I just turned 22 two weeks ago and I just want to hear some wisdom from who experienced their 20s. What would you have done differently career wise, friendship wise, relationship wise etc.
I just turned 22 two weeks ago and I just want to hear some wisdom from who experienced their 20s. What would you have done differently career wise, friendship wise, relationship wise etc.
Comments
I would have moved away from my original state and family sooner. I would have gone towards a more urban area sooner and into more diverse areas sooner. I would have left the tiny town everyone knows everyone thing behind me sooner.
I would have tried to conceived only a little sooner. The timing was right but we waited longer for the finances to be better because we were stuck in an area where my industry imploded.
I would have gotten married entirely differently. I would have dumped the dress and the church and the stress of “I want my way” amongst my family and my ILs and eloped in Vegas in a tracksuit. I wouldn’t have had to put up with “Oh I don’t like those colors/songs/traditions” and people constantly having to argue that they know how weddings work.
I would have gotten counseling sooner.
I would have sold my RedHat shares a lot sooner. Bought Amazon shares sooner.
I would have kept up with a few people that I left behind. But only a few.
I would have told people to stop with their interference and meddling sooner. To be honest I would have cut my parents off sooner and just gone ahead and cut down a lot of contact with my MIL. Just cut that in the bud and not bite my tongue to keep the peace just so she can go around meddling again.
I would have learned more about cooking sooner.
I would have taken budgeting more seriously.
Studied more, partied less, not worried about being in a relationship, and been more responsible with money.
Stayed single and instead of focusing on a relationship, I would have focused on my career and spent more time finding out who I was and what I really wanted from life. Worked harder to maintain and strengthen my friendships. And started adding money to a savings account or money market account monthly.
I would have found a way to finish my degree earlier on in my career.
Held a much higher standard for who I spend time with, and who I end up in LTRs with. By standard I mean how they treat me, how our goals actually align, etc.
Spent more time doing things outside my ‘beaten path’, met different people, taken more risks socially.
Practiced saying No, speaking my truth.
Watched out for the people in my life who were actually good for me, helped me, were honest and kept them in my life instead of being fooled by people with more charisma.
Learned how to speak. I would have worked on my self worth, realized that having an opinion or minimum expectations for how I’m treated is a GOOD thing, realizing that my thoughts are as important as the next person’s! I still got here in the end I just wish I would have seen how much I am worth before now!
Not worry about being in a relationship or tie my self-esteem to approval from men.
Not given up on hobbies or projects I started and pushed through self-doubt.
Moved further away from home and met more people/see the world more.
Learned more about my finances and planned better.
Maintained my relationships better with friends and not slowly shut people out by assuming they were doing the same to me.
I worked have gone to grad school right after college and pursued my dream career.
Not waste time trying to be in a relationship or making a bad one work. Seriously. I could have been doing SO much more interesting things instead. Those relationships did help me learn and I am in a great one now (49 yo now and have been with him for 14 years) but I wish I had learnt the lessons sooner and not drag unhealthy relationships in my 20 and early 30s. Also, I could have enjoyed my single time instead of feeling less than because I wasn’t in a relationship.
I will continue to preach the message to exercise. As in lift heavy weights. Your twenties is the time to building muscle!
Plan things a lot better and get a better job(s).