If anyone isn't aware here, I'm 25 years old. And if you are smart, you won't let that cloud how you see my views/motivations/thoughts in this blog. However, when I came upon this article today, I felt so passionately about my responses to each point, I decided it might be fun to share with you all how I feel in the blog. And then continue with my normal style of entries here on the blog--since those are really what I enjoy doing--guiding others, sharing with others, and giving some perspectives that aren't often shared--but are very important.
I did recall that I felt this way in highschool. That by 25, I'd have it all together and I'd be, I suppose, finally a 'Professional Adult.' What I've learned now is that, the, 'Professional Adult,' doesn't exist, regardless of what age you are. We all have our own strengths that excel beyond what people our age, and even much older ages can aspire to, some more than others. But we also have our faults. For instance, little considerations like moving the car seat back after using someone else's car sometimes escape me. Maybe this isn't an age thing, but a simple quirk, as I don't value the prospect of doing small things like this for other people as crucial, though when I remember to do it, I do it. I work in makeup now, something I adore doing, but the job is just a basic, foot in the door position. And while I am satisfied with that, the cloudy vision of a successful adult I had when I was 17 is much different now that I am 25. I don't believe that having your dream job makes you a successful person at all now, now that I'm 25. It makes you, possibly happier. But it's not something everyone gets to have. And it is NOT what defines you as a truly successful person. My fervent belief is that your success comes from within.1. Thinking that by 25, you’d be working your dream job.
Every month, every year, I find that I learn more about how little I actually know. If you are smart, you'll realize this too. With wisdom, comes the realization that there is more to discover. More to be open-minded to. More to accept, good or bad. In highschool, I used to think everything was solid when you were an adult, and I just didn't get life yet. Life is full of questions. Life is full of finding out about things that you didn't know or didn't realize--some of it truly valuable and a lot of it can be forgotten. And I've found, in the last few years, it isn't at all about how MUCH you know. It's about what you value. How you treat others. How kind you are. The loving way (or the scolding way, if needed--consider how crucial the situation actually is in the scheme of things) you stand up for what is right. Your open-mindedness. Your reasoning. Knowing not to obsess over the petty things or get upset about things that aren't important. Being able to let go of when other people make little mistakes based on their own insecurities. Having good judgement of other people's behavior, but not being judgmental of them. Those capabilities. There's no chart for it. You just have to reason and be open to different opinions, and accept you'll make mistakes, regardless of age. I make mistakes all the time, but I still firmly believe I am a successful adult. If you can balance all of that to the best of your capabilities, in my opinion, you're a successful adult.2. Coming to realize that you don’t know as much about the world as you thought you knew.
Yep.3. Finding out exactly how much of your paycheck is eaten up by taxes.
Maybe it's the independent side of me, but I honestly am thrilled with the idea of supporting myself, and have been thrilled with it for at least 5 years now. However, while I don't expect a fantasy, the prospect of the relief I will feel is exciting to me. The unnecessary amount of parental guilt trips I've tolerated, all the while fully knowing I'm handling things to the best of my capabilities in each scenario, provoked this from desire to need in me years ago. Not being able to support myself has only caused me much unhappiness, and for a while I truly felt helpless on how to turn things around, because my physical capabilities didn't always match with what was expected from me, so there didn't seem to be an easy way out. Maybe rather, my view of supporting myself isn't exactly a fantasy, but it's the release of a burden for me, the burden of having to listen to and feel bad about all of the, 'advice,' that didn't ring true for me because it was based on life experiences completely different than my own. I now no longer have to tolerate not being listened to or having my circumstances not considered (or even accepted) by those who I value. Just in getting a job, I've been so much happier, mainly because I am being treated with the respect I deserved all along. And it'd also be enjoyable to have my own house where I don't have to worry about upsetting someone because I left a plate on the couch. :) A cute quirk of the person who does this, nevertheless, I want my own place.4. Finding out that supporting yourself isn’t nearly as exciting as you thought it would be — before you actually had to support yourself.
5. Living on your own isn’t as glamorous as was expected.Hm, not sure I ever expected any home more than meager because I wasn't sure I'd ever find a job I'd enjoy enough to make good money from! :) I suppose in highschool, I dreamed of a fantasy. But it wasn't a new realization at age 25, for me. From a young age, I have always felt that you should never trade happiness for money. I didn't want to work hard in school and trade years of work and money for something I would be unhappy with, but had to stick to. I'm glad I pressed on. I'm finally seeing results, and even though, right now, they're small, I'm grateful. (But by no means did I miss out on the college loan train... See #12)
6. Having to accept that working just about always sucks.Pretty much. Even a dream job has its ups and downs. I have had this realization, because I did have an unrealistic view that many people enjoyed their jobs far more than I thought they did in the past. While I expected a job that wouldn't be the greatest, I was willing to do it if that meant I wouldn't be wasting valuable time and money on MORE college and loans for something I wouldn't want to do. However, now that I have a job I can actually see myself enjoying, it's still hard work. I didn't expect to be easy due to the nature of this foot-in-the-door job, but I'm noticing more and more that everyone I meet seems to be pretty drained after a work day--and in general.
7. Coming to accept that days are short and that there’s little time for things other than work and running personal errands.As we get older, days seem to get shorter and shorter. I feel as if time escapes me quickly every day, because I have so many ideas and dreams and things I want to do, they never get finished. Whereas when I was a child, days stretched on like miles before me. And while I am still young, I'm wondering where the time is flying to, because it seems I never have enough!
8. Being disappointed with the people you meet.Here is one that I actually DISAGREE with. I've found that ALMOST everyone seems to have a tic. A little thing you can do or say that gets them to start behaving kindly again. I am aware a lot of people are in a bad mood because they are unhappy, and it has nothing to do with me. And I'm also aware everyone has something new to teach me. So it's always my quest to cure with kindness and with being down-to-earth. People love it when you are real to them and you try to see things from their perspective. And they also appreciate when you are kind to them, even if they are not being kind to you. It doesn't always work, but when it does, it certainly makes you feel good. And I've found most people just want to be treated with kindness and respect, and they are angry because they feel that few will. There are some people who just behave so terribly, so closed-mindedly, so condescendingly, so rude and prejudice to others, that I have to scold their behavior, through words, in a way that will make them re-think their actions, and kindness will not do because it is not deserved. But I'm finding that, at least where I'm usually located, that hasn't been the case for 99.9% of people. And do you know how kindness cures? Sometimes you can fix a problem before it even starts. Just keep people informed, tell them why you are doing what you are doing, and be understanding and nice to them. It's hard to know that YOU aren't the reason for their behavior--and they feel the exact same way about you. So be as open and real about your actions as possible, all the while being kind--and it HELPS. :) We're all very different so I can't guarantee you won't be disappointed in someone else. But it's enjoyable to be kind to each other through our differences, and it helps us all be more accepting of one another.
I'm just going to say Yes for this one. I am accepting of people as people, but you are taking it to a whole other level when you ask me who I'll choose for a relationship partner. That's completely different. I may have to LIVE with them one day. You know what I'm saying? I don't think I'll ever find that person!!! It's been a struggle to the point I'm giving up on it.9. Being disappointed with your preferred sex.
10. Losing friends due to different life directions.I wouldn't say I've lost a lot of friends of recent, mainly because I haven't KEPT very many friends--the ones I lost, I lost long ago!!! I learned this lesson a while ago. You just get busy and forget. But the loyal ones, the ones who are understanding of who you are (even if you are both different) stand by no matter how much time has flown. I hope I can find friends I'm close enough to one day to spend more time with, but so far, it's been a struggle, one that I've accepted and am okay with.
11. Realizing that most of your friends are awful friends, and then cutting them out of your life.Would you consider me a braggart if I said that I've pretty much always been too good of a judge of character for this? Hasn't happened!!! If they were bad, I cut them out early. Like I said, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, regardless of what age we are, and I honestly think this is one of my strengths. If it's not yours, let me give you a hug and say that that is TOTALLY okay. You are cutting them out now, so good job :) You realized and you are fixing it. It wasn't your fault you didn't realize in the beginning, if you didn't know better, you didn't know better.
Already know, am passionate about, and fight against this subject. I feel children are pressured into this, and often they aren't given the guidance to know better than to attend places that are expensive when they aren't sure of what they want to do. It's a very impressionable time, and people are pressuring them in this time to spend THEIR money on something they may not even be happy about in the long run. Those loans are real, and they WILL kick you in the butt some day if you don't stay on top of them. If you aren't utterly certain and motivated about what you want to do, and if the result of your education doesn't guarantee a spot in a field that will give you the money to pay off the loans in an adequate time period, DO NOT go to an expensive college. The lack of education I was given on the price of my education absolutely shocks me. And it needs to be addressed EVERYWHERE.12. All that school debt that you still have to pay off — and will continue to have to pay off for a long time.
13. Realizing that your major only allows you to find jobs that, it turns out, you can’t stand doing.See above.
So, that concludes Part 1 of my response :) To see Part 2, wait 48 hours! :)
