I regret a lot of my 20s. I was too anxious to put myself out there and I missed out on so many experiences. I’m making a point of not wasting my 30s and actually living the life I want.
I will die on the hill that my 30s (so far) have been better than my 20s, which were better than my teens, and my childhood comes in last. You just start seeing things more calmly
I was hopeful that I could do better, but now I have made peace with a few things and I feel lighter. And better. My twenties were spent suffering without any diagnosis (a neurodegenerative disease), wondering hard what is wrong with my health, being gaslighted by my family that I am just a privileged lazy fuck. I was angrier over all. But I was also hopeful that I could be successful in my career and will end up with a ‘soulmate’. I feel better lately because I have become a lot more practical and with the passage of time, understanding to look beyond myself. I have a better idea about my limitations and what I deserve and don’t deserve.
My 30’s were way way better than my 20’s. I sent most of my 20’s in Afghanistan, conversely I spent most of my 30’s in Seoul and Tokyo. All three were great experiences, but for the record East Asia is more fun than Afghanistan.
Much worse stressors but I’m better at dealing with it.
Had severe anxiety and panic attacks in my 20s. Didn’t understand it or know what was causing it. No meds, just raw dogging it. Now in my 30s my problems and stressors are 100x worse but I don’t get the attacks anymore because I’m numb to it (and medicated). Just fuck me up fam. That shit in my 20s? It was next to nothing compared to the current pressures. 20s were more fun. In my 30s everything feels like a risk. Used to say “fuck it, let’s go” now I gotta do a cost/benefit analysis to every situation.
Owning a home makes a huge difference. It’s paid off and I can just tell people “fuck you” and go home. Not living in an apartment with roommates anymore. I actually like where I live. Anything short of being invited to an orgy with the cast of Americas Next Top Model, I’m staying home with the dogs. Boss breaking my balls? Fuck you I’m taking sick time to go chill at home. Someone gets drunk at a cookout and becomes a douche? Fuck you I’m going home. Straight up Irish exit. If something sucks, I just go home to my wife and dogs and top shelf booze and video games and peace and quiet.
The levels are more difficult but I’m better equipped. Still wish I had it as easy as in my 20s though.
In my twenties, after leaving school, I had a reasonably well-paid but simple admin job in an office with a lot of people around my age. So I spent the first half of my twenties just partying, living for the weekend, doing some short-term dating and not really thinking about the future. Then I had a mindset change, got a couple of qualifications and went to university in the latter part of my 20s.
Graduated at 30, then spent my thirties in an actual career that I liked, that was very well paid, bought a house, and I did some travelling too, both with work and in my own time.
Both very different decades, but both very fulfilling for different reasons.
I was happy then. More ambitious, positive and I had lots of friends. Had spare money to travel. Now I feel like I’m a ghost everywhere. Maybe I’m the sixth sense.
I’m pretty much just the same anxious, antisocial fuck-up but worse off now. Nothing to show for it and I’m in a worse position financially and health wise.
As cliche as it sounds, it’s almost as if everything just clicked when I turned 30. Things that used to matter a lot matter less now, things that deserved more of my attention are now my regrets. But you learned to roll with the punches. Life is a lot harder now because bills, lifestyle expenses, healthcare and responsibilities are snowballing. But overall, 30s is far more meaningful.
Comments
Absolutely wild, reckless and lived for the weekend. I am almost the exact opposite now at 35.
I regret a lot of my 20s. I was too anxious to put myself out there and I missed out on so many experiences. I’m making a point of not wasting my 30s and actually living the life I want.
I will die on the hill that my 30s (so far) have been better than my 20s, which were better than my teens, and my childhood comes in last. You just start seeing things more calmly
I prefer my thirties. I am more confident in myself and less of a people pleaser.
I was hopeful that I could do better, but now I have made peace with a few things and I feel lighter. And better. My twenties were spent suffering without any diagnosis (a neurodegenerative disease), wondering hard what is wrong with my health, being gaslighted by my family that I am just a privileged lazy fuck. I was angrier over all. But I was also hopeful that I could be successful in my career and will end up with a ‘soulmate’. I feel better lately because I have become a lot more practical and with the passage of time, understanding to look beyond myself. I have a better idea about my limitations and what I deserve and don’t deserve.
My 30’s were way way better than my 20’s. I sent most of my 20’s in Afghanistan, conversely I spent most of my 30’s in Seoul and Tokyo. All three were great experiences, but for the record East Asia is more fun than Afghanistan.
Much worse stressors but I’m better at dealing with it.
Had severe anxiety and panic attacks in my 20s. Didn’t understand it or know what was causing it. No meds, just raw dogging it. Now in my 30s my problems and stressors are 100x worse but I don’t get the attacks anymore because I’m numb to it (and medicated). Just fuck me up fam. That shit in my 20s? It was next to nothing compared to the current pressures. 20s were more fun. In my 30s everything feels like a risk. Used to say “fuck it, let’s go” now I gotta do a cost/benefit analysis to every situation.
Owning a home makes a huge difference. It’s paid off and I can just tell people “fuck you” and go home. Not living in an apartment with roommates anymore. I actually like where I live. Anything short of being invited to an orgy with the cast of Americas Next Top Model, I’m staying home with the dogs. Boss breaking my balls? Fuck you I’m taking sick time to go chill at home. Someone gets drunk at a cookout and becomes a douche? Fuck you I’m going home. Straight up Irish exit. If something sucks, I just go home to my wife and dogs and top shelf booze and video games and peace and quiet.
The levels are more difficult but I’m better equipped. Still wish I had it as easy as in my 20s though.
In my twenties, after leaving school, I had a reasonably well-paid but simple admin job in an office with a lot of people around my age. So I spent the first half of my twenties just partying, living for the weekend, doing some short-term dating and not really thinking about the future. Then I had a mindset change, got a couple of qualifications and went to university in the latter part of my 20s.
Graduated at 30, then spent my thirties in an actual career that I liked, that was very well paid, bought a house, and I did some travelling too, both with work and in my own time.
Both very different decades, but both very fulfilling for different reasons.
I was happy then. More ambitious, positive and I had lots of friends. Had spare money to travel. Now I feel like I’m a ghost everywhere. Maybe I’m the sixth sense.
Pretty much the same but with less back pain.
I’m pretty much just the same anxious, antisocial fuck-up but worse off now. Nothing to show for it and I’m in a worse position financially and health wise.
As cliche as it sounds, it’s almost as if everything just clicked when I turned 30. Things that used to matter a lot matter less now, things that deserved more of my attention are now my regrets. But you learned to roll with the punches. Life is a lot harder now because bills, lifestyle expenses, healthcare and responsibilities are snowballing. But overall, 30s is far more meaningful.