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The problem with being "young" and how we've all got it wrong

 

Let’s talk about the world’s obsession with youth. Everyone loves to say, “Being young is the best time of your life!” but honestly, it’s a bit of a joke. At 19, the world expects me to have life figured out, but I’m still sitting here, trying to decide whether to get fries or a salad for lunch. Let’s be real: youth doesn’t come with some magical sense of freedom and clarity it’s more like a weird blend of energy and constant anxiety.

We’re constantly told that we have everything ahead of us, but nobody talks about how overwhelming that actually is. Sure, I can bounce back from a late night out, but the pressure to “find my passion” by 22? That’s a whole other level of stress. Take deciding on a career should I go into clinical psychology or counseling? Both sound noble, but the weight of those choices is ridiculous. Am I supposed to spend years studying to unpack other people’s emotional baggage when I still haven’t figured out how to balance my own? And what if I choose the wrong path? There’s no “undo” button on life.

It’s funny because the world tells you youth is about freedom, but instead, it’s about constant decisions small ones, like what drink to order at the café (the pressure to pick the perfect one is real) or big ones, like what career to chase. I’m supposed to be out here “living my best life,” but instead, I’m trying to figure out how to make rent and how to stop feeling like a failure when I don't have my life plan mapped out in a neat little spreadsheet.

And here’s the real kicker: no one tells you that being young means you’re expected to do it all, and do it well, while pretending that you’re not stressed about making the wrong choice. You’re supposed to be out there conquering the world, but really, I’m just trying to survive. So yeah, I may not know what’s next, but maybe that’s okay. Because if there’s one thing being 19 has taught me, it’s that you don’t have to have it all figured out. And honestly, that’s the only certainty I need.

Sure, we’ll have our dreams that spark us to work hard with all our blood, sweat, and tears. We’ll chase our passions with fire, burning bright like we’re on the verge of something life-changing. But let’s not forget the other side of being young the part where we procrastinate, talk about nonsense for hours, and make life decisions like choosing what to eat based on what meme we saw last. Seriously, the number of times I’ve argued about the meaning of life while deciding between pizza or pasta is… well, it’s too many. But that’s okay. Sometimes life isn’t just about running on adrenaline and ambition. It's also about living like the main character in your own movie, even if that movie includes random tangents that make zero sense. Because let’s face it, life’s gonna throw all the worst “baddest” things at you, but it’s meant to be lived, mess and all. So, let’s not forget to laugh, even when we have no clue what we’re doing next. After all, being young is about the journey especially when that journey involves figuring out whether to check your bank account or pretend you didn’t see the number and just buy the concert tickets anyway.

And let’s not forget those friendships and relationships we were so sure would last forever. You know, the ones we practically wrote vows for, like, “We’re going to be in each other’s weddings. We’ll raise kids together, and our kids will be best friends!” Only to realize, a few months later, that the person you thought would be your ride or die is now an awkward acquaintance you see on Instagram. Funny how that works, huh? Honestly, it’s like we were all playing a game of life where the rules said “These people are going to be your people forever,” and then life just handed us a rulebook that said, “LOL, just kidding!” It’s not even our fault. It’s just how life works.People drift apart, interests change, and sometimes the best thing you can do is just accept that no one is sticking around forever, no matter how hard you try. So, yeah, let’s all pretend we don’t care when that friendship you thought was unbreakable is just as gone as your dignity after that third margarita. It’s not personal,it’s just life.


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