Everyone is romanticizing having the bravery to find yourself as a 20-something-year-old person.
You do not yet know who you are? That’s all right. Find out what you like and what you do not. Experience. And enjoy. And fail. And start over.
You are an introvert and like spending time on your own? Do not be afraid, you are on your way.
You are an extrovert and love big, noisy gatherings? Do not worry, you have time. Just be. And do.
However, this perspective changes as soon as you approach the 30-year-old mark.
How come you have not finished your studies, what have you been doing for the last ten years?
You want to change jobs, but you just started? Don’t you want to build a career?
You are into art? You’d better focus on something more practical.You are still single, don’t you want to have children?
You want to focus on yourself? Grow up, it’s too late for that!
As if looking for yourself, your purpose, and what brings you joy in life has an expiration date.
But what if you didn’t have the time to search for your meaning in life in your twenties?
You might have needed to work to support yourself and your family.
You might have discovered that your studies don’t fit your views.
You might have gotten into a job with no perspective.
And what if you did everything right according to the societal norms – graduated, got a decent job, found a loving partner, but you still feel like something is missing?
We are thought to believe that when we hit 30, we should have a stable job so we can have a roof above our head and food on the table. We should be thinking more about starting a family than personal growth. We should be mature, consistent, reasonable, and responsible. But the greatest responsibility in life is the responsibility to yourself.
Who do you want to be? What do you want to do? And how can you make the biggest contribution to yourself, your family, and your community?
If you know the answers to these questions and feel content with who you are and what you do – do you and own your story, by all means!
But if you are still wondering (and wandering) in life, don’t you for a second feel guilty.
You are not a failure.
You are not a misfit.
You are not selfish for wanting to know what else is there for you.
And if you feel (and know) that there is more to life that complying with societal standards and expectations, don’t be afraid to go look for that thing which makes you “YOU”. Because that’s your personal responsibility, and it’s never too late to find yourself.
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