Pressure

I love guys. To those that know me, perhaps that sounds like an understatement. Yes, there are a plethora of obvious reasons why I love them, but in this case, the reason supercedes my flirtations and need for sport watching companions.

Being a twenty-something woman, there is a lot of pressure. Everyone expects us to have it all and do it all. We are expected to be successful in our careers. We are expected to be successful in our relationships. We are expected to be successful in bearing children. Where exactly is this pressure coming from? Society? Family? Each other? Ourselves? And why do we care? When did it become so hard to be a girl?

Is it realistic to expect us to have it all – the career, the man, the house, the family? We should not feel inadequate for not yet accomplishing these goals regardless of the “what’s wrong with you?” glances we might receive from those who expect something else of our lives. But where are the commitment friendly companions for us? In my experience, if they aren’t already taken, they aren’t ready to be on the commitment page yet and no one is pressuring them to be either. They are free to have varying priorities of establishing career or hanging out with friends.

Why can’t we just resist and rise above these nagging pressures? Maybe we must band together in solidarity and present a united front. Be more like our male counterparts and prioritize friendship and fun ahead of an uncertain future that is certain to fall into place in its own good time. Focus on the here and now. On what we do have, rather than what anyone else thinks we should have. On who we are, not who anyone else thinks we should be - without having to apologize to the world for being exactly where we are supposed to be and accomplishing our goals on our own terms. Then, maybe we will all be on the same page together. We will all have had our fun and selfish days and will be prepared for whatever is to come next. Not that we will not experience feelings of insurmountable doubt, second guessing, or inadequacy. We are human after all. But we will resolve to allow them only to be temporary as we work on developing ourselves.

Well, ladies, the guys have (finally) figured something out. (Sorry guys. You know I love you.) So in this case, I say we follow in their footsteps and live our lives on our terms and let what is beyond our control fall into line. Are you up for the challenge?