Are you in your 20s? What would you like to do to consume your
decade of being 20 and plus? People, usually (especially your relatives) would
expect you to settle down immediately or establish a million-peso career.
Either way, always remembers the good ‘ol adage to not rush things. As Lola
Nidora would say, Lahat may tamang panahon. I just turned 21; a year of being
an orphan transitioned me from that financially careless and dependent child to
a still adjusting-to-independency adult. The emerging adult, I would say. Being
in 20, graduating from your tertiary education or not, transitions you to the
real life that will have you handle every garbage thrown at you and still
expected to be positive about it. You and I, as we embark together to the gravy
area of Tax-paying adulthood and Quarter life crisis, let’s discover how we
should spend our 20s decade in a responsibly, yet life-fulfilling achievements.
1.
Don’t get settled yet in your early 20s
Ah, Marriage, the final season of being an
essential person. While it is true, as a woman, that you might endanger your
baby if you start a family late but this isn’t occasionally. My mother had me
when she was 39, the only deficiency I had was my eyesight and uncivilized
social cues. In psychology of love, the ideal age to consider marriage is
starting from 25. First, the prefrontal area (yung noo mo) of your brain, which
is responsible for the decision-making, develops completely at 21. At 21, you
have already weeded out your way to know yourself. At this age forward, you
have an idea what kind of a spouse or a parent you are. Also, ask the big question,
“Are you ready for lifetime responsibilities?”
2.
Grab a decent job even if you hate it
The problem with teenagers is they think living
is a robotic process in this pattern; COLLEGE>JOB>FAMILY. Grab a job and
eat your pride. If you are a Jollibee crew getting the order of your former
classmate in suit, don’t be terrifyingly ashamed. He is struggling to with his
employer and co-workers, too. The process of being a successful person is
crawling through the dirt before you roll over your Ferrari wheels on it. Having
odd jobs gives you again the process of finding for yourself and mapping out
your career. When you are at your 20s, things get a little shaky because
nothing is permanent. If you start loving your job, you’ll lose your job
tomorrow.
3.
Invest your money to stocks or mutual funds
This may sound ironic when it comes to not
rushing things or making things in your 20s a big deal, but still, not only are
you investing for your life fulfilment but for the future of your family and self,
too. Young Professionals tend to make mistakes on their financial activities.
Financial freedom, off course, is ecstatic. You get to buy the things you think
you were deprived of when you were still a poor student. Think again. Those
material ambitions would only contribute to bad consumerism and pollute our
dear mother earth. Invest. You aren’t too young to think about the future
or retirement. Although, Investmen t is a long-term financial goal, it would
likely back you up forever. While you are still young and healthy, take a
portion of your salary and grow your money. Starve a little bit or scrimp. I’m
telling you, you don’t need that flashy phone that promises everything you
desire because next year another product will come up promising the same thing.
What’s wrong with being poor while young when you are able to be financially
free as you grow old? If you are interested in investing, you should start to
educate yourself first. Ask you r banks or better yet consult to Bo Sanchez.
Invest in companies tha t you have known long before you were born and companies
that you are certain that won’t go bankrupt. Malls will never go bankrupt, so
is Jollibee.
4.
Spoil your nephews,niblings and godchildren
Because nothing beats being single and
childless when you are still childlike to the kids of your sibs and friends. Be
that tita who always comes to the kids with sweets that would certainly have
their parents raise their brow at you. That tita who will remind that pre-teen
of a scarf or jacket or put pants on
when she is wearing a very short skirt or pekpek shorts. Be that tito who they
will play video games with. That tito who is willing to drive them around on
weekends. Youngsters do power up the youth in you. In turn, these kids will
help you babysit your future children and will smuggle alcohol and smokes on
your nursing home.
Never miss end the year without travelling.
Also, travel cheap and tight on budget. Cheap ways of travelling provides more
excitement and discovers exoticism on your experience. Just pack your bags and
go.
6.
Sleep around
What I meant was dating people who may be wrong
for you, uncertain of. As reiterated, 20s is the decade of self-discovery. In
20s, you start to experiment with your life and with your relationships. Date
with someone who is out of your league, someone you used not to like or just
plain someone. When you start a relationship, it is unnecessary for you to
think about marriage and family immediately. Usually, that would always be the
case, catching you in a reverie of what ifs. The point is, if you are tired of
being single, get married. Nothing is certain in life.
7.
Be an activist…
No, you don’t need to go to the streets and
flash your bloody signs. There would be occasions that you might need to but I
have distaste for rallies. They cause traffic and slow down the productivity of
those affected. Tell me, what do you stand for? What is your socio-political
awareness? Gender equality, LGBT rights, Indigenous People, Climate Justice,
Corruption and Hipsters (Kidding). Wouldn’t you be proud to tell your children
and grandchildren, that once in your life you did stand up for something during
your youth and didn’t just stand up walking around the dance floor with a
bottle on your hand? Being an activist does not mean rallying or immersing into
anarchy entirely. Activists are now euphemized as advocates. Do the change you
want in your own hands and influence a few to join your cause. Do your part as
well, yes, with your hands and real work.
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| Remember, always know from your heart what you are fighting not because someone urged you to or someone paid you. |
8.
Treat your parents
Whether it is a dinner, vacation or treats them
on their anniversary, it doesn’t matter. For parents, it would always the
thought that would count. 20s, I believe is a good time to pamper them even if
they are still young and able. When you have a family, you wouldn’t know for
sure if you can still take care of them. You wouldn’t know if they can last
after your 20s. This may sound mean, but it is true. I lost my parents before I hit 20, while they
were ill, I took care of them but they will not live to see the juices of their
sacrifices.
9.
Trim down your friend lists.
When you grow old, your barkada dwindles.
Sometimes, those who would be with you are the same people with the same mind-set
that you have. Accept that people come and go, especially those people that are way past your evolution.
10.
Spend time with friends
Those who are single are most likely to spend
time with you. The thing when you in your 20s are like having a despidida with
your childish ways. No matter how godly you are, pay them a visit. Message them
and post those embarrassing throwback college pictures.
11.
Move.
Climb a mountain. Join a triathlon. Use that
gym certificates. Use that bike lanes. You know what they say when you reach
your 30s, something magical happens to your metabolism. Stay fit and healthy.
12.
Don’t stop making goals.
So you have your dream job. So what, is that
the end of it? No! Get your blank papers and start mapping your goals. What do
you want to achieve on your 30s, 40s or even 80s? As long as you are breathing,
you don’t stop planning life. Not only yours but for the benefits of others as
well.
13.
Quit that abusive job of yours
If your boss and co-workers are kupal as what Stanley
Chi says, why keep your job? Experts on Industrial-Organizational Psychology
suggest that employees don’t quit their job because they don’t want the job.
Most of the time, it’s the social environment that keeps their productivity on
lag. Oh, you need your job? Then endure the tumultuous stay and keep your
headphones on.
14.
Resolve your childhood issues
Don’t pass them on to your children later on. Parents sometimes fail
and give their children a hard time is because of the parents’ hang ups in life
before that had children. Ultimately, these hang-ups do not only become yours
but your children’s as well. We don’t want that, you don’t want that. Deal with
your fears and confront your battling issues to rid your baggage.
15.
Immerse into agricultural livelihood
I’ve been into farming since childhood. Now, I’ve
been managing our small farm in Alicia, Isabela and have witnessed youngsters
eager to study and leave the province to experience poverty in the metro.
Agriculture is the backbone of the country’s economy. The problem with
youngsters is that they are seduced with the fast life. Nowadays, in my
generation, the appreciation for greenery and rural life is much more
appreciated. Another sad truth is, our food producers are the mass belonging to
the percent of poverty. Farmers and fishermen do the back-aching work from dusk
to dawn and are paid with short-changed coins. Who earns more? This
multi-billion food companies who loves to import. If you are a city resident,
you don’t have to own a parcel of land, you can do it at your backyard or on
your veranda. Have you heard bottled plants? They’re efficient, cheap and
eco-friendly. Plant the vegetables that you will always need.
16.
Start putting up a personal collection
Anything but people off course. Animals? Hmmm.
As long as you are responsible enough to tend to their needs and off course,
bigger cages. Pick something that means a lot to you and you’ll kill for it.
Vintage pictures, pop bottles, jam jars or even old earphones. Don’t worry,
antiques become pricier in centuries soon.
17.
Nourish your passion
A battle of passion versus practicality will
always ensue but why not do both? If you can hack it, make money while doing
your passion. You can earn money from your passion as a part-timer if you want
to but are still glued on your stress-nourishing job.
18.
Live in cheap
Live in cheap but don’t thrift yourself. People
in their 20s tend to be careless financially and would later sunk themselves in
debt. Save yourself from embarrassment by setting your mind that you don’t have
to race with people your age by having luxuries that you don’t really like. Or
even if you have, save for it and spend for it in a long interval of time.
Discover more things to enjoy life without harassing your bank account. Avoid
debts.
19.
Learn and master a recipe
Learn to cook your food. Hotdogs, eggs and
noodles are not included. Learn how to cook to save your life if you get stuck
in a mountain resided by NPAs. Perfect one recipe that you love so when you are
invited to a potluck party, there will be something that you will proudly bring
and not just a take-out order from Good Taste.
20.
Take a big risk that will change you
You’ve been there and done that. Made it in and
made it out. What have you got to lose, enduring adjustments? It’s a small
thing compared to what will change you. When you are in your 20s, you have to establish
a concrete decision for yourself. These changes are simply not like editing
your wardrobe. These changes are bigger than your life. People migrate to work
abroad. Will you take the leap, leave your family and deal with culture faux
pas? Do it. Do you have political plans and have the strong will to ripple the
change you dream for your nation? Do it. You realized you are not for the life
in a city and you would rather live in the mountains and learn their trade
instead. Go. Establishing your career and is aware that it might consume you.
If you dare, sign up for it. Are you ready to face the altar with your
significant other, dealing with petty fights because of budgets, beating the
traffic from work to your child’s PTA meeting? Make it. Transition your life to
be better; your sacrifices will be paid in a bigger package.
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| I am a 21 year old, college student who is giving advice to older fellas in 20s, I give this advice to myself. |
