ask others for their opinion regarding certain situations, but, at the end of the day, you have the final decision to do whatever you want with your life and never forget that.
The moral of the story is, take the precious time you have in your twenties to do whatever your heart desires because life goes by quicker than you think, and I am realizing this more and more as the years go by. You may end up regretting it if you continue to focus on petty little things that don't really matter in the grand scheme of it all. So go out and live your best life in your twenties and create some amazing memories that will last a lifetime.