If karma could dance, she'd tango forever
My question for today: Who decided your 20's was the magic age where you had to have everything figured out?
Get a degree.
Get a job.
Move out of your parents'.
Find "the one."
I'm sure this is written in some ancient book like "The Southern Gentleman and Lady's Guide to Living and Frying Food," but come on. As much as I love the South, as much as I could never see living anywhere else, I have this suspicion that this dynamic is more prevalent below the Mason-Dixon Line. Once you are out of college (or in my hometown's case sometimes, high school) you must go out and immediately find your purpose in life. This package deal, of course, will come with a shiny new car, your own wonderfully decorated apartment or house with no repairs needed, a college degree in something that will ensure you a job, and of course a God-fearing, church-going, never-cussing, trophy wife/husband (and, of course, all before you hit 30).
This, however, is not the reality. I would say "sadly" this is not reality, but it should not be a sad thing. I, as much as anyone, am guilty of worrying about the future. I am guilty of wanting my little vessel of an existence to sail on nothing but smooth waters. I have been assured that this is not just me, though. I feel for all us "20 something"s, all of us that feel pressure from family, society, or even our own minds that this is the time when we should have everything figured out. That we should only make smart and stable decisions without changing our minds.
I am fully aware and in complete agreeance that an individual should have a good head on their shoulders, just for the simple fact of knowing a good method for making decisions and knowing (eventually) where you want to be headed. However, in your 20's, part of you in still a scared little kid. We are stuck between adolescence and adulthood, never being quite sure which card would be best to pull out. We still want to have fun and be adventurous, all while grasping on the cuffs of wanting to be stable and established. The fact of the matter is, there's nothing wrong with that. You heard what I said. It's ok to be that way, and I am saying this to myself more than anyone. You want adventures? Have them. You move out only to decide you don't want to live there? That's ok. You want to date? Fine. You don't want to date? Fine. You want to get married? Fine. You don't want to get married? Fine. You working a crappy part-time job? Look for something else. What you love won't make you rich? Who needs to be rich?!? As long as you have the essentials for living (and, yes, sometimes that means rent money) then the rest is up to you. And if you screw up....that's ok too. Screw ups are what get you where you need to be most of the times. The best lessons sometimes come from mistakes disguised as "good decisions."
Have a good support system. Even if it is only yourself.
We must go forth in the direction of our dreams, even if we aren't sure what they are yet. Try out life, you might find out you actually like it.
Get a degree.
Get a job.
Move out of your parents'.
Find "the one."
I'm sure this is written in some ancient book like "The Southern Gentleman and Lady's Guide to Living and Frying Food," but come on. As much as I love the South, as much as I could never see living anywhere else, I have this suspicion that this dynamic is more prevalent below the Mason-Dixon Line. Once you are out of college (or in my hometown's case sometimes, high school) you must go out and immediately find your purpose in life. This package deal, of course, will come with a shiny new car, your own wonderfully decorated apartment or house with no repairs needed, a college degree in something that will ensure you a job, and of course a God-fearing, church-going, never-cussing, trophy wife/husband (and, of course, all before you hit 30).
This, however, is not the reality. I would say "sadly" this is not reality, but it should not be a sad thing. I, as much as anyone, am guilty of worrying about the future. I am guilty of wanting my little vessel of an existence to sail on nothing but smooth waters. I have been assured that this is not just me, though. I feel for all us "20 something"s, all of us that feel pressure from family, society, or even our own minds that this is the time when we should have everything figured out. That we should only make smart and stable decisions without changing our minds.
I am fully aware and in complete agreeance that an individual should have a good head on their shoulders, just for the simple fact of knowing a good method for making decisions and knowing (eventually) where you want to be headed. However, in your 20's, part of you in still a scared little kid. We are stuck between adolescence and adulthood, never being quite sure which card would be best to pull out. We still want to have fun and be adventurous, all while grasping on the cuffs of wanting to be stable and established. The fact of the matter is, there's nothing wrong with that. You heard what I said. It's ok to be that way, and I am saying this to myself more than anyone. You want adventures? Have them. You move out only to decide you don't want to live there? That's ok. You want to date? Fine. You don't want to date? Fine. You want to get married? Fine. You don't want to get married? Fine. You working a crappy part-time job? Look for something else. What you love won't make you rich? Who needs to be rich?!? As long as you have the essentials for living (and, yes, sometimes that means rent money) then the rest is up to you. And if you screw up....that's ok too. Screw ups are what get you where you need to be most of the times. The best lessons sometimes come from mistakes disguised as "good decisions."
Have a good support system. Even if it is only yourself.
We must go forth in the direction of our dreams, even if we aren't sure what they are yet. Try out life, you might find out you actually like it.
