When I was in my early twenties, I thought by the time I was 25 I would have so much figured out. I’d have a degree, a full time job, a dog and I’d be working towards paying off my student loans and getting a down payment for a house. Now I’m just about 26 and I still have two years left in my undergrad degree (thanks indecisive 23 year old me), and I am not even close to being able to get a dog or getting a full time job.
There are times that it feels like I’m behind – so many people that I graduated with are “further ahead” in the life check list. Kids, pets, done university, a house, full time job, etc etc. Hell, there are people who are five years younger than me that have graduated. It is really hard.
I am impatient to move on to the next “stage” of my life. I’m tired of being poor, even though I love being a student. Learning is such a treasure and I am so grateful that I can do it, even if my student loans are terrifying. But I’m ready to settle down, as it were – to have a place that Dylan and I can call our own, somewhere that I’m proud to have people come over to…instead of full of furniture that others discarded. I want to be able to afford to go on dates, to take day trips…and I know that once I graduate it’s not going to be a magic fix for money. It will be a long path to financial security, if there even is such a thing. But I’ve been on this path for so long that I’m ready to turn a corner onto a new one. Whether that means graduate school (which is looking more and more appealing right now…but I think I’ll save that for another post) or a job, I don’t know. But I am so ready for undergrad to be over.
And yet… I need to keep reminding myself that there is no race, there is no life check list. I mean…I don’t even want kids (at least at this point in my life), so why am I comparing myself to people that do? Why am I comparing myself at all? It’s so silly.
So here is your reminder, just in case you need it: you are own your own journey. If we’re doing a traveling metaphor here…it’s your own path to create. As my husband likes to tell me: you got dis.
Up the Rollercoaster 
I find it’s so hard not to compare ourselves with people we know, but it’s so true: we all have our own path to follow! YOU GOT DIS 🙂
hehe, thanks Natalie ❤
It’s a hard message to accept for yourself though. I often feel like we’re behind on owning a place since we’re early to mid-thirties and don’t yet own. 😦
Yeah it’s so hard 😦 I have to keep reminding myself that it’s fine, but sometimes it doesn’t feel fine
Same Chelle. Some of my friends have graduated from their starter homes and are on their second home now
Still renting an apartment over here… 🙂
My god… done with their “starter” homes. LOL!
hahaha oh man, right???
I realized I’ve never asked what you are going to school for! I know sometimes the road to “grown up” seems long, but there is no one size fits all when it comes to being an adult. You are getting an education which is one of the best investments you can make and I’d say that’s pretty grown up!
Thanks Megan 🙂 I guess it’s a lot easier to say “oh that persons life looks so much better” from an outsiders vantage point too
I love reading your perspective about reach your goals…being a “broke tail” college student sucks from experience but I do love the college experience dispite my difficulties! And your hubby is right, You do got this! 🙂
Ursula
http://www.blueridgebeautyblogger.com
Thanks for the encouragement – it’s nice to know I’m not alone!
I sooooo get where you are coming from! I thank the universe for letting me see your post via facebook. I just needed the reminder to keep going and never give up on myself. I want to also encourage you to never give up! There are so many people with the same feeling you are experiencing. I am one of them. Sometimes it sucks seeing people progress and you feel like you’re going no where. Like you said, we are all running our own race. Our time is coming! I can’t wait! Keep your head up! nice blog btw 😀
Have a wonderful day!
xoSE
http://www.sashaelizabeth.com/2016/07/new-music.html
I’m so glad that this helped you too – I just reread it and it’s definitely something to keep reminding ourselves of. Thanks Sasha 🙂
Yes yes yes!!
It’s frustrating!
I do this a lot, especially since I’ll be 30 this year. I’m starting to panic about how much more I want to do nd how many experiences I thought I would have by now.
We all need you step back and know we got dis!
We getting it.
We have it.
We own it!
Whooooo
And we (or at least I) totally discount the things I have done too, so it’s such an uphill battle haha