Adulting Is a Scam, but I’m Still Showing Up: Diary of a 20-Something Year Old

Okay, real talk. Being in your twenties is like getting tossed into a washing machine on turbo spin with a dryer sheet of existential dread clinging to your leg. Anyone else?? Like, we’re supposed to be “living our best lives” or whatever, but most days I’m just trying to figure out what I'm going to eat for lunch and dinner while wondering if everyone else got the life manual I clearly missed.

Instagram? Oh, it’s thriving—with travel pics, Pinterest-perfect outfits, and couples who look like they just walked out of the Notebook movie of what looks like they could be in the sequel if there ever was one. Meanwhile, I’m over here clapping when I remember to buy toilet paper before I run out. Balance.

Imposter Syndrome? She pays rent. Honestly, every time I hit a new milestone or land a cool opportunity, there's this little voice like, “Cute! But they’re gonna figure out you’re a total fraud any minute now.” Cool cool cool, thanks brain. Super helpful.

We're all just winging it, right? Please tell me I’m not the only one out here playing adult dress-up because I'm trying to distract people from the chaos of what my life could feel like sometimes.

And don’t even get me started on the pressure to “figure it all out.” One day I’m convinced I’m destined to be a creative powerhouse, the next I’m Googling “crash courses for how to invest” The flip-flopping is constant. The existential crises? Free with purchase.

Financially stable? More like financially... please don’t look at my bank account. Student loans, food, random late-night Amazon purchases I swear felt necessary at the time—it all adds up. I'm pretty sure my bank account is about one passive-aggressive email away from staging an intervention.

But here’s the good part (yes, there is one!). For all the chaos, confusion, and carb-heavy dinners, there’s something kind of freeing about this whole mess. We’re growing. We’re learning. We’re surviving on vibes and somehow still moving forward.

And can we talk about that trend going around?“ I’m ____ age and I’m not afraid to admit…,” IT'S GIVING.

So here it is:

I’m 27 and I’m not afraid to admit I still call my dad for the tiniest inconveniences.
I’m 27 and I have no clue how investing works.
I’m 27 and I regularly wear mismatched socks like it’s a personality trait.

Seeing people share the real, unfiltered stuff? It’s been a breath of fresh air. Social media usually feels like a highlight reel, but this trend? It’s giving relatable, it’s giving solidarity, it’s giving thank you for saying it out loud so I don’t feel alone.

So what’s the takeaway? Embrace the mess. Embrace the uncertainty. Embrace the fact that you don’t have it all figured out—and you don’t need to. Your twenties are for trying things, changing your mind, failing forward, and doing it all on your own weird, wonderful terms.