Embracing the Chaos that is the 20's

I read this article today:

21 Ways You Should Take Advantage Of Your 20s

So often I hear my peers talk about not being where they want to be in life, feeling the need to "get their shit together," feeling pressure to "get a real job," find their soul mate, start making money, etc. I'm not immune to these external pressures- I've certainly felt them myself. This article reminded me to embrace being just where I am: the chaotic, unsettled, and ambiguous world of the 20's. After all, if I don't embrace it now, when will I ever get the chance? Life only gets filled with more responsibility as time goes on.

We live in a culture that is inherently ageist. We often talk about how the elderly are discriminated against and the youth are glamorized, but what about the pressure that plagues middle-to-upper class suburbanites to go to college, graduate, and start working? Or the pressure that is put on young women to get married and have kids? (How many weddings have you attended where Aunt so-and-so says "And when are you going to cook a bun in that oven?") Now the pressure to accelerate the growing up process seems even greater, because the economy is in the hole and most of us are facing scary school debt. These pressures are placed on us from an early age, and by the time we arrive at a place where we have to face them, many of us have no earthly idea what we want to be when we get older, or whether we even want to have kids.

mmm, maybe in my 40's, Aunt Gertrude

...cause actually this is how I feel now about pregnancy now.

This summer, I've admittedly been acting a bit wild. And some internal voice has been nagging me to "reel it in," settle down and get focused, serious about life. The truth is, there is a freedom that comes with allowing yourself to let loose a bit, a spontaneity that can make one feel alive. This article reminded me that now is the time to allow this freedom. So I've decided to extend the party a bit longer- at least until I have to start school again in the Fall.

Tonight I plan to put on my Forever 21 dress, stay up late socializing with a new friend and eating from a late night diner, and maybe even enjoy a sex marathon ;)

My best Forever 21 dress, as displayed in Vegas with my 20 something friends