Navigating a New Age
The thing about your twenties...
Originally written in early April 2023.
I have always had a hard time identifying with my age. My interior design style suggests I'm an old-fashioned grandma reluctant to move on, yet my birthday gifts, like Play-Doh and sidewalk chalk, make me seem like an eight-year-old. “Act your age” has to be the worst
advicereprimand ever given because life is much more enjoyable when you embrace both your inner child and your old soul. It's important to remember that age is only one small part of your identity, so why confine yourself to its label? Live in the moment and honor whatever side of you shows up.
Being twenty-something is tough. Ask anyone outside of their twenties and they’ll tell you all about why the 20s are the best years of your life but let’s be honest - that does not bring me any comfort! Life is far from a guarantee but the odds are the majority of us are going to outlive our twenties so let me be the first to tell you I’m going to make damn sure it only goes up from here.
I’m about 2 weeks away from 28 so here’s a little insight into what I’ve learned so far and a sneak peek of the topics I plan to explore in future posts, so let me know if you can relate to any of these moments. Also, I have been described before as an overly positive person (something I considered to be a compliment) but since you joined me on this new iteration of Day of Jae, I've got at least one more little rant to start with in order for you to understand where I’m coming from.
In your twenties, the veil and mystery of adulthood are lifted at some point. (A different time, moment, or scenario for everyone but it’s a guarantee that it will and it will likely crash right into you.) Everything you thought being an adult would be - it is… but it also comes with a lot more clauses than you realized. The road you’ve been groomed to travel –do good in school, go to college, pick a major– eventually the road begins to disappear right in front of you leaving you wondering which way to go or if you even took the right path to begin with. You’re suddenly trusted with making your own decisions despite not having the best track record. You become in charge of your time, routine, and oh yeah–health insurance! One day you look around and realize you could really use some more friends only to further realize that as an adult it’s basically impossible.
Somewhere along this journey though people begin to officially label you as an “adult”, but don’t get too excited because everyone still wants a say in your personal life and the decision you make. They pass their judgments on what you should be doing by asking you about the most intimate details of your life such as when are you going to meet someone? Why aren’t you married? How many kids do you want to have…
I know they mostly mean well, but they’ve forgotten how tough being twenty-something can truly be. They’ve forgotten that while life is busy kicking you’re ass at every turn you’re also supposed to be enjoying every waking minute of this decade. You’re supposed to be making mistakes worth telling stories about 30 years from now while practicing full responsibility and starting to grow up. Bit of a contradiction if you ask me but both are warranted.
Don’t get me wrong, you will have memories though that you look back on and think wow, that really was the best. You will travel down your own path and you will find some answers waiting for you there. You will take some risks and follow your heart (or gut) even when no one else seems to understand. You will meet a new friend somewhere where you least expect it and you will book the trip even when it seems a little out of your budget. You will make lasting memories as long as you make time for it and allow it to happen while you’re busy figuring out the rest of it.
There is a lot of good and greatness that will come out of our twenties, and I do believe that these accomplishments are worthy of being celebrated throughout our entire lives. But speaking from experience there will also be a lot of moments of growth. You might even be forced to change course and question everything. If you catch yourself having a moment wondering about how this one decade I supposed to be the best years of your life. I’m here to help navigate this period of transition alongside you. And maybe if you’re far from being twenty-something and have a desire to live like you still are twenty-something, then these posts are written for you too.
Day by day I’m trying to find and embrace the things that make life a little better. I’ll be sharing the moments I find that make life worth taking that next step forward for and opening up about the memories that will continue to make each year feel like the best one yet.
Looking ahead…
A few things on my mind that I’m looking forward to sharing in upcoming posts:
Home tour
TV show recommendations
Some DIY projects that are in the works
A little travel wanderlust
As always, I’m excited to have you on this journey with me! Let me know which of these topics you want to hear about first by commenting below.
With love,
