Apparently I’m Crushing My 20’s

It seems every time I have logged into to Facebook this past year someone is engaged, getting married, or announcing they are expecting. The last three times I talked to my mom on the phone I let her know that someone from my 2nd grade Brownie troop, middle school softball team, or an acquaintance from college is getting married. Never mind the updates of friends celebrating their MBAs, law degrees, or graduating from medical school – I must admit these updates make me feel pretty rotten.
However, over the weekend came across an article that made me feel much better. I know I should not compare myself to others and I have come to grips with the fact that I will never be Rosie but it is difficult not to compare myself to people I went to school with. I always think, well, that could be. This article though made me change my whole perspective, it was called You’ve Got This: 12 Signs You’re Actually Killing It in Your 20’s.

Here is my take on the 12 points from the article:

1) You have a job: I do, and it is great. I work in digital advertising and every day presents new and interesting challenges and I work with a great client. You can read more about how I ended up in digital advertising here.

2) You can turn your lights on: That is very true, they go on every time I flick the switch. This is something I would have never considered as a point of pride but yes, I can turn the lights on and high speed internet is waiting for me any time I want it.

3) You’ve been through some shit: You can say that again. Shit with friends, boys, roommates, work, and family. But as the article said “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. #truestory

4) You have hobbies: This blog is definitely my biggest hobby and to say love it is an understatement. I would also call brunching a hobby and it is one I can never get enough of.

5) You eat fresh food: I learned how to properly cook vegetables after college and I now try to add green to every meal I make. I have also figured out how to make a few go to dishes like this salmon and I never say no fresh fruit.

6) You have your own space: Again, yes. For the past year I have lived alone in my studio apartment and absolutely love it. It may only be one room but it is my one room and I can do anything I want with it.

7) You can travel: yes, I can! Being financially responsible has allowed me to save for little trips, like long weekends away to friend’s weddings and for bigger travels like the Eastern European trip I am taking in September.

8) People listen to you: Of the 12 points on this list this item is the one I am the most dubious about. Do people really listen to me? Hmm. I make recommendations of beauty products, recipes, and clothes here on the blog that people then act upon so I guess that counts.

9) You’re wiser: Well, I would like to think so! In every aspect of my life I would argue that my decisions are much more well informed than what they would have been five years ago. Moving on up!

10) You can take care of yourself: I do indeed. I may call my mom a handful of times a week for advice or her opinion but I can definitely fly solo on almost every aspect of my life. As the article stated so succinctly, “you’ve learned to think twice about your actions and have started to look out for number one.”

11) You have a goal: I have lots of goals; immediate, short term, and long term. Some of them I share with friends, family, and even the blogging world but others will never be vocalized. I am extremely competitive and I set goals for myself that I always try to beat.

12) You’ve chilled out: Don’t sweat the small stuff and it is mostly all small stuff. This is something I have been trying to repeat over and over. I have been making a conserted effort to not worry about things if I have no ability to change the outcome and I can acknowledge that things that would have definitely gotten under my skin a few years ago now roll right off my back.

After nodding and saying yes to all 12 of these points I must say, I feel much much better about these Facebook updates. After a handful years in the real world as an ‘adult’ apparently I am doing well!

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