Wassuuppp my lovelies. I want to start this blog post by saying nimewamiss. Loads of hugs and kisses to my fans who’ve been on my neck asking when the next article is dropping. For all those waiting for an explanation, I just want to respond by saying, life happens. Dassit! You think you have it figured out and then it hits you when you least expect it. Si ni life, ama? This brings me to the topic of the day.
Life in your early twenties is so confusing. You have friends who still live at home, some have moved out, some no longer have a curfew, others still have a 7 pm curfew (I am others), some are working, and some are in business… We’re diverse, and sometimes when you don’t know what category you fit, it starts to feel as if you’re falling behind.
And just when you think you’ve seen enough, you log into Twitter to see the ‘how it started vs how it’s going’ trend. It’s kids in the USA or South Africa who are your age-mates with keys to their homes! Homeowners at 22!!! Just casually with their significant other na wewe unakula tu blue ticks WhatsApp with no plan. Just series and good vibes the whole day. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t stop there, it gets worse. People who are not yet in their early twenties are millionaires now. The era of the internet has changed the game for so many people. 19-year-olds have started life, literally wameanza maisha. Meanwhile, with your big age at 20, the routine is series and good vibes.
The pressure to be successful is so intense. As a young adult, it’s easy to get caught up in all the noise around you. If you’re not careful it can lead to anxiety. ‘KUOMOKA’ movement is the new language. We’re all trying to chase that bag. We all have big dreams for ourselves. It has been repeated to us countless times to toil in our 20s so that our 30s will be smooth. We’re good students, we listen… So that’s exactly what’s happening.
Here’s what you won’t see in the smiling photos on the internet: The sleepless nights, the bad days, long months, the lack of social life, frustration, the tears and so much more. From a business owner’s perspective, what you won’t see is the series of months with nearly no sales, and the frustration that kicks in. We’re so hell-bent on constantly chasing the paper that we forget to live in the present. We forget to be grateful even for the small things. Sometimes you’re so caught up chasing the bag that you miss out on amazing events happening in your life in the background.
What I’m trying to say is, you’re young… cut yourself some slack. Try to live in the present so you don’t miss out on life while you’re constantly chasing your version of the perfect life. Some events in your life are too precious to miss out on. Be intentionally present. I promise you no one knows what they’re doing, we’re all winging it. It’s like a shot in the dark; you don’t really know what the outcome might be.
Lastly, don’t be scared to try new things for yourself. We really lost hobbies when we monetized everything. So do something for yourself that you genuinely enjoy. Take care of your mental well-being. Don’t get cooped up all day on YouTube researching ‘ways of making money fast’ (I know you do this... because same!) Get some sunshine, go for a walk, call your friend… There’s life beyond all the noise. Most importantly it’s okay if you’re still figuring it out!