Folks in late 20s - early 30s: looking back at your early 20s..

[Brownstone]

The one regret I have was not getting into the grind earlier. I started my career around 23. I essentially wasted a year working at niketown after college because I was living at home and didn't want to get into the grind of working that 40 hour shift throughout the year. I missed out on contributing in investments and such. I'll still make it, but trust me ya'll youngins, It's much easier to grind at 23 then it is at 43. Remember that.

 

[finessence]

I turned 27 this past December. I did community college for two years, then Savannah College of Art and Design for two years, and didn't finish. My best advice for any up and coming individual is to attack life, as if it were created by you.

Make sure you have a short leash, and let people now immediately, that you have a short fuse. It will keep nonsense away from you. Never resort to violence, and unless provoked. The tongue is ALWAYS mightier than the sword. Never conform or become content, at any point in your life.

Your mind is constantly developing so, try to overload it and learn as much as you can. Take heed to your health, and understand what messages your body tells you. I approach life like this, I can learn something from a 2 year old, or a 92 year old. Appreciate the people and nature around you.

Most importantly, have fun. Good, clean fun. Be confiedent at all costs. Never succumb to the status quos, question everything, but respect peoples vantage point along the way.

 

[mojodmonky1]

I'll be 35 in a couple months.

It's easy to say that life would be a lot more comfortable today had I buckled down on school, finances, etc... etc... but you know what? Having fun and enjoying your young adult years has value too.

My piece of advice to yall would be to find balance in your life but HAVE FUN. seriously. My regret is that my fun was not more diversified. My formidable college years were all about goin to parties and doing every drug imaginable. I wish I took that time to travel more. There's so much of the world I havent seen yet that I want to.

The job I'm at now is basically my 1st real gig out of college. I had 1 pit stop at a job for about a year, figured out it wasnt for me, and moved on. 10 years later I'm still here. While my current job offers decent pay, good job stability, and low stress, I kinda regret not looking outside the box a bit when I was job hunting. In hindsight, I wish I had looked into working abroad and living that expat life. Of the people I know who went that route, just about all of them love it to the point where they dont know if they would ever move back to America. They livin too good where they currently at.

As men, we have plenty of time to settle down and start a family if that is your ultimate goal. Dont rush it. Get as much of the fun out of your system before you take that next step in life. I got 2 young kids and I love them to death, but the harsh reality is that you kinda lock yourself down once you become a parent. Its kinduva mind-funk knowing that I can financially afford to take all these vacations I wanted to take when I was younger, but I no longer have the time and energy necessary to do so.

 

[moderndarwin]

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I am 29 and the knowledge of life, the emotional stability, and the perspective I have are miles beyond what I had in my early 20's. However, those experiences of the past 10 years are what turned me into the man I am today.

There are many rational reasons to go back in time with the maturity you have of today. I racked up credit card debt going out all the time, didn't study hard, had a useless major (business economics), almost never went to class, etc etc. Some of that I would change and I could theoretically end up very well off by this same time (much more than I am now).

However, in reality, you may have a very strong sense of dissatisfaction because you will know what to compare to in the future. Even one truly great experience that you may not be able to recreate will forever leave a longing to your alternate past future self.

For example, one of the best nights of my life (age 20) was a roller coaster of emotions situation. There was a girl there that I had drunkenly hollered at on Facebook that had responded sorry, I don't really know you well, I don't want to go out on a date. It was super embarrassing when I realized what I had done the next day checking through phone/web history of the night before. A week later I go to a party and she was there. It was such a big learning moment in my life - I could of either acted like a coward or acted like someone with a backbone. She saw me come in, I smiled, went right over and gave her a big hug. I immediately felt a surge of electricity about the moment and it ended with me bringing her back to my place a few hours later. It was my first successful A to Z one night situation.

If I went back and could do it over again I know I would never again be put in that exact situation. And I would also have the confidence (that I have now) and wouldn't need to be in that situation. However, the experience of that moment, the process, rather than the end result, confidence with girls, is what truly makes it unique and special. It is pretty hard to quantify that feeling in terms of doing things "better".

 

[dman14]

wish i wouldve been better with my money and more focused on a career. was doing a lot of different things and didnt know what path to choose

 

[solemate96]

I wish I went out more and traveled like everybody else in their 20s'. I am 28 now and I know I can still do it but I work two jobs 7 days out of the week and it is such a pain. I am just working now to pay off my student loans.

I sacrificed a lot for my family by staying local to help them out with the restaurant. There was something that happened to me in December 2014 where I was hospitalized at a mental health facility because of my anger which came from living with my parents and them being Asian parents didn't help. They would always scold me, tell me I am stupid and that I was a drug addict for smoking weed. The reason why I smoke weed is to ease the stress from them. To make a long story short, I decided to never communicate with them again. I know time heals all wounds but at this point in time, I think everybody needs a breather from it. To me, it is still very very new.

 

[Xennial]

Not going to Europe and spending 3-4 months there, not doing study abroad for longer than a semester

 

[mojodmonky1]

I wish I went out more and traveled like everybody else in their 20s'. I am 28 now and I know I can still do it but I work two jobs 7 days out of the week and it is such a pain. I am just working now to pay off my student loans.

I sacrificed a lot for my family by staying local to help them out with the restaurant. There was something that happened to me in December 2014 where I was hospitalized at a mental health facility because of my anger which came from living with my parents and them being Asian parents didn't help. They would always scold me, tell me I am stupid and that I was a drug addict for smoking weed. The reason why I smoke weed is to ease the stress from them. To make a long story short, I decided to never communicate with them again. I know time heals all wounds but at this point in time, I think everybody needs a breather from it. To me, it is still very very new.

you korean? that korean anger is real. its genetic. in our blood.

i'm assuming you were still living with your parents. i know that hindsight is 20/20 but you shoulda just moved out bro. out of sight out of mind. deading a relationship with your parents is serious business. i went through a lot of that kinda stuff with my pops when i was younger. he straight up told me "if you smoke weed again you are not my son" but i knew he was just expressin his frustration and didnt really mean it. eventually everything mellowed out and i have a great relationship with him. Your parents will come to terms with the fact that you are not their little kid anymore and that you are a grown man who can make his own decisions and also deal with the consequences of those decisions.

hopefully after a little break yall can get back on the same page sooner than later. a solid relationship with your parents means so much and its not something that should be taken for granted or so easily thrown away. good luck man.

 

[solemate96]

Not Korean but close. I'm Chinese so you understand the Asian values.

 

[yeah]

23 and I'm glad I took advantage of a lot of the stuff everyone is talking about. Last thing on the check list is international travel, hopefully my GF and I will tackle that one in the next couple years.

 

[drew]

23 and I'm glad I took advantage of a lot of the stuff everyone is talking about. Last thing on the check list is international travel, hopefully my GF and I will tackle that one in the next couple years.

I cannot stress enough as to how important I feel this is to everyone. If you ever get the chance to travel out of your country, do it in a drop of a hat.

Life changing. Period.



-Drew

 

[you go boy]

Just a few things i would do differently like go back to school and get my masters, choose a better major for undergrad, dorm at college, take my jobs more seriously and more be assertive and go out more...

 

[brkfstchampions]

I wish I went out more and traveled like everybody else in their 20s'. I am 28 now and I know I can still do it but I work two jobs 7 days out of the week and it is such a pain. I am just working now to pay off my student loans.

I sacrificed a lot for my family by staying local to help them out with the restaurant. There was something that happened to me in December 2014 where I was hospitalized at a mental health facility because of my anger which came from living with my parents and them being Asian parents didn't help. They would always scold me, tell me I am stupid and that I was a drug addict for smoking weed. The reason why I smoke weed is to ease the stress from them. To make a long story short, I decided to never communicate with them again. I know time heals all wounds but at this point in time, I think everybody needs a breather from it. To me, it is still very very new.

Dang bro, thats tough. Heres a hug man, I wish the best for you bro.

But I wish I didn't waste my time from high school and in college with an unhappy relationship. I was dating this chick for 8 years and was so unhappy, she was horrible man, and instead of walking away, I just stayed around like a dummy. But I learned a lot on how a relationship ISN'T supposed to be and now I can't be happier.

Also, wish I saved my money and didn't get into so much debt with nonsense. CC bills are dumb right now, paying for things I spent in college haha

Oh, wish I took working out seriously, I would be good now! haha now I'm 27 barely trying to get in shape and man it is HARD!! My old *** cant keep up with these young cats haha

Wis, whats up man! Haven't seen you too active on IG lately brother.

 

[guzzy]

In for stories & wisdom.

 

[wayniac211]

1 thing I regret is connecting with others. I isolated myself with only keeping it cool with only a few. Wish I didn't lurk in real time and online

 

[hybridsoldier23]

If you're young and enjoy sports be sure to do as much as you can while you're in your early to mid 20's. Once you hit about 28 you start feeling the effects of Father Time.

Recovery time is longer, injuries begin to pile up, and it becomes apparent you can't athletically keep up with the kids anymore. It's a hard realization to come to terms with so while you're young enjoy the sports you love as much and as often as you can.

 

[HEATHEN]

Smh yep. Would def do things differently.

 

[Peep Game]

I really dont have any regrets, maybe insignificant things like chicks in the past I may have missed out on, but other than that, nah.

I do on occasion tell the 15-20 folks two simple things to stick by which will help you 10 fold in the long run - don't spend your $$$ frivolously, and (for you virgins/less sexually experienced folks) don't chase and pine for booty, it'll come to you at the right time, and often higher quality with patience.

 

[SneakerProSr.]

1. Less Student loans.
2. Would have finished in 4 years instead of dicking around.
3. Would have worn condoms more often

That's it.

 

[DCAllAfrican]

I love how some of yall fake and say, "I wouldn't do ANYTHING differently."

Come on man. ANYTHING?

 

[kiefurban]

If I could go back I wouldnt have continued drinking into my 20s I didn't put it down until I was 29 but now I'm disgusted by just the thought of it.

 

[f3rn7]

Everyone wishes they did more it's just life. I wish I would have studied more in school but I enjoyed the fun I had. There's always small things like ending relationships sooner or just not starting them at all but it's made me who I am and I like the person I am.

Career wise I got comfortable in my mid 20s thinking if you just put your head down and work the company will take care of you. Wasn't the case I let years go by instead of pushing myself, but I'm doing well now just have to learn from your mistake and keep moving forward.

 

[301216baller]

im 24 turning 25...I have alot of regret that eats away at me daily

Its whatever though

 

[dathbgboy]

1. Less Student loans.
2. Would have finished in 4 years instead of dicking around.

Also,would've taken better care of my credit and learned to invest

 

[zapatohead408]

I'm turning 20 next month and would have done a thing or two different. One of them would be to take my mom to the mother son dance.

Hopw to get some great advice from you guys.