5 things they should tell us by the time we are in our twenties

1. 1. Death is a common occurrence
2. 2. Aging and changes in the body
3. 3. Your hometown always matters, even if you hated it at some point.
4. 4. The reality of generational curses
5. 5. Everything changes, including your friendships.

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When I reached my twenties, specifically entering college at age 22, many things changed in my life, but I was ready for it.

 Some of my friends began to commit to marriage and my best friends no longer resided down the hall as we had finished the college stage.

 In addition, I took on more responsibility for my finances and gradually reduced the help from my parents.

 However, even though I had three jobs, I was not earning much and was always fatigued, which was normal due to dealing with dating, graduate theses, and trying to establish my career.

 Today, at 25 years old, I can acknowledge that my parents and mentors prepared me for the fundamental challenges of life as a young adult.

 The short years of my adulthood presented me with some obstacles that no one would have prepared me for previously.

Financial complications are an issue to be managed, but I now face a new loss of emotional innocence, from which there are no "basic life skills" or "ladder to success" that can save me or anyone else in the same situation.

1. Death is a common occurrence

It is common for many people to experience the loss of loved ones throughout their lives.

 Many of us were blessed to have grown up with grandparents in our lives, but aging and death are natural processes of life.

 It was very difficult to watch my grandfather's health deteriorate rapidly after knowing him as an active, sound-minded man for 21 years. No one can really be prepared to face such a situation.

 However, when you have 20+ years of healthy, loving grandparents, you should be grateful for that time.

 Although, when it comes time to bury your parents, and seeing them at their lowest point is a traumatic experience.

 At those times, they simply need a hug and a little time to grieve.

 But it's not just grandparents who leave us.

 There are also the people you went to high school with who lost their battle with mental illness, cancer and addictions.

 Even acquaintances or teachers who pass away suddenly.

 In reality, life is too short and one must learn to value and appreciate it one day at a time.

2. Aging and changes in the body

 All bodies are different and experience the inevitable aging process in different ways.

 Although not dramatic, aging can affect a person's self-esteem.

 Changes can include cellulite, difficulty maintaining weight, and cracks in joints that did not exist before. Easy solutions that used to work no longer do.

 Metabolism takes a serious hit and anything can affect it.

 Some people choose to lead a sedentary life, while others find it difficult to take care of their body after having a baby or reaching a certain age.

 Inherited mental illnesses or physical ailments can strike at any time, making every responsibility you take on more difficult.

 Although it is not the end of the world, it is a natural part of life.

 It is important to seek help to learn how to take care of our bodies in the best way possible.

3. Your hometown always matters, even if you hated it at some point.

 It may seem strange, but as much as the movies want to sell us the story of the dreamer who left his hometown and never looked back, that's not the reality.

 I grew up in a small military town with a complicated history, growing gentrification and clear racial divisions, but many of my generation decided to stay.

 In my case, I chose a large college town with new opportunities, and while there have been some improvements in my hometown since then, many things remain the same.

 The hometown is where your parents and maybe your grandparents live, affected by the events that happen there.

 There are people who put down roots and never leave, and they seem to be happy.

 If your heart is not a black hole, you are happy to see the people in your hometown well and know that your family is safe.

 But it hurts and is infuriating when you hear news about a neighbor who had a lot of potential and is now locked up by unexpected events.

 It's heartbreaking when someone you barely knew in high school dies of a fortuitous heart condition.

And where is the local government when crime is on the rise and wages and access to basic things like supermarkets or public transportation remain stagnant since you graduated more than a decade ago?

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