I asked women of all ages, primarily in their 30s or older, to give me a piece of advice for the younger generations. The advice I was looking for was for the women who were about to turn eighteen or were in their twenties and still trying to figure it out.
These are some of the best advice they had to offer:
Kristen: “Ignore the pressure to go to college right away. Take time to work and find what you enjoy before deciding on schools and programs.”
Katie: “There’s something to be said about the wisdom of someone who’s lived your years out. The main thing elders can offer is who to avoid. If you open up to a trusted adult, they can tell you before you recognize it yourself. You’ll find out who is a real friend and who isn’t, along with other untold treasures.”
Heather: “I would have wanted to hear this before having kids. Life doesn’t happen to us — it happens for us. We must learn and grow from experiences to get our highest authentic selves. Your twenties are your time to figure out who you are. Being a grownup doesn’t mean losing everything you once knew as a child. Give yourself love so that when someone else comes into your life, you will know real love from fake.”
Drina: “Sometimes I think that if I changed anything, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. All of my trials and troubles made me who I am. My children and grandchildren I have are because of the life I went through.”
Sam: “Dive into friendships. Boys will come and go, and they might not always be the nicest to you. But the girlfriends you make will be there for you more than you know. Many friendships you make will last a lifetime, no matter how far away you live. You also have plenty of time to find yourself. Even when you think you already have, you will evolve and grow as the years go on and your values change. We tell ourselves the phrase, “Fake it til you make it,” but I want to tell you, “Face it until you make it.” You are limitless.
Julia: “Like so many others, I thought you need to accomplish things (get married, have kids, buy a house, etc) by thirty. Everyone makes thirty seem so old, but it’s not. You still have so many years to enjoy independence before you settle down. Take the time in your twenties to figure out who you are and what you want before you start compromising for other people and conforming to societal pressures of having your shit together. Your twenties are for you to make mistakes. So make them, embrace them, and expect to fail. That way, you can see what makes you want to work harder and what’s not worth your time.”
The older I get, the more this advice resonates with me. I’m currently in my late twenties and about to enter a whole new decade. There’s lots of advice out there for women as we mature and age. But one of the main takeaways is not to lose sight of yourself and your desires. No one but yourself will get you where you want to be. It’s okay to fail, for that’s how other doors open, humbling us in many ways. I hope even just one of these pieces of advice helps you with anything you might be struggling with, no matter how small.
Featured image via Thunyarat Klaiklang on Pexels
The older I get, the more this advice resonates with me. I’m currently in my late twenties and about to enter a whole new decade. There’s lots of advice out there for women as we mature and age. But one of the main takeaways is not to lose sight of yourself and your desires. No one but yourself will get you where you want to be. It’s okay to fail, for that’s how other doors open, humbling us in many ways. I hope even just one of these pieces of advice helps you with anything you might be struggling with, no matter how small.
interesting
Heather encourages young women to embrace life experiences as opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery, emphasizing the importance of self-love and authenticity.