26

Twenty six is that sweet spot where you are now closer to 30 and you still kind of feel like you are in your early 20’s and the world around you is telling you that you should act like an adult. You might feel like you are faking it every single day just to get by and show people that you have your life together. I am very guilty of this.

At 26 the world is at your finger tips and you don’t know what to do with this freedom. You are probably just starting to live on your own or have been for awhile, you have saving and money to spend after working for a few years. You could do anything.

Your friends are going in so many different directions it’s hard to keep track. Most are getting married or having children or getting promoted. So, while Your friends are busy ,pretending to know what they are doing, you might find yourself lonely even. Possibly doing a bit of soul searching.

That’s basically where I’m at with my twenty sixth year on earth. Soul searching and completely lost.

My mind,recently, has had a constant string of thoughts regarding my future. I’ve thought about my dream life and what I want… and every single day it changes.

Usually this is where I get stuck. I have no ACTUAL clue what I want.

I have no clue what I want or what my life is supposed to be like and I cannot stop thinking about it. It’s actually starting to annoy me how much I think about it.

“Am I search too much?” “Am I searching too little?” “Am I searching in the right places?” “Is anyone else searching?”

So, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is what 26 is supposed to look like.

26 is for soul searching.

At least for me anyways. Clearly the world has led me to writing this article for some reason. I’m starting to have faith in that. Not fully trusting of it just yet though.

I’m in a very loving relationship, I’m working and going to school. But most days I want to quit my job and some days I don’t know if I even want to be in school anymore. Do I even want to get married and have a family or is this just something that society tells me I want?

I have found comparing myself to society and people around me is unhelpful.

Usually comparing leads me to a downward spiral of shame and self loathing. Which end with many tears and too much binge watch and binge eating and a whole lot of wasted time and energy.

So….

I guess my two pieces of advice would be:

1.Don’t compare yourself.

2.Listen to your gut.

3. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

You are your own unique individual. With different wants and needs. It might be difficult at first. But listen to what your gut is telling you and if that means doing what everyone else is NOT doing then go for it and don’t even think twice about it. Don’t worry about what your friends are doing, use this 26th year of your life to just focus on you. If listening to your gut leads you to making some mistakes, that’s fine. Everyone makes mistakes. So don’t be afraid of them because some day you will look back and realize that those mistakes lead you to your current situation wherever that might be.

You only have one life and that life is yours. Not societies, not your friends. Not your parents. YOURS.

Be that hippie in the van.

Be that singer.

Be that blogger.

Be that gamer.

Be happy.

Be YOU.

I have come to the conclusion that at 26 we are not suppose to know what we are doing. But as long as you are consciously aware and trying to figure it out…. you’ll be fine

Now, start searching because your dreams shouldn’t have to wait.