When I was younger, I constantly heard that your twenties are supposed to be the best years of your life. Everyone, from my parents to their friends, went on about how amazing this decade was. But now that I’m halfway through it, I feel like I’ve been betrayed. I used to dream about this time—thinking I’d have a house, a successful career, and (obviously) big breasts. And where am I now? The housing market’s a joke, I’m on my third gap year since I’m 17, and my boobs… well, they’re still MIA. Meanwhile, the pimples I begged to go away back in the day still show up, uninvited.

Isn’t that just classic?

Being in your twenties is weird. You’re not a teenager anymore, but you’re also not quite an adult either. It’s this strange, in-between space where one moment you’re craving the comfort of your parents’ house and the next, you’re signing leases, paying bills, and learning the hard way that couscous salad left out of the fridge for a day is an absolute no-go unless you like hanging above the toilet, face down (don’t ask).

It’s that in-between feeling that messes with your head. You’re expected to have it all figured out, but you have no idea where to even begin figuring it out. One minute you’re thinking you’re on the right track—making your own decisions, acting all grown-up—but the next minute you’re wondering why you ignored the washing labels and now your favorite sweater is 5 sizes too small.

And let’s talk about growing pains. But not the physical ones—you’re not growing taller anymore, but your mind? That’s growing, and it’s… painful. You’re caught between wanting to keep the carefree spirit of being young and realizing that adulthood requires way more of your time, energy, and focus. It’s like finally being able to find a common time and date to meet with your best friend after comparing schedules for ages, only to realize that you both end up so exhausted from everything else going on that you spend the whole time talking about how tired you are.

And let’s not forget the real kicker: the world treats you like you’re still young enough to make mistakes, but expects you to act like you’re not. Some of your friends seem to have it all together—others, not so much—but trust me, no one has it perfectly figured out.

I have one friend who’s constantly switching study programs because she can’t find her true passion. One friend that was supposed to be a dentist, but followed her heart into theater (at her parents’ dismay). Another friend who has never been in a serious relationship because #commitmentissues. One is battling mental health issues and has never been able to finish his studies. One friend was so broke he had to live day by day, scraping by. Oh, and let’s not forget the friend who broke up with her fiancé right before their wedding. Okay this is starting to sound like an Ed Sheeran song.. but wait – there’s me. A 24-year-old who wrapped up her master’s degree just six months ago (that I did because I did not know what to do with my life but god forbid that I work!) – right in the middle of my parents’ divorce. Only to realize that I threw myself into work to avoid facing my emotions, and—surprise!—it all caught up with me in the form of mental and physical burnout… and I haven’t even started my career yet. Oh, if only the younger me knew..

No one goes through life unhinged. And while social media gives off this illusion of perfect lives—vacation photos, #couplegoals, and filtered selfies—let me tell you: no one’s life is as perfect as it looks online. Struggling is completely normal, and I think it’s about time we start showing that real, messy side of ourselves. After all, I find it to be much more meaningful than the latest “perfect” beach pic.

So, what do you say? Let’s ride this rollercoaster together. Let’s talk about the confusion, the chaos, and the messiness of our twenties. Let’s remind each other we’re not alone, share our stories, learn from our mistakes, and most importantly, have a good laugh. Because seriously, life’s too short to take it all so seriously. We don’t need all the answers—just a little bit of humor and a lot of honesty.

You with me? Let’s do this ✨