Life in 20 Something!

Some days, life feels like a never-ending checklist. You go through the motions at work, juggling tasks, trying to prove your worth in a space where it sometimes feels like you’re invisible. And then, that familiar feeling creeps in—imposter syndrome. It whispers questions you didn’t ask for: “Am I really needed here? Does any of this even make sense to the people around me? Or am I just… here, unnoticed?”

It’s a heavy feeling—like carrying the weight of proving yourself over and over again, even when no one’s asking. And the hardest part? Sometimes, it’s not even about them. But come-on, you still grind through work, try to learn something new after work to make life a little sunshine again, maybe even steal a quiet moment to breathe. But then—bam. Someone decides it’s okay for them to point out what’s “wrong” with you.

It happened to me today. I met someone for the first time and within minutes, they felt comfortable enough to comment on my acne and how I should “do something about it.” Oh, and just for good measure, they threw in some advice about how I should “put on some weight to look healthier.” It’s not just the comment itself. It’s how it sticks. You try to brush it off, but it lingers. The words replay in your mind when all you wanted was a peaceful moment after a long day. It’s like they casually dropped mess on your plate and walked away, leaving you to clean it up while they moved on

What really gets me is what happens after. I tried to tell my parents how uncomfortable it made me—how someone had the audacity to comment on my acne right in front of them. I wasn’t looking for much, just a little validation, maybe a sign that they had my back. But instead, came the usual: “Don’t overthink it, we never used to care about these things.” And just like that, my anger and hurt dissolved into confusion. Was I making a big deal out of nothing? Did I blow this out of proportion? Suddenly, instead of standing by how I felt, I was picking apart my own emotions. That’s the hardest part of being someone who overthinks. You start questioning whether feeling hurt is valid, or if it’s just another sign that maybe… you care too much.

It’s not that I don’t have anything to say in those moments. Oh, I have plenty. But I pause. I hold back. I tell myself, “Maybe it’s not worth it.” And just like that, I let the moment pass. It’s not because I don’t know how to argue—I’m just too used to convincing myself that maybe I’m making a big deal out of nothing. And that hesitation? It sucks. Because in trying to avoid confrontation, I end up sacrificing my own feelings.

But you know what the win was today? I didn’t let myself get too comfortable sinking into that pool of overthinking. Instead, I gave myself a gentle push—reminded myself that my feelings are valid. I chose to trust what I was feeling, talked to people who would listen, and created space for myself to just be.

That’s the thing I’m starting to figure out in my 20s—trusting yourself is hard. For the first time, everything feels like it’s on you. Your choices, your emotions, your reactions—it’s all yours to handle. And that’s heavy. But I’m learning that it’s okay to feel hurt. It’s okay to feel annoyed. And it’s okay to say, “That wasn’t cool.” Because your feelings don’t need a justification to exist

So if you’ve ever been stuck in that spiral—wondering if you’re overreacting or questioning if your emotions are valid—here’s your reminder: You’re not overthinking. You’re learning to listen to yourself. And that’s not weakness. That’s growth. And maybe, just maybe, March taught me that trusting myself is where it all starts.