I’ve been reading the surge of articles out lately about life in your twenties, and I wanted to take some time to chime in with my thoughts.

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When I was younger I think I pictured my twenties a lot differently than they are now. I pictured independence, excitement, new relationships, and so much more. I didn’t picture being in transition. I didn’t picture being in limbo. I didn’t exactly picture life as it is right now.

Living in your 20s today can be difficult to say the least. I did not picture myself living with my parents right now as I save up money for my own house. At the age of 25 years old with a Master’s degree recently obtained I imagined that I would be able to afford my own first house, but unfortunately the economy, job market, and student loans are not that kind. I imagined that I would probably be in a long-term relationship instead of still wondering how to meet the “right” guy and not being very successful on the dating scene. At times trying to figure out how to meet someone feels all too stressful at this point in my life.

Most of the time, “in limbo” decscribes exactly how to feel. I want to meet someone. I want to have a family. I want to have a place of my own. I want to be financially successful and feel respected in terms of my career. These “wants” are just “wants” though, and there much easier said than done. Your 20′s are that time period where you feel hopeful and excited, yet disheartened and disappointed at the same time. There are so many things to look forward too, but the wait to achieve these things feels incessant.

Your 20′s are an awkward time period in your life because there’s so much variation as to what is socially acceptable at your age.

For some, your 20′s mean getting engaged, getting married, and even having a baby. For others, your 20′s mean dating lots of different people, finding out who you really are, and going out with friends until 2 a.m. in the morning. It’s difficult to know which path you should be on in your 20′s. How do you become the person you want to be? How do you meet the person you want to be with for the rest of your life? Where do you fit in comparison to everyone else in their 20′s? I struggle most with that last question much of the time because I constantly play the comparison game with others my age. I wonder how they are affording that brand new home or how (and why) they are getting married at the young age of 24 years old. I wonder where I fit in, and what I should be doing at this point in my life.

Despite all of the craziness and questions that exist in your 20′s, I still feel hopeful.

I feel hopeful that I will figure out exactly what is best for me at some point.

I feel hopeful that I won’t just settle in order to be in a relationship or get married.

I feel hopeful that I will refuse to compare myself to others in their 20′s who seem to have it all together.

I feel hopeful that obtaining my graduate degree at such a young age will lead me to future successes.

I feel hopeful that time spend single will help me develop greater confidence and happiness with who I am.

I feel hopeful that if your 20′s seem this difficult life must get easier on here on out!

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