Being a 20 something can be pretty tough. There’s too much competition, too many people to impress, and too much general bullshit in our lives. But no matter what point in life you’re at, you’re still here, still pushing forward. And that seriously counts for something.
1. You’ve got at least one real friend.
Now that you’re older and wiser, you realize that having one solid friend is much more valuable than a group of fun but shallow acquaintances. That true friend is dependable, and you share similar life goals and values. That one friend helps you through the tough times, and supports you through your successes.
2. You earned an education.
Getting through school is mentally, emotionally, and physically taxing. No matter what kind of education you earned, whether it was college, a GED, or even the military, you made it through. Getting through school is universally celebrated as a great accomplishment, but when you think about it even more, you can see that you gave yourself an amazing gift. You grew as a person, learned about yourself and the world, and came out better than before.
3. You maintain a balance between your practical career and your passions.
It takes a strong person to lead a balanced life. More often than not, 20 somethings indulge or hyper focus on getting ahead in their careers or pursuing their passions. Yes, some do get lucky and can combine the two, but that isn’t common. Finding that balance is extremely important, so know that it takes a lot of strength to find harmony between your career and passions in life.
4. You’ve let go of the toxic people in your life.
Strong people know that it’s painful to let people go, especially if they’ve been around for a long time. But it’s better to suffer the loss and grow over time than to stagnate forever. Many people keep those toxic friends around because they fall into a comfortable routine. Even though they know that it’s not good, they keep those friends around for comfort. You’re strong because you realize that it’s better to move forward alone than to stay back with bad company.
5. You managed to cope with or overcome a mental illness.
If you’ve lived through a mental illness, or saw a loved one go though through it, you know what it takes to be strong. Working through depression, anxiety, or any other kind of problem is taxing and isolating. If you’re still waking up everyday, getting out of bed, and doing something with yourself, that’s a huge accomplishment. There are plenty of 20 somethings out there who haven’t gotten to that point yet. And hopefully they will someday, but know that you have overcome so much already.
6. You’ve suffered a huge loss, but you’re still here.
In your 20s when every other part of your life is chaotic, having your family there seems like the only part that’s stable. Losing a loved one is a universal human experience, and it’s devastating. You mourn, grieve, cry, and wish for them to come back. And after all is said and done, you move on with their memory in your heart.
If they served in the military, displaying their service flag in flag cases for military veterans is a simple way to honor their legacy at home
Even though the most stable part of your life- your loved ones- always seem to be there for you, sometimes you suffer a loss. But you get back up, and keep moving forward.
7. You know what it feels like to be alone.
It can be very hard to admit that you’re feeling lonely. As a 20 something in this day and age, you constantly feel the pressure to project a fun and successful life on social media and in person to your family and friends. You feel like it’s necessary to post lots of happy smiling pictures with your friends on Facebook and Instagram. But you know that all of those pictures and posts don’t really mean anything. You’re strong because you’ve been lonely, and you’ve learned that it’s really not so bad when you don’t fight it.
8. You’re working to kick those bad habits.
It takes a strong person to realize that there’s a fine line between a guilty pleasure and a bad habit. Whether it’s smoking, drinking, chewing your nails, or something much worse, you want to get over it. You’re strong because you want to improve yourself, and you’re willing and trying to make new steps, no matter how little, every day.
9. You’ve grown in ways you never could have imagined.
Think back to when you were in middle school. What kind of person did you imagine you’d become? Little 5th grade you never would have imagined that you’d be as incredible as you are today.
