Life In Your 20s
Your twenties is a life-changing decade for many of us as it tends to be the years that define us as we are still discovering who we are and what we want in life. First of all it's important to realise that everyone goes through life at a different pace, you can't expect to have everything figured out in your 20s.
My first word of advice as a 23-year-old, is don't beat yourself up. Once I graduated from uni I had no idea how hard it would be to decide which career I wanted to pursue. At the start of uni I was so determined that my end goal was to become a journalist but after my degree I learnt more about myself like what stimulates my mind. I've changed my mind a lot about my dream job however, I've come to realise that it's not the end of the world if I don't know right now who I want to be. Find something that you love and just stick with it, at the end of the day your goals change as you go through different stages in life. Putting pressure on yourself will only make you unhappy so choose a career path that motivates you and see where it leads you. Don't think too much about the end goal because 5 years from now you might have a whole different mindset.
Every mistake is a lesson learnt. I know it's easier said than done but, lead your life with no regrets. It probably sounds cliché but I believe that everything happens for a reason. In your 20s you're bound to make mistakes which enables you to grow as a person. Last year I briefly worked for a marketing company which I ended up hating. If I hadn't joined the company I wouldn't have known that marketing was not for me.
Your parents don't always know what's best for you. As we grow up a lot of our decisions may be influenced by our parents and don't get me wrong a lot of the time our parents are right! Yet, there comes a point when you have to make life-changing decisions and the best thing is to do what feels best for you. Always consider your parents advice but don't ignore the voice in your head telling you to do otherwise. You are your own person, with your own journey and life is too short. Lead your life your own way.
Your friendship circle will get smaller. If you thought break ups with a partner was painful you haven't experienced a friendship break up yet. As you grow up its inevitable to change and this can affect your relationships with friends. It's natural to grow apart and some people are only meant to be in our life temporarily so we can create new memories. Don't let this prevent you from opening up, your 20s is the best time to meet new likeminded people who encourage you to be yourself and motivate you to be better. I still struggle to make friends after I ended my long-term friendships but I am so much more content with my small circle. There's less conflict and I can build stronger relationships with each friend rather than having superficial convos.
Life is not a race it's a journey. You might look at your friends and think wow she's so lucky she already has her dream job or look at him he just bought his first house. They may look like they've achieved everything they want but it doesn't mean they have their life together. Being a young adult we are still adjusting to life in the "real world" and we all reach stages in life that is unique to others. You might not be in a position that you desire at the moment however, that doesn't mean that you're behind or you're running out of time. Remember you're only in your 20s, you still have your whole life ahead of you! Take your time, be grateful for what you have and as I always say don't compare yourself to others.
