Life may be organized in many ways. In terms of education, it could be separated by the years spent in elementary school, middle school, high school, and university. Hobbies and extracurriculars, or the people you hung out with, and places you’ve been may also serve as reference points. Then there’s age, which logically segments life based on time. It recently dawned on me that I’m almost 20 years old and, this being a new decade for me, my birthday carries heavier weight than most years. As I cherish my last few days of being a teenager and take one step closer to a fully developed frontal lobe, my mind remains occupied with what brought me to this moment.
I find it hard to fathom the many ways in which I have changed since my childhood. What would my younger self think of me now? I remember always wishing I could grow my hair longer, but keeping it short to be easier to manage. She would be in awe of how long it’s gotten. I also always imagined adults having everything together, but now that I’ve legally been an adult for two years, I realize it’s far from that. There are many struggles that I continue to face and things that I never expected to experience. I believe now that we’re simply a constant work in progress.
Each year seems to pass faster than the last as I catch a glimpse of the lives of those around me. Little siblings seem to be speeding through high school. I’m witnessing my childhood friends go on first dates and enter new relationships. It’s a bittersweet realization that everyone’s growing up.
As much as I enjoyed being a teenager, I’m ready to leave adolescence behind. I might just be coping, but there are many unrealistic expectations involving adolescence due to its over-glamourization in the media. I also don’t dread getting older. Despite the increasing amount of responsibilities, adulthood comes with newfound freedom and possibilities. With each passing year, I gain a stronger sense of security and understanding of myself than before.
To provide myself some guidance, there are a few principles I’ll be taking with me as I enter this new decade.
1. Don’t fall into a spiral of comparison. People will be getting jobs, getting married, having kids, and reaching huge milestones. Although it can be helpful, constant comparison may be overbearing and harm your self-esteem. There will be many times where I’ll have to remind myself that everyone is going at their own pace and trust that everything will fall into place.
2. Be adaptable. Having grown up in the same neighbourhood and spent time around people with a similar upbringing my entire childhood, I became accustomed to a certain culture and set of values. University has exposed me to so many new people and experiences that presented opportunities for improvement. This means changing habits, mindsets, and lifestyles by taking what’s working and discarding the rest. Constant renewal and refinement will allow me to manifest the life I want.
3. Part of life is what happens to you, and the other part is what you make of it. Things will not always go as planned, people will not always treat me right, and problems will arise, but it’s often out of my control. What I can control is how I respond and what I make of these situations. It’s easy to sit and mope around, but everyone has problems, whether I see it or not. The difference lies in how I deal with these problems and if I allow them to affect me. This also applies to positive situations, like taking advantage when opportunities arise. Success ultimately begins with recognizing the power you have over your life.
As daunting as this new decade is, I’m excited for the self-discovery and growth that my 20s have to offer. I envision immersing myself into my career, traveling, fostering my relationships, and embracing this decade to the fullest. There are many aspirations and experiences I intend to achieve, and I want my Google accounts filled to the max with photos capturing every moment.
With every lap I take around the sun, I hope to take leaps towards who I want to become and ask myself again, “What would my younger self think of me?”