For someone who’s lost in their 20’s!
Age of 20’s proves to be a defining decade of one’s life trajectory owing to some of the toughest and pertinent decisions which a person is subjected to, be it in terms of education, career or partner choices. One is completely torn between/among the alternatives at one’s disposal and hence counters the extreme dilemma similar to that faced by Robert Frost in ‘The Road Not Taken’ where each path or road ahead seems as skeptical as any other. These decisions, in most cases turns out to be the turning point of one’s lives, the outcomes of which are long lived, sometimes longer than our lives too!
Defining decade in no way means that one’s entire life would be circling around those decisions, instead in my view, it takes a form of a chronic ailment which can be cured by taking regular medicines of efforts and optimism; failing which, the ailment would take no time to manoeuvre itself into a goliath form and hence leading towards the complete demolition of one’s aspirations owing to the overwhelming and uncontrolled resentment over past decisions.
My real purpose is not to terrify someone but to present a larger picture in front of the readers about the anomalies of life. When one is passing through the most crucial phase of life, people tend to behave abnormally or in unexpected ways. It’s been evident that even the tranquiled personalities loses composure when they strike this critical age and make such shaky decisions which if been effectively pondered upon, would make one realize about the hollowness of those decisions. I think, most of the people behave in such an impromptu fashion because they are mowed to the expectations of the society besides their own. If things start to work in the way they expected then everything seems like bed of red roses, otherwise one becomes vulnerable and loses direction. Their bewildered mind does not allow them to take rational decisions as their mind is more inclined towards the outcomes and not the journey. Even if there is no expectations of family members or society (which generally does not hold true), the people start looking upon themselves in a way which is excessively mature for an early 20-year old lad. The point one turns 21, they began to consider themselves as a liability over others, maybe due to the ever mounting pressure or stigma associated (telling from personal observation). Achieving financial independency is good but if that’s at the cost of one’s physical or mental health, then that’s the worst deal which one could fall for. And unfortunately, similar dilemmas surface when someone opts to go for a gap year to discover oneself and start afresh.
Well, we all know but fails to practice that ‘age is just a number’. No one can lay a set path or mantra of success for others. One has to take the gear of their life in their own hands by believing in themselves in order to find the route of true success. I know it’s hard doing than say but if one would start thinking this way, half of the problems would be sorted and the finishing line of success would itself start coming closer, keeping a crowd of almost 95% at bay who are still juggling with all those futile and directionless thoughts. I read somewhere that
25year old: “I have no time left to make my distinct identity. I’m a looser.”
45 years old: “Entire life is waiting for me. A lot of opportunities shall ring my door and still there’s a lot to do.”
It clearly depicts the difference in perception and the moment, one began to think in the latter way, it’s completely safe to assume that the ball is in one’s court.
The only moral of the story is to believe in one’s capabilities and stop indulging in comparison game. Try to constantly review one’s own performance and take all the setbacks very positively. Each experience is adding a new dimension to one’s personality which would definitely prove to be promising in future because the best view comes after the hardest climbs, right?
Thoughts?
