27 Thoughts at 27

I turned 27 this past weekend and tried to jot down some things that crossed my mind. Here are 27 thoughts at 27:

1. It costs nothing to be kind.
2. Why is a burger, fries, and Coke so bad for my waistline but so good for my mental health?
3. Your 20’s are so odd: everyone you know is in a different place in life; some married and having kids, others still figuring out their path, some locked in careers, others moving and bouncing around, some still in school.
4. On that line, it feels like during this age people are constantly floating in and out of your life as everyone’s circumstances are constantly changing. Anyone else feel that way?
5. The things you struggle with as a child or teenager don’t just go away; they will continue to affect your adult self if you don’t actively work to change.
6. Change is harder as your free time shrinks and you get older.
7. We should be able to answer “How are you?” with how we are *actually* doing without judgement.
8. It’s wild that everyone feels humans need a strong sense of community to thrive and yet we’ve created a highly individualistic society.
9. Same with jobs: we’ve created so many jobs that everyone knows are soul-sucking.
10. Personal finance classes really should be mandatory in high school. We need to know how to take care of ourselves – and at least know the basics of budgeting, taxes, investing, and retirement planning.
11. So should ballroom dancing! I don’t know about y’all, but there is something extra romantic about knowing your way around a dancefloor. Definitely something I want to learn soon.
12. It is hard to dislike someone when you get close to them.
13. Maybe wishful thinking, but I hope we can collectively be able to respectfully debate, discuss, and challenge each other’s opinions without issue. I know certain issues are so important and sensitive to people that there won’t be any budging. I am as guilty as anyone for falling into an echo chamber; I need to be better at hearing different opinions and talking openly.
14. Not being the same person you used to be is okay. Change and growth will happen whether we want it or not.
15. Does anyone else think there is a legitimate chance society would now collapse if smartphones disappeared tomorrow?!
16. I totally believe that our greatest fear is how powerful and limitless we can be. It is easier to shrink ourselves and keep our dreams small. I know I do on the daily, how about y’all?
17. Sitting and watching a pretty sunset is one of the purest pleasures in life.
18. Does anyone else find it easy to forgive but tough to work out how to properly apologize?
19. (I think) Happiness is wanting what you’ve got. Being at a point where you’re content with every step in the hierarchy of needs sounds like the best.
20. Humans love to complicate things that could and should be simple. 7 round job interviews? Situationships? The whole concept of credit?
21. Fresh watermelon is criminally underrated.
22. Comparing yourself to others is one of the quickest ways to be unhappy.
23. Air conditioning is one of the top-5 inventions of all time.
24. Cookie dough ice cream without chocolate chips should be more of a thing. Shoutout Gannon’s in Syracuse, NY.
25. Celebrate the little victories; life is too hard and too short not to.
26. Almost everyone is struggling with something, no matter how well we can hide and mask it.
27. Is 27 part of your mid-20’s or late-20’s?