The Wavering Journey of a 20-Something Year Old (Archived)

I had the perfect plan after graduation in August; study for the GRE and run off to graduate school to make the entire world proud of my post graduate accomplishments.  A few months have passed by, and I am now realizing that for many of us 20 somethings, that is not at all what the real world has in store for us.  I've hit a fork in the road.  My mind changes at least five times a day regarding what I want to do with my life and where I want to wander off to.  At first, I was paralyzed with the fear of  the future and failure.  Now, I have a completely different and refreshing outlook on all of the possibilities that are ahead of me.  One thing is for certain though; I am 22 and I have all of the potential in the world to be successful at anything I set my mind out to do.  The good thing is, I am at the perfect age to take a chill pill and figure this shit out!

   Here are a few tips (that I am still working on myself) that I feel could   enlighten my fellow young adults in this crazy and perfect moment in life

FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY, AND DO THAT SHIT!

I know, we hear this all the time, right? Well, it's much easier to hear it than to actually do it.  Too often we are focused more on what will bring us money and success, that we completely overlook what will bring us peace and happiness.  Obviously, we want to make money.  I know I do.  But I'm learning more and more that I can't be as successful at a job that makes me unhappy.  If you love what you do, you're going to excel.  What happens when you excel? The benefits come pouring in.  We are way too young to be involved in anything that makes us miserable.  Why not now, when we are not tied down to much, to do all of the things we are dreaming of? If we pass on it now, it will be nothing but a regret 10 years from now.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, GO AHEAD AND BE SELFISH!

At the end of the day, the choices that we make now are only going to affect our own lives in the future.  Doing what we believe will make others happy is not going to benefit us OR the people we are attempting to please.  If you want to do something, if you are passionate about something, then go ahead and do just that.  If someone is truly on your side, they will want you to do what fulfills you and makes you a happier person.  If you want to travel, go! Want to fall into a passionate connection with someone, do that shit.  Feeling like you want to be alone, do that and don't explain yourself.  We can't make anyone else happy until we find ourselves and make ourselves content first.

STOP ALLOWING SOCIAL MEDIA TO TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE

I get it, we all love Instagram and Twitter.  But I'm noticing more and more that social media has made our generation completely anti-social in the REAL WORLD.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with posting selfies and checking out what our friends are up to.  But when I am in a room filled with people and everyone is staring into their screens admiring other's lives rather than living their own, it concerns me (and annoys the hell out of me). This influences our desires and perspectives on what life SHOULD be like at this age.  We see the wealthiest people jet setting and buying the latest material objects, and assume that's how real life should be.  Well, sorry to tell you, it's far from real life.  So, relax, and stop trying to convince social media that you live a fantasy life.  You'll save more money and connect with more people if you actually LIVE rather than attempt to CONVINCE others that you are living. At this age, it's only going to depress you to try and live up to the standard that the internet has created for us. 

Bottom line, this is the age to find and create ourselves.  There is no need to allow fear to control our actions.  We have the opportunity to make choices, change our minds, start over, and everything else in between.  If something brings you happiness, pursue it wholeheartedly while you still have the chance.  We've got plenty of time to be older and have tons of responsibilities. 

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT TELLING ANYONE TO LEAVE BILLS UNPAID OR NOT SHOW UP TO WORK. HAVE FUN, BUT STILL GET YOUR SHIT DONE, LOL.