I’m 22, unemployed, and single.
Yeah. I don’t know how to feel about it either.
It’s been 6 and a half months since I took that picture above. I graduated from university with no job, no grad school, and no plans. I really screwed myself over if I’m being honest. I mean at the time I had my reasons. I needed a break. I had gone 13 years of working hard to get into a good university only to work another 4 years to get a good job that paid well and made me feel good. I have always been a hard worker and a high achiever, but I realized that I had put so much pressure and so many expectations on myself that I had reached a point of burnout. Once Covid hit the U.S., my momentum for school and work just stopped. Completely. I mean I still went to class and I still completed assignments. But I cared more about getting to know my friends and family better than doing work. Rather than spending every waking moment feeling behind and trying to be productive, I spent my time saving memories in my Snapchat history, picnicking in parks and parking lots, and going on long drives in the car. And unfortunately for me (or maybe fortunately, we’ll see), I haven’t been able to get back to that head-down, work-focused version of me quite yet. But as I said before, it’s been six and a half months. SIX AND A HALF MONTHS. And although I’m living with my parents, I’m not trying to live off my parents at this point in my life. The money has run out and I have to figure out what to do next.
What do I do next? Do you have any suggestions? just kidding 😊
During the past 17 years, I was always looking for my next break. In fact, I was constantly praying to God for one and He finally gave me what I asked for. It’s just different from what I expected. In addition to worrying about where my next paycheck was coming from, I actually did some fun things such as painting shoes, background acting, bowling, watching dramas, and eating lots of food. I also had time to do A LOT of self-reflection. Here are seven things that I’ve found to be really important in the last 6 months.
- If I claim that God is my best friend, I actually have to spend time with Him. I can’t just ask Him for stuff and then ignore Him.
- I enjoy being around my family and having my family around. So, even when I move out I want to be close to family.
- Locational flexibility is a must for me. I love to travel, but I also need to be home sometimes.
- Experiences and people are important to me so I need to make time for both. I can’t spend every waking moment buried in a screen.
- I love myself so I need to take care of myself. That means quiet time, sleeping at a good time, exercising, drinking water, etc.
- I can’t give back the way I want to if I have nothing to give. I’m not just talking about monetary giving. If I’m emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically drained, how can I be a blessing to and for others?
- I enjoy work. I enjoy working. I don’t enjoy always feeling behind. So I need to set boundaries and clear goals for myself.
I’m still 22, unemployed, and single. But with each passing day I’m realizing that rather than returning to that head down, work-only person that I used to be, I want to make adjustments and actually develop into a woman that allows work to be an enjoyable portion of my life rather than my whole life. I want to be a woman who knows how to take care of herself and others. I want to be a woman after God’s own heart. So, I’m going to take you on my journey to becoming that woman. Who knows how long it will take, but I know I’ll get there.