far as the East is from the West

I recently binged the latest Netflix show, TwentySomethings, where 8 people in their 20’s move to Austin, Texas in order to find themselves or figure out where they are heading in life (this reality series is my favorite type of “trash tv” to watch). Upon reflecting on the show and conversations with friends, everyone wants to come out of their 20’s feeling accomplished but there is so much unknown.

What are you supposed to do in your 20’s? Are you supposed to have a career rather than just a job? Should I be married? When do you start having kids? How much can I travel? Should I have my masters degree? How much money should I have saved up? Do I need to start saving for retirement? Should I own a home?

It is so easy to compare your life to others on social media or around you (I am so guilty of this). It is easy to feel like the world around us is always so far ahead – yet I am imperfectly going to choose to cheer on others around me rather than compare. I am going to choose to live in the moment in my life and go after my dreams and champion others.

Even as I write this I know this past week has been full of feeling like I am behind in life and not where I am supposed to be. My husband has been patiently reminding me to enjoy the journey – all of the ups and downs, the mountaintops and the valleys. Embracing the imperfections. I want to choose to surrender my anxieties on what these years hold and surrender them to God. He is a gracious, loving God. He calms my fears and anxieties and reminds me I do not have to strive or push myself to be where I think I need to be at 23 or 26. He is my comforter and I am choosing to rest in Him first.

Your 20’s are the years where you can continually try new things, so are your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. I love reading the stories of the 50 year olds who went back to school to finish their bachelor degree or 40 year olds who moved across the country to start something new. It is never too late to change careers or try something new.

Let’s choose to let go of the pressure by having it all figured out in our 20’s!

Hannah