THE TWENTIES: A PRECIOUS DECADE
The 20s. Taylor Swift was right, "it's miserable and magical."
I've said this before, but my biggest fear is wasting time so I have a bit of a bad habit (or good habit) of working constantly. But I also know that if I slow down, I fear that the lazy bug will bite me and my drive will suddenly disappear—then that terrible excuse will enter my life: I'm in my twenties, so I'll have time to start my real life later.
In March, I'll be half way between 20 and 30, and it's honestly something that's been in the back of my mind for a while now. It's such a weird feeling to think I'll be 25, but it's also making me realize it's important to make time for the the grind because, ultimately, I am paving the road to my future (and hopefully success).
It's so easy to have the mindset that we'll only be young once and that we should run wild and free before it's too late. But I say let's seize this time in our lives while we're young and use the energy to create a beautiful future for ourselves.
Others may disagree with me that doing so now will burn us out early and prevent us from actually enjoying life—you know, from living carefree while we're young. But I think part of our culture sees the twenties as unimportant and all about having fun—that nothing gets serious until the thirties.
But it's not about running carefree, it's about thriving and laying a foundation for the thirties and beyond. It's a pioneering age, where we can set our adult lives on the right track, but it takes hard work and responsibility.
Don't get me wrong—I feel it too, you know the feeling of just having fun and really trying to ride the tail of the wave from being a teenager, but if we don't prepare and create a pathway to our dreams, we can't expect to ever get there.
But we also have to be patient and kind with ourselves, and understand that we have to start somewhere—and in my eyes, the sooner the better. I think many of us believe that everything needs to happen now, and with one magic snap, we should be living our dream, but it takes work—and it really is a stepping stone process.
If we aren't preparing our minds now for the work that needs to be done in order to get where we want to go, then say goodbye to those dreams—it's harsh, but it's reality. Time ticks fast and before we know it we're 60 years old and still are dreaming instead of doing.
But remember that it's ok to make mistakes. We all have those days, no matter what age, where it gets pretty discouraging, but keep in mind it's about learning and gaining experience. I think, especially in our twenties, it's important to surround ourselves with mentors, with people who can teach and who are willing to guide us through phases and possible potential business avenues.
The wise mind of someone who has lived a full life has the energy to pursue his or her goals, it's not about waiting, it's about always pushing yourself farther no matter how tired they are or how many obstacles they encounter.
Photos by Isicle
Turning 30 or beyond won't make us work harder or achieve our goals just because we hit that age if we haven't prepped ourselves with determination and hard work in our twenties.
Think about it from this perspective: as a dancer, we rehearse an unimaginable amount because practice makes perfect, and the minute we step foot on the stage we're confident in our performance quality because we focused on the preparation.
The twenties is a trial and error time, it's a time for preparation and growth for life, aka the ultimate performance. So why waste these years of opportunity?
Regardless of society's message, it's important to create a strong foundation for our path, our story, our life. The twenties is a precious decade, a time for us to achieve our wildest dreams.
So I ask you this, no matter how old you are:
How do you live freely, but intentionally?