Hey emily, daaayum, you're super wise for a 20 year old :) you're pretty much spot on with everything :) you're an old soul for sure
I'd love to answer some questions for you, if i may.
1. Does life go downhill from here? Not at all. It's a mish-mash of ups & downs, but in the end its a pretty awesome ride. I turned 37 exactly one week ago. Gosh I must seem so old to you - i know i thought 30 year olds were adults who had all their shit together, when i was your age. But really I just feel roundabout 22 in my head - the same way that you still feel 12. But really no, we dont really mature much, just grow wiser purely from life experience. there is no sudden realisations and shifts happening that make you feel like an adult. no magic number age to reach. I still look to my mom for help all the time, and she looks to her mom the same way.
2. Are the first wrinkles only a smile away? yikes, god no. you're gonna be fresh as a daisy till your mid 30s at the least. Dont even stress about it.
3. Am I now, without question, a “proper” adult? not even close. Honestly, i look at your age group as kids. I was stupid as shit at that age. we all were / are. its nature, you grow and learn and keep growing and learning. it never stops. you never have it figured out. you just keep doing your best, making the best decisions that you can with the information you have at hand. in time the information does eventually compound into some sort of wisdom. theres really no such thing as a proper adult. none of us feel like adults. maybe your parents do - I haven't reached that age yet lol. My kids are still in preschool.
ps - get used to stumbling over the question of who you really are - because who you are is ever evolving as time, life & circumstances go on & change. there is only an illusion of a destination. its all just a process of constant movement and change. i could never grasp it when i was younger, when people would say that its about the journey not the destination.. but i think i get it now.. only now.
moral of the story is be patient with yourself and give yourself grace. but you seem to already know this :) so you got this <3 more power to you!
hmm.. this has actually inspired me to write a post of my own, the advice i'd my younger self..
Wow, I loved every word of this! I too felt a little daunted by the 30 milestone but 40 has been my favourite chapter yet! There’s a lot of joy that comes with getting older and I would say that it’s the experiences not the milestones that make you who you are which takes some of the power away from the numbers themselves. X
This is truly relatable! I am 21 and I deeply relate to this feeling... at least once a week I'm questioning what a "real adult" would do! I'm not sure I want to be one...
This resonated so much with me. I’m turning 25 soon and still feel that lingering question ‘who am I?’ Funny enough, i just wrote my first piece on here about it. I think it’s safe to say we all feel like this, even well into our twenties and even our thirties. I’d wager that no one ever feels like a ‘real adult’ and that we’re all just winging it. Beautiful piece, Emily. 🫶🏼
The twenties are all about making mistakes and figuring along the way. And you seem to have gained a lot of wisdom already in your young age so I think you’re a a beautiful path. And you wonder about your thirties?!? It gets better. More wisdom. More courage. More life experiences. You’re just getting started.
A tender and beautifully introspective piece, full of grace, vulnerability, and quiet wisdom. The twenties aren’t a destination, but a meandering path, and this reflection captures that truth with poetic clarity. Wonderfully written.
It is a gradual process, the one you can either rush or enjoy along the way. Also, the idea that "you have to be whole and figure it all out by your thirties" is deceiving. Happy belated birthday!
Great article! The twenties are so critical for your development and actualization as a "grown-up". You are on the right track. Turninig 30 didn't bother me, neither did 40 or 50 or even 60 (well maybe 60 a little!), but being one year from 70 is very confusing. Great job!
You have a good attitude! The twenties are tough to navigate emotionally but you’ve got physical stamina, something I miss now that I’m 74. Keep writing and exploring.
Hey emily, daaayum, you're super wise for a 20 year old :) you're pretty much spot on with everything :) you're an old soul for sure
I'd love to answer some questions for you, if i may.
1. Does life go downhill from here? Not at all. It's a mish-mash of ups & downs, but in the end its a pretty awesome ride. I turned 37 exactly one week ago. Gosh I must seem so old to you - i know i thought 30 year olds were adults who had all their shit together, when i was your age. But really I just feel roundabout 22 in my head - the same way that you still feel 12. But really no, we dont really mature much, just grow wiser purely from life experience. there is no sudden realisations and shifts happening that make you feel like an adult. no magic number age to reach. I still look to my mom for help all the time, and she looks to her mom the same way.
2. Are the first wrinkles only a smile away? yikes, god no. you're gonna be fresh as a daisy till your mid 30s at the least. Dont even stress about it.
3. Am I now, without question, a “proper” adult? not even close. Honestly, i look at your age group as kids. I was stupid as shit at that age. we all were / are. its nature, you grow and learn and keep growing and learning. it never stops. you never have it figured out. you just keep doing your best, making the best decisions that you can with the information you have at hand. in time the information does eventually compound into some sort of wisdom. theres really no such thing as a proper adult. none of us feel like adults. maybe your parents do - I haven't reached that age yet lol. My kids are still in preschool.
ps - get used to stumbling over the question of who you really are - because who you are is ever evolving as time, life & circumstances go on & change. there is only an illusion of a destination. its all just a process of constant movement and change. i could never grasp it when i was younger, when people would say that its about the journey not the destination.. but i think i get it now.. only now.
moral of the story is be patient with yourself and give yourself grace. but you seem to already know this :) so you got this <3 more power to you!
hmm.. this has actually inspired me to write a post of my own, the advice i'd my younger self..
keep well, em :)
Wow, I loved every word of this! I too felt a little daunted by the 30 milestone but 40 has been my favourite chapter yet! There’s a lot of joy that comes with getting older and I would say that it’s the experiences not the milestones that make you who you are which takes some of the power away from the numbers themselves. X
I will be turning 20 in March and I’ve been having mixed thoughts on it. That was definitely what I needed going into my last few months as a teen.
This is truly relatable! I am 21 and I deeply relate to this feeling... at least once a week I'm questioning what a "real adult" would do! I'm not sure I want to be one...
This resonated so much with me. I’m turning 25 soon and still feel that lingering question ‘who am I?’ Funny enough, i just wrote my first piece on here about it. I think it’s safe to say we all feel like this, even well into our twenties and even our thirties. I’d wager that no one ever feels like a ‘real adult’ and that we’re all just winging it. Beautiful piece, Emily. 🫶🏼
The twenties are all about making mistakes and figuring along the way. And you seem to have gained a lot of wisdom already in your young age so I think you’re a a beautiful path. And you wonder about your thirties?!? It gets better. More wisdom. More courage. More life experiences. You’re just getting started.
omg i feel the same but close to 30.
A tender and beautifully introspective piece, full of grace, vulnerability, and quiet wisdom. The twenties aren’t a destination, but a meandering path, and this reflection captures that truth with poetic clarity. Wonderfully written.
Beautiful and intelligent as always. Happy belated birthday :)
turning 21 this month and i feel the same way! i still feel much younger than i am
It is a gradual process, the one you can either rush or enjoy along the way. Also, the idea that "you have to be whole and figure it all out by your thirties" is deceiving. Happy belated birthday!
Great article! The twenties are so critical for your development and actualization as a "grown-up". You are on the right track. Turninig 30 didn't bother me, neither did 40 or 50 or even 60 (well maybe 60 a little!), but being one year from 70 is very confusing. Great job!
You have a good attitude! The twenties are tough to navigate emotionally but you’ve got physical stamina, something I miss now that I’m 74. Keep writing and exploring.