Are Your 20s Supposed to Be the Best Years of Your Life?

Because sometimes it feels like everyone else got the memo but me.

There’s this pressure around your 20s like they’re supposed to be the highlight reel of your life. You're young. You’re free. You’re thriving. Or… at least you’re supposed to be. But what if you’re just working odd jobs, crying in your car sometimes, following your partner across states, and constantly wondering if you’re doing any of it right?

Lately, I’ve been in a season of transition. Working remotely in digital marketing, adjusting to a new city again, trying to chase dreams while still figuring out what those dreams even are. And it makes me wonder: is this what the “best years” are supposed to feel like?

One night I asked my mom what the best years of her life were. Without even hesitating, she said her 40s. That answer honestly made me feel better than anything I’ve read on the internet. It made me realize that maybe we’ve been sold this idea that everything needs to peak in your 20s. But what if this is just the messy, chaotic foundation for something even better?

Because your 20s are strange. Friends are getting married. Some are talking about having kids. Others are still in school or living at home. Everyone is growing up, just in completely different directions and at completely different speeds. It’s hard not to compare. It’s hard not to wonder if you’re behind.

But maybe this decade isn’t supposed to be perfect. Maybe it’s about planting seeds, learning the hard stuff, making mistakes you’ll laugh about later, and figuring out who you are without all the noise. Maybe it’s not about peaking. It’s about building.

So if your 20s aren’t all brunches, beach trips, and big wins… if they feel confusing, inconsistent, or just flat-out hard… that doesn’t mean you’re doing them wrong. It might just mean you’re living them honestly.

And if the best years are still ahead, I’m actually really okay with that.