Defining Decade and Being A Twentysomething

I'm sure by now, you all know that I love myself a good TED talk, so when I came across this talk in my facebook news feed, I thought I would take a look. It seemed relevant to me. I'm a twentysomething. I find the media's my peers general public's trivialisation of the twenties years frustrating sometimes. Every day there's another facebook post popping up about why The twenties are the best times of your life. Thirty things to do before 30. They're entertaining up until a point. Taken with a pinch of salt, they're fun. But not for one second do I believe that they're really true. Take a look at the talk below. 

Meg Jay: Why 30 is not the new 20.

The twenties is a big step up from varsity. You need to start growing up. You need to start thinking about things you didn't necessarily have to worry about before. You have to start dealing with rent. And a job where you probably know nothing. And maybe you will probably paying off some sort of debt, maybe multiple debts. You dive into a world full of unknowns and somehow you need to start swimming before knowing how to float.

For many twentysomethings, even though you have a piece of paper behind your name (degree, diploma, course certificate), you have to start out life on a salary (if you're lucky!) that can barely cover your rent, let alone debt repayments and grocery bills. And if you're not getting paid a salary, you're expected to be appreciative of an unpaid internship that allows you to get experience so that you can get a paid job. 

No wonder twentysomethings don't want to grow up. It's expensive to grow up. But it's more expensive not to grow up! After watching Meg Jay's Ted Talk, I actually went and read the book that her talk is based on - The Defining Decade by Meg Jay. She speaks so much sense and puts into words, thoughts that have been roaming in and out my head for the better part of a year. She also (and this is the kicker) explains WHY twentysomethings sometimes find growing up difficult. She also explains that it's normal for the twenties to be a time of feeling unsure, insecure and uncertain about your future. And it's precisely because you're feeling these things that it's the perfect opportunity for you to grab on, persevere and grow into the adult that the twentysomething years should be moulding you into.

Friends, family, strangers reading my blog for the first time, twentysomethings, pre-twentysomethings, post twentysomethings  - I really do recommend that you read this book. And once you've read it, please let me know what you think.

On Being A Bookworm

I have always been a bookworm. Not just your average bookworm, but one who, when she was younger, hardly left the house without a book in her hand.

There's something enchanting about losing yourself in a story. It doesn't matter whether this story is real or make-believe. What matters is the ability to peek into another world, into someone else's story, even if it's just for a part of their journey. This world could be a fantasy world of wizards and dragons. Or perhaps a real-life world of funny veterinary escapades. Or maybe a fictional world of plausible real-life experiences.

Books are the safe-houses of stories. Stories where your views can be completely challenged. You can suddenly realise just how little you thought knew about a particular subject. You can debate with world leaders through the eyes of your narrator in one book and be exposed to an underworld that you didn't even know existed in the next.

I have seen worlds that exist only in one's imagination and lived a thousand different lives, all through the pages of a book. These don't replace real-life experiences, but I think they allow me to experience real life in a richer context.

So, when was the last time you completely lost yourself in a story? 

Some of my favourite days are made up of
extra large coffee mugs, cold weather and a good book.