recently had a series going where various awesome bloggers depicted what they learned in their 20s.
In my case, since I turn the big 2-8 this coming September,
it made me reflect on what I myself learned from my 20s.
1. Be Responsible.
I spent most of my early twenties like most college kids once they break free from the nest for the first time;
I went completely ape shit.
I drank too much. Smoked too much. Partied too much.
Basically was a ridiculously irresponsible weenie.
I didn't take my classes seriously,
changed my major more times than I could count,
and had a variety of jobs that I didn't follow through consistently because I was simply way too irresponsible to function as a proper adult.
Real talk.
Plus, and this next part is really, really important--
there is no way you can drink, stay out all night, eat greasy diner food constantly, and be attractive.
You really will just look like a big bag of ass.
Sorry to be so crude, but this is meant to be taken as a learning tool for anyone under the age of 20 out there.
2. Take Care of your SKIN.
In my early 20s (and teens!),
I was what I like to call,
a tanorexic.
Meaning, I spent way too much time in tanning beds:
 |
| This was done voluntarily. Stupid 20 year old... |
Eew.
I was Snooki way before the entertainment world knew about that little oompa-loompa.
Why I didn't realize how not cool this was at the time is probably because I was too much of a lush to pay attention to the damage I was doing to my skin.
I have since realized the error of my ways (and can proudly say I have not been in a tanning bed since my wedding nearly five years ago), but I have had to get moles removed recently to check if I had skin cancer.
Thank goodness, it was benign, but you get the idea.
Sunscreen, ladies. SUN. SCREEN.
3. Love Your Parents.
I don't know about you all,
but I have amazing parents.
Too bad I was a douche-canoe to them in my early 20s.
My parents are the kind of people who will give your husband one of their cars, because they realize you are newlyweds, and can't afford a new one, despite your 89' Jeep Wrangler costing you more to fix every month than it was worth in the first place.
They really gave us a car.
Your parents are human. They are real. They make mistakes.
Do NOT make them feel like failures as human beings for not being perfect.
In my case, my parents are some of the most generous, loving, supportive people in my life,
and they put up with my ass for YEARS.
I gave them grand-babies, who adore them, so I hope I have finally returned the favor. :-)
4. Do NOT Smoke Cigarettes.
I probably don't need to explain this one,
but cigarettes are nobody's friend.
I was going to post a video of one of those new anti-smoking commercials,
but even I am not that dark.
5. Be Kind. Be Forgiving.
At the end of the day, you are you.
Other people might be douche-nuggets, but you can't control them.
You can only control you.
Most of the people who walk around being complete ass-hats are probably really hurting inside over something, and it isn't you.
So you should be kind.
Because you never know what someone is going through.
Also, being mean makes you age faster.
So if anything,
be nice so you don't get wrinkles. :-)
6. Travel.
This is probably one of my biggest regrets about my early 20s.
I had the opportunity to take a trip to Europe,
and I bailed on it.
Now, I would give my right boob for the chance to do that.
Well, maybe not my right boob (that's the pretty one),
but maybe my first-borne.
Kidding.
I thought I would always have the opportunity to get over there before I "grew up",
but fate kicked me in the butt in that I met my husband,
married the sucker immediately,
and got knocked up super fast.
Now, I am planning when my girls are 16 and 13 (when I will be 40),
I am dragging my husband over there, and we are going to have a time.
It's already penciled in, so he can't say no.
7. Make More Phone Calls.
This might seem like a given,
but with texting taking off in my 20s,
the whole personal aspect of friendships was lost.
A text message does not suffice for a phone call when it is really needed.
It doesn't take much.
Just dial the phone and say,
"Do you need to talk?"
8. Tell Yourself You are VALUABLE and BEAUTIFUL.
20 year olds are full of insecurity.
We are concerned with being 10s, when according to society,
the majority of us are 5s.
And we punish ourselves unnecessarily over this.
You need to know that you are beautiful.
That you matter.
That you don't need a man (or woman) to tell you that.
You should know that you are a knock-out.
You are powerful.
Capable.
And valuable.
So, I leave you with this.
Love your family. Love your friends. Tell you them how you feel about them. Make good choices. Make BAD choices. Everything you go through in life shapes who you are.
Be good. Be kind.
Love.
You will experience some amazing moments as a result.
For all my mistakes (and there have been many),
I have been blessed with a beautiful family,
despite all of it.
And I couldn't ask for more.
XX,
Cat
