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20 Things To Do in Your Twenties
Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
Someone I follow on Instagram posted a list of 20 things to do in your twenties. It got me thinking of my own experience and what I would encourage someone else to do. A couple of caveats are worth mentioning: I haven’t done all of these things, or at least not as much as I wish I did, looking back in hindsight. I also avoided putting in generic goals like “eat healthily” or “try new experiences.” Instead, I thought about the concrete things that someone can do that will inevitably lead to them accomplishing those goals. So, instead of “travel,” I include going to a state in a different time zone because it’s like the culture is going to be different and the experiences will change your view of the world.
What would you substitute? Give me a cut along with a replacement. I have a feeling we’re going to see some interesting edits.
1. Get out and stay out of debt
2. Build an emergency fund of $15,000
3. Open a Roth IRA
4. Become fluent in a foreign language
5. Read at least 12 books a year, 1 per month
6. Go on a camping trip for at least 1 week
7. Read the Bible in one year
8. Travel to a state in a different time zone
9. Travel to a foreign country
10. Change a dozen diapers
11. Practice public speaking
12. Read a piece of ancient literature
13. Master a musical instrument
14. Ride a sailboat
15. Fly in a GA (general aviation) aircraft
16. Go to the range
17. Find a mentor
18. Go on a spontaneous road trip, or do a cross-country road trip
19. Train for a (half) marathon
20. Volunteer to help kids and/or the elderly
My 20s coincided with the 1980s, a bleak time in Ireland. Most of my friends and half of my siblings emigrated. I almost went myself in 1988, having procured a Green Card in a lottery. I told my parents I was going. But work picked up and I stuck around, getting to do most of the things on the list a decade late.The rest are for retirement.
It always annoyed me when it was said (incessantly) that “all of the best and the brightest” had left Ireland in the 198os.
Hard to say. I suppose I could have done with some formal career guidance but I didn’t know that was a thing. I had ruled out a lot of occupations for myself without even knowing what they were about.
RTE news in the 80’s seems so depressing in my memory. It’s probably the same for kids today I suppose. But I remember a lot of those emigration reports from the airports after Christmas
Same thing happened with a friend of my dad and him when they both went down to Tijuana in the 80s before he started dating my mom, except it was dancers. Accidentally, of course.
I wouldn’t necessarily agree. My parents waited until they were 41 and 46 respectively to have me and I’m glad they did. There was no resentment for putting off plans for fun things/trips that they wouldn’t be able to do when they grew older, they were secure in their careers and their marriage, and they had sufficient maturity. Of course there are downsides, I won’t have them around for as long as some others my age and I’ll have to worry about retirement care/nursing homes, etc a little earlier, but I’m glad that they had us when they chose and not when it may have been physiologically easiest. I really think the choice of when to have kids is, within reason, best left up to the person having them and when they feel ready (which, to be fair, for me is never).
Did they throw the football around with your brothers?
Didn’t have any. But dad chased me everywhere, taught me how to swim, ride a bike, roller skate, and drive a tractor. Took me on as many walks as I wanted, and had snow ball fights and tag games for as long as I was in that phase. And did (and still) does it all over again with my much more physically demanding younger sister, who has Down’s syndrome and the typical strength and tendency to bolt. I don’t feel at all robbed in that department. Mom was the same, and works out intensely 5 days a week.
Thanks! This was a very interesting exercise. I’ve done all but six of your items. The others I did (or started) at ages ranging from childhood to my 40’s.
Also this is a thing that isn’t necessarily in your control. It isn’t easy to meet someone who you can share your life with first of all. I sometimes think well meaning conservatives overlook that.
Matchmakers. Tradition!
Only a dozen diapers? How do you do that, babysitting?
“18. Go on a spontaneous road trip, or do a cross-country road trip” Road trips are my favorite vacation and not having a definite route adds to the fun. However, when it comes to crossing into Canada you can run into trouble. A few years ago, my husband and I decided to head north and east from our home in Utah and visit Wyoming, South Dakota and North Dakota and cross into Canada to tour Manitoba and Saskatchewan. So we’re driving north on US 281 and stop at the Canadian border. The border guard starts asking us questions: “Where are you headed?” “Oh we plan to drive north until we get tired of driving north then we’ll head west and eventually end in Washington State.” “How long do you plan to stay in Canada?” “Oh maybe ten days to two weeks.” After that, they told us to pull over and they searched the car. Which was a 2000 Civic filled with camping gear, one opened bottle of red wine tucked away safely in the trunk, one well-worn Bible, a graduate math textbook, crossword puzzles, playing cards, etc. When the one guard saw the Sudokus, he had to let us know that he loved math too. At the time, I was livid. Now I think it is hilarious.