Stepping away from my usual banter about Fashion to share some thoughts on what I have learned in my 20s. As some of you know, I am in my late 20s, the end of my era. Most of this year has been spent reflecting on all my decisions I’ve made thus far and making some redirections & tough choices. I am my very own worst critic so it’s not been easy. However, experience and life has thought me to be kinder to myself, learn from my mistakes and to know that it’s never too late to make changes in your life.
Without further ado, here are some of the things I think everyone should do in their 20s. There are so many I could list but I would leave you with my top 5!
- Travel ALONE
Yes, you’ve probably been told time and time again, the benefits of travel-how it increases your perception of the world and makes you a well rounded cultured individual. Better yet, is the unique experience that traveling alone gives you. I had the unique opportunity to travel by myself last year, to Spain, London and then Paris, and it was by far one of the best experiences of my life. You learn so much about yourself while immersing yourself in another person’s culture and surroundings. It empowers you and challenges you to fully experience being by yourself and your thoughts. You may find out how much you LOVE yourself. Without the buffer of a friend or travel buddy, you are able to fully connect with people you meet, the culture and I promise you, you will cherish that experience forever.
2. Save & Invest
Your 20s are supposed to be when you figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life, when you start a career and begin building a future for yourself. It is also a great time to start saving and investing in stock for bigger returns in the future. So boys, try not to blow all that hard end penny on bottle service at the club and ladies go easy on the Chanel bags! Research shows that women in their 20s are least likely to invest than men. I think this should change, we should feel more empowered by learning/ reading about the stock market, meet a professional (stock broker or financial advisor) and make smarter decisions about money. My friends that started early have such amazing lives in their 30s already and are able to enjoy life more comfortably. I am pretty late in the game but better late than never.
3. Find a Mentor
Whatever career path you choose, the importance of a mentor cannot be overemphasized. Honestly, I wish I had one way sooner in my career. The experience and guidance of someone who has so much experience and connections in your field can accelerate and advance your career exponentially. The key is to find someone who genuinely wants to mentor an individual and eventually takes a personal interest in your professional growth. This person is not necessarily a person you work with/ for, as your growth and advancement could mean leaving that role. Something a co-worker/boss is almost never thrilled about especially when you bring so much value. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or career guidance, we all need it sometimes! I finally have one, and I am discovering all these wonderful opportunities in my professional career. Better yet, when it is time to move on to bigger and better opportunities, don’t get too comfortable, take the leap.
4. Find your bliss (A Hobby)
Society has constantly told us that by a certain age we are supposed to get married, have kids, buy a house…snooze. Reality is, not all of us will have all of that. We may not find love, we may not want to settle, we may not want to get married, or everyone we meet turns out to be a major asshole. Whatever our reason is, one thing is for certain, we still want to be happy, whether single, married or divorced. It is so important for us to spend as much time as possible getting to know ourselves, loving ourselves and finding the things that bring us joy. For me personally, those things are travel, dancing, learning and staying creative with fashion! Take control of your life and happiness by making every second of this gift, called life, to do the things that bring you joy! Know how to make yourself happy! We can’t be happy all the time, but we sure can try! {Disclaimer: Psychopaths and serial killers, this does not apply to you}.
5. Be Brave
This is quite a general statement, yet one of the most important ones. Someone once said “in the end, we only regret the chances we did not take”. Dear friends, be brave! The decisions that scare you, the relationship you are too scared to have or the relationship you are too scared to end because of fear of being alone, or the job that seemed too daunting; be brave! Make a plan and do it! Most importantly, make sure the direction of your life is YOUR DECISION. Sometimes, our lives are led down paths we didn’t consciously choose from being passive, lazy, procrastinating, indecisive or because someone else chose for us. I am guilty of this! Those are things we would look back on and wish we did differently.
Take control, be an active participant in the direction of your life and most importantly –have fun! Your life is only getting started! Even if you are well past your 20s, it is never too late to make a change and catch up on truly experiencing life!
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