You’re Only 23

I'm going to be 23 in December. I'm writing this as a reminder to myself and a message to everyone in their 20s. Our life has just begun, we need to be patient and emphatic with ourselves. We can't feel like a failure, we've only just begun.

I know, you want your dream job, the perfect spouse, and an awesome flat in the closest urban centre. Once you have all those things you can start really living, you can start traveling, or start that business you want or you can pop out some kids and have a family.

I'm here to remind you (and myself) that life would be meaningless and boring if we had it all figured out by 23. The struggles, the self discovery, and the setbacks are where the magic happens. It's where we find out who we are, what makes us tick and what we find fulfilling.

Everyone has their own set of problems. No one posts them on social media. So do yourself a favor and stop gauging yourself against a whole network of people who are broadcasting a bunch of bullshit.

I'm not saying that you should give up on your goals. You should be working tirelessly. We have the luxury of having time and youth on our side. We need to be aggressively attacking our dreams. The message here is that if you fail, if you make a mistake, if you slip up and fall, you are still only 23. Dust yourself off, get up, and keep moving.

In the long run, be patient. It will take you time and consistent effort to slowly build the life you are aiming for. In the short run, be aggressive. Create a clear plan and move quickly towards your goals. Do not let success or failure slow you down.

Lastly, enjoy the journey. Good things take time. Luckily, you have plenty of it.