What I Learned From My 20s
#1 The importance of being honest with oneself
Upon talking to many individuals from all walks of life, I’ve come to a realisation that many of us are in deep denial of who we really are as a person. When our fight or flight instincts kick in, flight typically takes precedence. We lie to ourselves, because confronting one’s own demons is worse than facing off in a confrontation with others.
Deep introspection hurts. It’s scary. Hell, it took me acid to admit to myself that I am a truly an insane individual. But here’s the silver lining, it is from acceptance of one’s own insanity where we can either 1) own up to it and fix it, or 2) go down the rabbit hole.
#2 Walking away from toxicity
It’s tough. Walking away from people whom you deemed as your lover, best friend, or even family. But how will you ever get out of the labyrinth when you’re slowly decaying from the poison that surrounds you.
Are you going to stay in Chernobyl? With your hands gripping ever so tightly onto a radiation detector, you trudge on deeper and deeper into the forest with the device going off, and off, and off.
When someone shows you who they are, believe them. Self-love is hard, I get it. I’m not asking you to love yourself — but stay alive until you find a middle ground at the very least, hey?
#3 Stop letting society dictate your life
As with the American dream, there is also the Singaporean dream. What defines the Singaporean dream? Nothing really besides a foul stench of elitism, and perhaps owning a nice house and a fast car. Married with a nuclear family to boot.
All these requires expertise from lucrative industries where the crème de la crème prosper. Despite my passion in literature, history, political science and sociology, I chose to major in economics and finance. Where did this lead me?
Unhappiness. An absolute deadly dull life. Thank fucking lord I’m good in mathematics.
So now I write. (and fight)
#4 The world does not owe you ANYTHING
The world does not owe you anything. It’s ludicrous how many people (yes, boomers, gen z and x altogether) think the world and the government owes them a living.
The truth in the matter is that we will all die alone. And with this analogy, we only have ourselves in this world. Stop resenting the world for the clusterfuck that it is, instead, capitalize on the clusterfuck that is of this world.
I’m not ashamed to say I’m making petty cash based off writing anecdotes of my trauma.
As cliché as it can sound, the world is your oyster, and there are opportunities everywhere. Once the resentment and entitlement stops, is when you can truly grow as an individual and find your own niche.
With love, G.
