Moxie

By Kaitlyn Fitzgerald – Millers, MD

Here I am: 26-years-old, a business professional, college graduate, partial homeowner, dog mother and devoted girlfriend. While all of this sounds like I might have it “figured out,” I’m as confused as ever.

I have this “itch.” I am always looking for the next big and better thing. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life and I have a lot to be grateful for. But somehow, I feel as though I’m in an eternal struggle to find a balance between what is the responsible, “adult” thing to do and what I feel like I’m supposed to do in my 20s. Everyone fears being labeled as the “boring” one, especially when society is telling you to be the opposite.

Your mid-to-late-20s are supposed to be the time of change in your life. Everyone seems to be getting married, having babies or traveling the world (At least, that’s how social media makes you feel). But let me tell you, there’s nothing like waking up, drinking your morning coffee and scrolling through your newsfeed to see that yet another classmate you graduated with is getting hitched or expecting. I’m starting to feel like Samantha in “Sex and the City.” At this rate you might just find me throwing a “Congratulations! I’m-not-getting-married-or-having-a-baby, everyone drink up!” party a year from now.

Then there are the world-travelers – people who make you vacation jealous. I have always been envious of those who can easily pick up and take a trip across the ocean to explore Europe or some exotic foreign country I can’t pronounce the name of. All the pictures plastered on Facebook and Instagram seem so fabulous, adventurous and like once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. After all, you won’t be able to do this when you’re married and have kids, right?

Then there’s me: still living in the same town I grew up in, working a steady job, no crazy college loans to pay and not taking luxurious trips to Europe I can’t afford. Nothing too exciting, nothing too crazy. But as I’m getting older, I’m realizing it’s about finding a balance. While I might not be living the most exhilarating life in my 20s, I’m making smart decisions that will benefit me later on in life.

I may not want a baby right now or to spend the considerable chunk of change it would cost to travel to Budapest or Rome, but I do know I want to retire at an early age, live a comfortable life and do what I want to do when I want to do it. While it may seem that I’m not living the most exciting or thrilling life on Instagram, I know I’m doing what’s best for me and investing in my future happiness. I’m proud to say: “Cheers to being boring!”