I have been behind on blogging lately. It’s funny because as soon as the weather got even a little nice, I was so preoccupied and have not been prioritizing it. And then it got cold again and here I am!

I have been collecting and writing bits for this blog for a couple weeks, trying to stitch together advice I got from 11 different women. With International Women’s Day in mind and March being Women’s History Month, I thought it fitting to go to women for words of wisdom.

I asked them,“What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone in their 20s / something you would tell your 20 year old self?”

Here’s 8 things I learned from their advice:

Note: Each list item is a direct quote from someone while text below is a jumble of my own paraphrasing and opinion.

1. “Do It Now, Don’t Wait!”

Take the trip. Apply to grad school. Move out of state if you’ve dreamt of it. Don’t let fear hold you back. Roads weren’t made to not go down. If you’re curious about something, try it. If you don’t like a choice you made, change it. Break out of your comfort zone– the places where we grow exist outside of it. 

When my mom started college, she was accepted to University of Denver, the same college her sister attended. She quickly realized it wasn’t a good fit and decided to apply to Capital University’s Nursing Program. Realizing you want to change your choice isn’t failing– it’s the process of elimination of life. We live life finding out what we don’t like and what we do. 

2. “Do what you’re say you’re going to do”

Staying true to your word and your commitments is key. It’s okay to say no, but if you commit to something, stick to it. It builds trust in your relationships and makes your word mean something. For me, keeping commitments is about respect. I respect you enough to follow through for you.

3. “You don’t have to have it all figured out”

There isn’t a point of happiness or contentment that we will suddenly reach. A point in our lives where we will finally feel wise. No matter who you are or how “together your shit is”, challenges arise. The beauty of life is the journey of figuring it out. SO STOP TAKING LIFE SO SERIOUSLY. (I needed to hear this one.)

4. “Seek out Mentors that you trust”

A great way to grow is feedback. Getting advice from someone you respect and trust. I love venting to my friends, but sometimes getting advice from someone who’s gone through life before can give you a different perspective. 

5. “You’ll see that it worked out like it was supposed to” 

I think this speaks a lot to my last blog. Everything puts on a path and will work out in some way. The universe, God, whatever or whoever you believe in is working in larger ways. We are tiny humans floating on a hunk of rock in space and can’t possibly control everything.

6. “Learn more about life” 

I think this is what the millennials call “adulting”. The topics of investing / money management can be daunting for someone in their 20s, but what we do with our money now can have a huge impact on our future. The learning doesn’t stop after school, there’s a whole world out there they don’t teach in school (but they probably should). 

7.  “Most important thing you can wear…confidence.” 

Nothing else you put on matters if you don’t have confidence in yourself, your abilities. They say “fake it till you make it” and I think they’re right. We don’t always feel confident, but if we pretend, it comes back to us or starts to take root. People in my family have asked me how I’m so confident with my body. I’m really not, I just tell myself I am until I believe it. Negative self talk works the same way, so DON’T DO IT!

8. “Your journey is uniquely yours”

I think one of the hardest things about being in your 20s is thinking about where you’re supposed to be in life. We are not our parents and our lives may look a lot different from anyone in our family or even our friends. The 20s are for embracing that unique journey, to stop living to please others, but do what truly fulfills us. If you learn nothing else, know that you are worth prioritizing. 

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Being in your 20s is constantly striking a balance of the present and the future (maybe that’s just life in general). I battle with trying to do everything “right” for my future and wanting to be selfish, careless, and free.

Another day, another internal battle. That’s 25!

But no matter how you’re approaching you’re 20-something years, it’s okay because it’s your journey.

Thanks to all the women who took the time to send responses, your insights are appreciated. And to all of you, I love you, thanks for reading.