it's going to be fine.

(source)

I love this quote so very much and I think it's important to remember throughout life, and especially in my 20's. I find these days, more than ever, there is always so much going on. So many plans, so many options, so many things to do and see, we feel so much pressure to do every little thing all of the time. It's an everyday occurrence that in my head, I remind myself of this quote. It's perfectly fine, if on a cold Saturday, I don't want to go out and drink, that I'd much rather stay on my couch and continue this Disney movie-marathon (not to mention being able to wake up the next day and be a functioning human being). Sure, my friends will have fun at that bar, or party, or trip. But there will also be other bars, parties, and trips. Not everything is the end all be all. I don't have to do what everyone else is doing.

I know it can also come across on a much more personal level. Why does everyone have a boyfriend. She's 24, married and pregnant with her first child. Why is everyone engaged? I can promise you, not everyone is engaged (or pregnant or with a significant other for that matter.) I get that at times, you can log into Facebook and see 3 different statuses or a slew of in your face photos of someone else's shiny new ring or bundle of joy, but that doesn't mean it's everyone. Slow it down, things will happen when they are supposed to. You don't have to do what everyone else is doing.

Needless to say, this is usually my daily mantra, something that I will always need to remind myself of, and try to point out to others (not in a preachy way of course.) It's just important to know that majority of the time, everything is happening just as it should. So, in other words, stop having FOMO so damn much. ;)

figuring it out

the other night, I went out to celebrate my cousin Alison's 24th birthday, just a small dinner with her & some of her friends in the area. we were having some good conversation when one of her friends said "isn't it funny how when you were younger, you thought that people in their 20's had it all together?" a light bulb went off in my head "yes!" I sputtered at her. I mean, I'm sure I'm not the only one who at 8 years old thought that when you were 25 meant you were old, married  had probably 3 kids. obviously that is not that case. we then kept going with the conversation and ultimately decided that to make ourselves feel better, your 30's is when you figure it all out. but then I wondered to myself, what if that's all that life is? everyone just collectively trying to figure it all out? sorry to get all philosophical on you here, but we all know how easy it is  to get bogged down with the every day things; envying all the people your age who are able to move out (maybe that's just me, but student loans are killing me), having trouble jump starting your career, worrying about that first date, daydreaming of doing something you really love for a paycheck; & simply wondering when it will all come together. So it's kinda comforting to think that we are all in the same boat in some way, shape or form.

this is my pondering thought for the week, in the mean time, let's all try not to get bogged down with the everyday things, shall we? happy monday!

source

a bucket list for your 20's

most people have a bucket list, maybe not a formal one, but most of us have an idea of some things they would like to accomplish by the end of their life. but what if you gave yourself more of a deadline, say, by the time you turn 30? well then you have come to the right place! my friend lisa came up with this great idea, and we  ran with it, to have a bucket list for your 20's - some of these things the two of us have already done, (I mean we are 3 years into this decade already) but there are still many that we need to accomplish by our last day of being 29! i'm sure as the years go on we will find things to add, so by no means is this a finished project, it will change and grow as we do. without further ado, here is our list:

1. move out of your parents house

2. learn how to play golf (or at least go to a driving range)

3. fall in love

4. land a job that you truly love & love going to every day

5. attend at least 1 professional sports game of each of these: baseball, hockey, football & basketball

6. take a road trip with friends

7. purchase a designer bag (marc jacobs, louis vuitton, chanel - whatever your heart desires!)

8. take a trip to Vegas with friends

9. get engaged (hinges on #3)

10. host a real dinner party

11. attend the Kentucky Derby

12. make $100,000 a year (who says we can't dream big?!)

13. live in another country (even if it's just for a month)

14. visit a psychic

15. go to a hockey game in another state

16. go skydiving

17. travel as much as you possibly can, whether it's going to the state next to you, or traveling to Italy, take advantage of any opportunity!

18. find and keep a hobby that you're passionate about, maybe it's painting, writing or playing a sport; whatever it is that's important to you!

19. get a dog

20. go scuba diving

have anything to add? let me know!

where's my blueprint?

Your 20's are messy. I know I'm only 23, but I feel like I can safely say that this is going to be a bumpy decade in my life. And it's funny because everyone expects you to have it figured out. Most of us are done with school now, so  you're an adult, adults have it together. And I feel like all of us 20-somethings, pretend to each other like we know what we're doing, but here's the secret: none of us have a clue. We have to realize that we need to be okay with that. Don't judge your friend who's engaged already, maybe this is the right time for her. Or that other friend, who is already married and has a baby. So what? That's his/her life. Maybe you or a friend is single and loving it, maybe you hate your job, or have your dream job already. My point is, we don't have a blueprint, no one does, and there are so many different paths open to us right now, we have to blindly go down some, it might work out, or you might have to go back and pick another and start all over again. I know I'm using a lot of metaphors here, and I hope I don't sound too preachy, but I'm in the same boat. I think to myself, all of my friends who were in the same major as me, have jobs in communications, and I don't; am I doing something wrong? Or the fact that I'm still living at home. I have to constantly repeat the quote to myself that says: "just because everyone else is doing something, doesn't mean you have to." It's so simple, yet I forget it all the time. I feel pressure from so many different areas, and I am trying to make that quote my mantra, that everything is happening the way it's supposed to, it's all going to be okay. Hopefully if I stick by that, maybe I'll have figured everything out by the time I'm 30. ;)