How to live your 20’s with no regrets
Do you sometimes feel like you're not living the life you've imagined before? Or the life that you've always wanted to live. In reality, you feel like there's still something missing. You feel like you're not living in the moment anymore.
That's because we're all rushing from everything. Just from the moment that we started going to school. We're all anticipated to graduate and achieve success in the future. We don't realize that we're not living our best lives anymore. We do what they want us to do that we somehow don't notice that it doesn't bring us peace and happiness anymore.
I woke up in the morning with my first cup of coffee, then sat on our couch while listening to the silent sound of the rain, realizing that it's been a long time since I had mornings like this because throughout I feel like I'm always in a rush from everything. We are growing up so fast and having a lot of responsibilities, unlike before. We are getting older and busier every day. Do you still remember when you and your friends went outside to play together for the last time? I guess you don't. Our problems became so big that our dads could no longer say, "I will take care of it." I can still remember the times where we started going to the clubs showing our fake IDs and going to other places lying about being 18 above. Now that we're 20, I still can't imagine how everything happened so fast. And yet, we pull through.
Here are a few things that you can take note of to live your 20's with no regrets.
1. Do things that make you happy, do something for yourself.
You see the beauty in others but not in yourself. You, too, have something to contribute. You are an artist in your way, a work in progress, but never less, never plain—just being yourself, entire. You, too, are deserving of the compliments and positive phrases you've been dishing out to others. You must think that you are exceptional, not in comparison to others, but comparison to yourself. Even when the world doesn't return the favor, always be kind to yourself. You have always had the power to bring real attention to yourself. If you like it, go ahead and do it. If it makes you happy, go ahead and do it. Do it if it makes you smile. Do it if it makes you feel powerful. We'll never be this young again, and we'll never look this good or have this much freedom, so get on that dress, put on that mascara, keep your chin up, and don't wait for anyone. The world has so much to offer for us.
2. Capture moments as you can
Our life is a collection of memories and moments with the best people. All along, we knew we were just having fun, and we didn't realize that we were making memories that would last forever. Take pictures and videos wherever you go, take that jump shot, capture those candid shots. Shoot those memorable nights. Because one day will come, and you will never see those faces again. You're never going to hear those laughs again. Capture moments as you can, and someday you're going to look back and be glad that you did.
3. Enjoy each day. You don’t get another one.
“My mama always said, life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” — Forrest Gump implies that, just like a box of chocolate, life is full of surprises, and you never know what is going to happen next. Life never comes out exactly the way you want it to, so you just have to make the most of what you got. Don’t keep yourself busy on something that you’re not capable of doing. Don’t if you’re not in the mood to start a new project. If you want to delay something until tomorrow, do it. If you don't feel like making something new, stick with the original, the known, the usual. Allow yourself to do nothing today if that is what makes you happy. Keep taking in the joy of emptiness, the greatness of silence, and the pure life in your weak moments. It is not necessary to fill all of your days. Simply being you is enough.
4. Never lose the kid in you
Being an adult may also include catching up on things you missed out on as a child and engaging in all of the activities you enjoyed as a kid. Check out that plushie, eat the ice cream, and watch the cartoon. No one stops you from believing in Santa Claus again or rewatching those Tom and Jerry episodes. Your Inner Child Is Your Best Friend, and Life may be lonely at times. If you keep entertaining yourself as an adult, you will probably end up spending a lot on temporary pleasure. However, do you remember how, as a kid, you got happiness from simple things in life? Jump, run, scream, sing your favorite music, dance, and have a good time! I don't remember you living for anybody else when you were a kid. You undoubtedly knew what you wanted and would never be hesitant to ask for it. To put it more simply, you express yourself and never be scared to experience different things that will help you grow into the person you want to be in the future.
5. Spend more time with your family
As we get older, we don’t realize that we miss out on spending time with our family. We don’t recognize that as we grow older, they are also getting older. Don’t be afraid to show your care and love to your family, especially your parents. We misunderstood our parents often. When mom entered our room without knocking and tried to sit with us, she didn’t mean to invade our privacy or disturb us, and sometimes she was just trying to escape her own thoughts. Because sometimes, seeing their children brings them back to what’s truly important and helps them back on track. Sometimes she just misses your presence and company and to know that she’s still connected with you, and sometimes when she asks what you are smiling at on your phone, she’s not being nosy. She just wants to be part of your life. Every time dad asks, “where are you?” he’s not trying to investigate you or to be strict with you. He just wants to know. We should spend more time with them because one day will come, we won’t have the chance to hear and see them anymore.
6. Appreciate little things and be grateful for them.
Don't forget to appreciate the simple things. Appreciate those who stayed with you on your worst days. Whether the little things that happened during your day. It is sometimes how you looked after a weekend of partying or when a random stranger appreciated you for being nice to them. Thank the guard who helped you in opening the door. It's the simple things that matter. They are the true definition of happiness, which keeps the world going. The little things that we miss out on are the best things about life: the night sky, the sunrise, the blossoms in the spring, the deeper conversations held hands, grooving in the living room, the colors in the fall, the sound of the waves, the music of peace—the feeling of someone's arms around you, and the beat of your happy and fulfilled heart. Be thankful. When someone does something for you, make it a practice to say "thank you." Because you never know what kind of storm they're going through, Send your warmest greetings. Appreciate their efforts. It may appear to be a minor gesture on your part, but it makes their day complete. Never keep your happiness to yourself; share that with everyone you meet.
7. Find your passion
Where do you shine the most, or where do you spend a lot of time, even when it's not perfect? Allow what makes you unique to succeed through. Discover your hidden abilities and understand that being unique is a blessing, not a shame! It’s never too late to discover your talent or your skills. Someday, you may not know that those things were the ones that can make you understand who you are. Your talents can also be your source of income in the future, and you will be thankful for yourself that you at least give yourself a chance to know yourself better. You chose not to give up because you believe in yourself.
8. Learn to understand everyone. We’re not always in the same boat.
Some people are glad of themselves for finally sending their resignation letter, while some are proud of themselves for passing the interview and getting the job. What makes you happy may make others feel upset, and what you consider a dream to pursue may be a nightmare for others. We all have our own versions of happiness and misery, as well as successes and failures. Be fair enough not to judge those celebrating a victory or sobbing over a defeat because their situation differs from yours. I believe that those who remain working on their goals amid difficulties, who continue forward despite the weight they bear in their hearts, should be respected; meanwhile, those who take a break, restart, revise their plans, or decide to stop should also be appreciated. Moving forward, chasing your dreams, and pursuing your goals requires a great deal of strength and courage, but it also takes strength and humility to recognize your limits. Always remember to be kind to everyone when you never know what battles they're fighting simply to get through the day.
9. Don’t stress yourself out. It’s okay to cry.
You will go through some difficult times in your life, regardless of your age. Your heart will split into so many pieces that you will believe you are dying. You'll lose friends you thought you'd have for the rest of your life. People in your surrounding will pass away. Your financial situation will not always be how you wish. You're going to fail one of your classes. You'll go through a lot and feel as if you may not have a purpose on this planet or that you would not want to live any longer. Please take my word for it when I say that's normal. That's what it means to be human. That is what it is to live. Every experience you have in life will teach you something. The key to remembering these lessons is to alter your mindset. Go ahead and cry when you do something you regret or that kills you on the inside. Please, just let it out. Never store those feelings in a bottle.
10. Stay single for a while and wait for the right one.
Stay single for a while because it will teach you how to be alone and be okay with being alone. It will also teach you self-love, which is valuable for any romantic relationship. You'll meet the one who that was made for you one day. He'll invest his time and energy in learning all there is to know about you, including what makes you unhappy, what makes you laugh, as well as what worries you the most. He'll observe how you eat your meal, drink your coffee, and sleep in the middle of a movie. How your eyes light up when you see chocolates or ice cream, and how a scoop makes you laugh. He'll discover how you smell at all times of the day and how you genuinely seem without make-up. When you're confused, you scratch your head automatically, and when you're angry, you roll your eyes. He'll figure out why you're moody when you're tired and annoying when you're hungry. How could you be the girl who laughs at her jokes and cries when gazing at the stars at night? When it's raining, you want to stay in one place and sleep all day. He'll learn how upset you can be at times and how much you cry when your favorite series comes to an end. He'll find out all there is to know about you, including things you don't know about yourself. And even if he does, he'll still admire you even more.
They say that the '20s are the years of immense growth. It's a stage when we can take control of ourselves without feeling guilty about it. We're mature enough to buy our alcohol but still young enough to beg our parents for money whenever we can't afford it. It may be a shame to be broke all the time, have almost no idea what we've been doing with our lives, and have instant noodles for dinner every night, but we'll never be as energized as we are now. Let's enjoy our selfish years until we have to worry about a job and a family to come home, with five children running around the house.
So, what do you have to lose? Give yourself a break. The most common regret about one's twenties is that they didn't enjoy it more. And I'm not talking about the kind of pleasure that makes you want to go out and purchase more fancy clothing or book another plane trip to Europe. I'm talking about being able to take a big breath and drink coffee in the morning, knowing that you've lived your best life.
