IN YOUR 20s

They tell us that our twenties are the pinnacle of our lives. That our twenties are when every aspect of our life perfectly aligns, and that we have it all figured out.

What they don’t tell us about our twenties is how the meaning of life changes. How uncertainty finds its way to seep through certain parts of our life, making us question who we are as a member of society. We reflect more on the goals we achieved and the ones we wish to pursue as we grow. And by actively making an effort, we choose to walk down the path meant for us to transform.

What they don’t tell us about our twenties is how everything begins to feel more real—an exciting, yet terrifying feeling to experience at the same time. 

More often than not, we ask ourselves who we are and wonder whether the career path we chose is ultimately the right choice. We watch our parents grow older and the pain of knowing that they won’t be here forever continues to grow. We grieve the loss of friendships with people who are still alive but eventually had to let go of along the way. The mistakes we made and the failures we endured come at the expense of our wellbeing when we begin to question our very own self-worth.

We feel lost, isolated, and even alone. It’s a difficult time where we are asked to step forward with more responsibility and accountability for our actions. It’s a time where we realize that we are no longer children shielded from the pain that lies in society. We are now adults trying to find our own way through this world.

What we learn is that our twenties are a time where we are meant to figure things out, and that we will forever be doing so as we evolve throughout a lifetime. The mistakes we make blossoms into an opportunity to learn and perform better when a new occasion arrives. Our interests hold the potential to become more than just a dream; it becomes a part of who we are. That wearing our hearts on our sleeves is not something to be ashamed of—it is something to be proud of. 

Although we may be the youngest generation of adults, we still find ways to connect with and understand one another knowing that we each face different battles. We learn how to feel okay when it is only us by ourselves and that it is okay to ask for a helping hand from a loved one. We realize where importance lies in the habits of our everyday lives. We begin to appreciate all of the little things that we once adored substantially when we were younger and make efforts to connect to it in the present. 

Our twenties are the first taste of adulthood. That growing up means there is a world beyond what we had once imagined it to be like, asking us to face it with what we have learned thus far. There is power lying in each step taken to discover who we are and hope for the person that we wish to become in this lifetime.

Our twenties are the time that we realize our life has just begun.