Taking charge of your 20s

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I watched a TED video by Clinical Psychologist Meg Jay not too long ago about how negative it is to call your '30s the new 20s'. Jay was basically saying by having the mindset that life as an adult doesn't officially start until your 30s you are wasting your 20s by waiting for whatever it is that is going to be bigger and better in your 30s. The talk isn't for everyone but it is one of those things where you take away what appeals to you most. The comments below the video got me thinking just as much as the talk itself. People who were past their 20s and 30s were reflecting their opinions onto the talk and what they would have done differently or what they wished they had of done more of in their 20s. Whilst reading the comments I felt like I was a little kid again trying to eavesdrop on a grown up conversation. It was like I had discovered a shining nugget of gold: how to make the most of your 20s by people who had been there and done that. Most of them talked about travelling more and enjoying their youth and freedom. Some people expressed how they wished they pursued their ultimate career without fear. It really, really got me thinking about my life, goals and aspirations. At the beginning of the year I set a goal that I would move in a direction forward to what I ultimately want to be doing. This is all easier said than done: I don't like change and a cloud of fear and anxiety take hold of me whenever I get a little too confident. However knowing that 80% of life's most defining moments take place by age 35 helps to put things in perspective. When I am 35 do I want to be doing something I love in a city that I love or will I be in the same place saying 'I wish I had of done that'? Those people who say 'have no regrets' make a good point.

I'm glad I watched that TED Talk and took the time to read all those comments. It's good food for thought and for life. Sometimes we all need a little reminder to keep striving for what we want and to take life and make the most of it; as cliche as that sounds.