As the days become longer and blossoms begin to bloom, spring is upon us.
And as this is written, it marks my 24th birthday.
Twenty-four is a strange age — you’re too young to be taken too seriously, but you’re old enough to know better, do taxes, not commit crime, pay rent and look after yourself as a fully fledged adult.
Don’t get me wrong, I am well aware of the egocentric element behind this article but as my 20s crawl to the halfway point, I figure it can’t hurt to have a look back on the time that’s been.
In these 24 life lessons, there are a few pearls of wisdom, a couple of teaching moments I’ve learnt the hard way, and hopefully for those above the ripe old age of 24, it serves as a trip down memory lane to a time as confusing as it was exciting.
1. Treat yourself like you would your best friend. Some days being nice to yourself can be trickier than others. On those days, think of yourself as you would the person you love. Would you let your best friend go without breakfast? Would you tell them they’re terrible or not trying hard enough? Give them the last chocolate biscuit? That last one I probably wouldn’t, but you get the point.
2.The ‘check engine’ light is merely a suggestion (this is not legitimate advice, follow at your own risk).
3. Bodies are meant to change over and over again — and again after that. You are human, you fluctuate and there’s no shame in that.
4. Making friends as an adult is hard. This is one I wasn’t entirely ready for, without work and really putting yourself out there, making new friends is a whole different ball game than it was in adolescence. This leads me to five.
5. Not having many friends as an adult is normal.
6. Set boundaries with others and with yourself. Getting to the point of burnout by helping others is no help to anyone involved.
7. Leave a spare key out.
8. ABBA is the answer to any life situation. New job? ABBA. Got locked out of your home multiple times? ABBA. Breakup? ABBA.
9. You miss 100 per cent of the shots you don’t take (I know, inspirational). This one is especially for the ladies: think like a man who only meets 60 per cent of the pre-requisites for a job. Go for it.
10. Another person will not make you whole, that is your job and it is a job you will work on (I presume) every day for the rest of your life.
11. Drink the wine, enjoy the cake, wear the bathers. It’s a quote that sounds like it belongs on a hanging wooden sign in a middle-aged woman’s home, but it’s true.
12. Being alone isn’t a bad thing. From the multitude of Hollywood rom-coms pushing the narrative of single woman = spinster, it’s no wonder females in particular internalise the notion of being alone as failure. This may take years of un-conditioning, but learning to be with yourself is an under-rated, yet necessary skill.
13. Leave a spare key out. Please.
14. Hug your friends and tell them you love them — you truly never know when, or god forbid, if you’ll see them again.
15. Anything you’re looking for, try the op shop first. Chances are, you’ll find what you’re after for a slither of the price and double the quality.
16. This one may be a little controversial but rent money is not dead money. Yes, you’re paying someone else’s mortgage, but do you know what else you’re paying for? Shelter. A place to live. Sure, it may not be doable forever, but it’s privilege enough to A. get a rental and B. afford a rental.
17. Ask the stupid question, but only after you’ve Googled and done everything in your human power to solve it yourself.
18. Don’t leave a car battery on your back seat. Also, don’t ask.
19. Listen to your body, if it’s telling you something isn’t right, trust that, fight for that, and make yourself heard.
20. Clothes are made to fit you, you aren’t made to fit clothes.
21. Spend as much time outside as possible.
22. Awful moments make for great stories. It may just be the journalist in me, but any time something shocking happens, I think ‘what a fantastic yarn’. Same goes for tattoos, ask the Powerpuff girl etched on my skin the day I turned 18. (Also, check in with me about this in another 24 years).
23. People generally mean well and if they don’t, that’s a reflection of them and their feelings, not a reflection of you.
24. Be kind, be curious and most importantly, laugh — as much as you can, whenever you can.
∎ Caitlyn Grant and Megan Fisher are opening the conversation for young people on all things from mental health to success stories in their weekly column, Let’s Talk. If you or someone you know has a story, contact caitlyn.grant@mmg.com.au or megan.fisher@sheppnews.com.au