miss twenty something ❤︎

Hi, and welcome to my first official blog post! If you’re a fellow twenty-something out there, heyyy. This is a crazy time isn’t it? Knowing that we have the opportunities of our lifetimes just out of reach mixed with the impending doom of bidding farewell to our youth… definitely crazy. I turned twenty about 8 months ago and suffice to say, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions. 

Although in the grand scheme of things I’m technically young and just barely starting my life, I can’t help but feel slightly old as well. This is the age where trying new things is a little more difficult, the fear of failure gets a little more real. The social aspects of life take a new toll on our mental health. Am I fit enough, smart enough, pretty enough, interesting enough to grasp the attention of my peers? How do I become the most successful person I can be while also partying and living life to the fullest? Will I ever be good enough?

I’m starting this blog to tell you that you are not alone. I thought I was for the longest time, but then I realized that questioning and overthinking life is kinda the whole point of growing up. It’s scary, I know. I’m just another twenty-year-old girl trying to make my way through life. I hope that my experiences, advice, fears, and passions align with you in some way or even just make you feel a little less alone.

I can’t wait to use this blog as a way to connect with people, as that’s one of my favorite things to do. I’m an older sister, and I love sharing my experiences with my younger siblings so (hopefully) they don’t make the same mistakes I do. Or if they do, maybe they’ll be smarter about it. So, to all my twenty-somethings out there (or if you’re younger or older), welcome! I hope you enjoy it here. 

Being twenty has taught me a lot of things already, and it hasn’t even been a full year. I’ve learned more about myself this year than I have all my life, and I think it has a lot to do with uncomfortable situations I was kind of forced into. College is hard for a multitude of reasons. You’re put in a brand new place with brand new people and you suddenly get so close to the people there that might not be the best fit for you. As I enter my senior and final year, I’ve had my fair share of toxic friendships and relationships, trying to balance work/school and life, family dynamics, all the while trying to learn more about who I am and what I enjoy when no one else is around. And it’s scary. Knowing that some people will always hate no matter what you do, thinking that school is SO important but if I miss this one party maybe something crazy will happen that I’ll never recover from, feeling the guilt of leaving family behind when you’re just trying to live your life. It’s a lot. A lot of feelings (which I was never really comfortable with). But it’s also SO fulfilling. 

Being twenty is bittersweet in the sense that I’m excited that I get to grow up, but I’m sad to grow up at the same time. Nostalgia lingering in the background, the pressure to have it all figured out, friendships ending, balancing work and fun, embracing growth and especially change. These are just a few things I’ve come to realize and accept; it’s the new normal. And that’s okay because you know what? The only constant thing in life is change.

Nostalgia

I’m all about new experiences and fun times. But sometimes I find myself thinking back to my freshman year of college, my high school years, even my childhood. And boy do I reminisce. I reminisce about the simplicity of having the same friend group for twelve years. I remember that after a long day at school I could come home to a delicious home cooked meal. I think back to my naivety that all people are kind and have my best intentions in mind all the time. There’s something sweet about those years – the innocence, the first crushes, the sense of endless possibilities. And even though I still feel like my possibilities are (somewhat) endless, I don’t have the same thought process, whether it comes to school or my relationships. I’m bitter because I lost my innocence, but grateful for my experiences (good and bad) nonetheless. 

Having life “figured out”

One of the toughest lessons at twenty is realizing that everyone seems to expect you to have a plan. And I’m a girl who loves to plan. I plan out my days by the hour, my weeks and months are always booked. But it’s so unrealistic to think that everything is going to go exactly according to plan. Graduated by 22, med school by 26, married by 28, and a doctor by 32. That’s been my plan all my life and (fingers crossed) it sticks. But let’s face it – life is about figuring it out as we go. Learning to stop and take a breath is something I’ve been working on, but it’s also important to know that it’s okay to not have everything sorted out. Twenty is about exploring, making mistakes, and learning from them. As is life.  

Friendships

Friendships at twenty are so different from those in our teenage years. Some of my friends in high school have been my friends since elementary school. Some friends drift away, and new ones come into our lives. The dynamics change, and that’s okay. It’s also okay to not be friends with everyone (I’ll have a whole post dedicated to this soon). It took me a while to understand that my time and my attention are important and shouldn’t be handed out easily to those who don’t deserve it. It’s okay to outgrow friendships and especially good to cut friends off when they’re no longer serving you or are being harmful to your way of life. Not everyone is meant to be a forever friend, but everyone in your life has a purpose (whether they are meant to stay or are just a learning lesson). This was an especially tough pill for me to swallow, but it was an important thing to learn in order to protect my peace.

Change

Being twenty has taught me to embrace change and personal growth. I’m not the same person I was as a teenager, and that’s a good thing. Growth means learning more about myself, my values, and what I want in life. It’s about becoming more comfortable in my own skin and understanding that change is a natural part of life. This also refers back to friendships; some people may not grow with you or may not want to at all. And that’s OKAY. 

Fun and responsibility

Ohhhh boy. This is a tough one. As a people pleaser I have a really tough time saying no, and I also have a major case of fearing that I might miss out on something if I do say no. Even if it’s a random Tuesday night where all the bars are closed, if someone asks me to go out, I’ll say yes  almost 99% of the time. This is something I’ve been working on, and I truly think it’ll take time and determination on my part to understand that balance is key. Fun will always be fun, but responsibility is important too. Enjoying nights out with friends while also being responsible about work, studies, or other commitments is crucial. It’s all about making time for both joy and duty.

Self-Discovery

If there’s one thing I’m grateful for at twenty, it’s the journey of self-discovery. I have learned so much about myself and the things I want in life and what makes me happy. I’ve learned the types of people that are for me and the types that aren’t. I’ve learned that a chill night in can sometimes be so much better than going out. It’s a period of figuring out who we are and what we want to be, which I think is such a cool thing to experience and a major blessing. 

Turning twenty is definitely bittersweet. There’s a sense of loss as we leave behind our teenage years, but there’s also excitement for what’s ahead. It’s okay to feel both – to miss the past while looking forward to the future. This duality is what makes being twenty so unique.

So, here’s to being twenty – a time of change, growth, and endless possibilities. After all, we’ve got a whole new decade ahead of us to create amazing memories and live our best lives.

I can’t wait to continue sharing my life and hopefully connect and hear about yours! Thanks for reading, lots of love ❤