Planning for Old Age?... I'm Just Trying to Survive My 20s
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In a few weeks, I will be turning 20, and let's just say I really haven't planned what I want to do on my birthday. I feel like I have a whole life ahead of me, and while I’m a bit afraid of reaching old age, I try not to think too much about what I’ll do in the years to come. It feels stressful to think about those years after I turn 60 because it’s sad to consider that over time, you will lose the qualities of youth, your appearance will change, the opportunities that arise will be different or scarcer, and you will see your elders leaving one by one, among many other things.
However, even though my mindset is more about living in the moment without worrying—like the “hakuna matata” motto from The Lion King—I also feel it’s important to do things that can help you build a solid foundation for old age. While we shouldn’t overthink the future, we also can’t leave it to chance or the passing of time, as it may lead to regrets. For my part, even though I don’t really have a concrete plan, I feel like I’m doing things that could help me in the somewhat distant future.
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| Lately I have been focusing on continuing my college career and learning about the different ways I could make money thanks to the knowledge I have acquired in all my classes. This is so that all my effort will pay off in the future. |
Let me share with you: since I was a child, I've been taught that studying is essential for establishing a foundation to secure jobs at any age, and while I don’t completely believe it, I’m betting my luck on that idea. I’m currently studying two university degrees that, fortunately, I enjoy a lot, and I hope to obtain degrees that validate my knowledge in the modern world. I don’t believe that a university degree guarantees a stable or good job, but I do think that having a degree might give you a bit more opportunity than someone who doesn’t. Although I also believe that knowledge is worth more than a title, I know that many times, for companies in today’s society, having certification of what you know is necessary; otherwise, they won't take it as valid.
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| I have been learning more and more about knitting and have even managed to make some money selling it to people I know. It is something I really enjoy doing and can continue to do as the years go by. |
Another important tool is learning different trades and educating yourself in various areas. I think learning different things can help us become more self-sufficient and independent in the future, and even allow us to work in those fields at any point in our lives. This is something I’ve been trying to do, as I have gradually focused on learning how to knit, embroider, sew, sell, do woodworking, automotive mechanics, electricity, and many little things in everyday life that not everyone learns. So far, I have sold several items, mostly knitted, and I know it’s something I could still do even after turning 60, so I will try to learn more about it and similar trades.
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| When I get together with my family or friends, alcohol, drugs or tobacco are not present, so it is common for me not to be interested in these things at all. |
On the other hand, I try to stay away from vices and bad habits, and while sometimes laziness gets the better of me, I try to exercise and maintain a constant level of physical activity in my daily life. Things like tobacco, alcohol abuse, drug use, excessive use of electronic devices, and a sedentary lifestyle are things I know very well can considerably reduce life expectancy and deteriorate health, so I usually avoid them. These things don’t attract me and aren’t a problem for me because they aren't present in my life, except for the use of electronic devices and a bit of a sedentary lifestyle. I hope to reach old age without suffering from health problems other than those that come with age.
All photos are my property taken with my Iphone XR, the cover and the size of the photographs were edited with the befunky website