I touched on some things you’ll lose in your twenties in a previous article, so I’ve decided to make a more uplifting article about what to look forward to before entering that next decade of your life. Here are some things that you will gain in your twenties that, I personally think, outweigh all of the losses.
stability
Nothing beats having that consistency of being in a committed relationship with someone else or yourself and having a place to go—whether that’s school, home or work. With that said, your twenties will likely bring some stability of having somewhere to be and people to see, which is always so exciting!
weight
I’m pretty sure most people in their twenties can agree with me here when I say that we aren’t the same weight we used to be when we were teens. I for one did gain the “freshman 15” and what I like to call the “twenty 5” where my weight fluctuates about 5 pounds from what my weight usually sits at. This could be from over-indulging in sweets and junk food but also just from the stress that comes with being in my twenties and “having my whole life ahead of me,” while not even knowing what that life will entail! When you think about it, gaining a few pounds isn’t so bad anyway! If you’re happy with the way you look and feel, it shouldn’t matter what the scale says or what the size tag on your new pair of jeans reads. It seems to me that gaining some weight could be the perfect excuse for a long-awaited shopping spree!
experiences
There’s a plethora of different experiences available to you when you’re in your twenties, so I’ll spare you the long list. What’s so significant about them, though, is that there are a lot of good experiences hidden by some bad ones that you’re likely going to experience. Be patient knowing that even some bad experiences will eventually reveal positives.
emotional control
Maybe this is just my experience, but I’m a lot better at controlling how I think and feel about certain things than I was in my teenage years. For one, I’m more able to differentiate between what fuels me and what drains me, which has helped me to stay clear of my common stressors in life and approach every new opportunity with gratitude and grace. I’ve also learned how to identify my coping mechanisms and habits that are doing me more harm than good; it’s by realizing what they are that I’ve been able to invest my time and energy into things that are actually benefitting me—like journalling, taking on a new hobby, waking up earlier or slightly later for a change in pace, getting at least 30 minutes of fresh air and vitamin D every morning, and so on.
wisdom
To go along with experiences, suddenly, when you hit your twenties, you take on a social role of an older sister to all younger generations below you. You suddenly know how to take the bus by yourself, drive anywhere that’s at least an hour away without a GPS, balance your work, school, and social life, and cook for yourself (and the food turns out pretty yummy)! There’s a lot that you learn while being in your twenties (that I would say are specific to being in your twenties) that somehow make you a teacher, friend, older sibling, and preacher to those who are younger than you because of how wise you’ve become over your 20 or more years of experiences.
“Old” friends
This one’s inspired by Gilmore Girls when Rory sees Jess after the long time they spent apart. When they rekindled their friendship, she introduced him to her boyfriend, Logan, by telling him that she and Jess are “old friends.” It’s true that in your twenties you get to that place in your life where all of a sudden the friends that were once your new or present friends suddenly become your “old” friends that you knew a long time ago and whom you might not be all that close with anymore.
responsibilities
I discussed how independence and freedom can be lost in your twenties in my previous article, Twenties Digest: Things You’ll Lose in Your Twenties. At the same time, I think that responsibilities are gained, which isn’t always a bad thing. I would argue that responsibilities provide substance to one’s life. They give you a reason to love your life, love yourself, love others, and take ownership of what all of that entails. While you lose freedom and independence from being in your twenties, you also gain a sense of purpose in your life.
Hopefully, this article makes what may seem negative (entering your twenties) out to be a big positive that makes you hopeful for your future as a 20-something-year-old. From experience, I can say it really isn’t that bad! Being in your twenties is such an exciting new adventure.